Sicilia A mia cele BBeddaration of Sicily preSented By la roSaworkS in conjunction with the weStcheSter italian cultural center and the Belmont BuSineSS improvement diStrict RepreSenting little italy in the Bronx Sicilia MIA A cBeddaeleBration of Sicily “...aridly undulating to the horizon Enjoy exhiBitS and programming at the weStcheSter italian cultural center in hillock after hillock, TaSte Sicilian food and wine in the “real” little italy in the Bronx comfortless and irrational, Read aBout the life, the land with no lines that the mind could grasp, and the people of Sicily conceived apparently in a delerious moment of creation; ThiS puBlication iS preSented By a sea suddenly petrified la roSaworkS In conjunction with when a change of wind The weStcheSter italian cultural center and the Belmont BuSineSS improvement diStrict had flung the waves into a frenzy.” RepreSenting little italy in the Bronx from The Leopard by giuseppe tomasi di lampedusa a celeBration of Sicily 1 Westchester Italian Cultural CenterYoung the westchester italian cultural center preserves, promotes and celebrates the rich heritage of classic italian culture Professionals by encouraging an appreciation of the italian language, arts and letters, history, cuisine and commerce through Group educational programs, exhibits and events. Enjoy exclusive invitations to discover Italian food and wine, cultural events, exhibits, films, lectures board of trustees and performing arts with Westchester's future leaders. Honorable Francis A. Nicolai chairman The Westchester Italian Cultural Center (WICC) and our Amici members celebrate all things Italian! With several events throughout the year that are Domenick Ciaccia vice chairman exclusive to our members and their friends, the Center provides a unique treasurer meeting place, coupled with a distinctive Italian experience – wine and food, James J. Veneruso, Esq. film, performance– all in a friendly atmosphere. corporate secretary legal counsel Join today as an Amici member of the Westchester Italian Cultural Center; Joseph Armentano annual membership is just $35 and is fully tax deductible. Rose Cali Cav. John F. Calvelli Members enjoy discounts on all WICC courses and programs, advance notice of all events, invitations to exhibit previews and special receptions, access to the Michael A. Caruso, DDS Catherine Pope Memorial Library, and mailings of all WICC publications. Domenico Delli Carpini Honorable Janet DiFiore For more information, contact the Westchester Jonathan Giannettino Italian Cultural Center at (914) 771-8700. Cav. Andrew J. Spano To learn more about the Westchester Italian Cultural Center, please visit our website at www.wiccny.org Maria Masciotti executive director 2 Sicilia Bedda a celeBration of Sicily 3 fall 2010 program highlights Westchester Italian Sicilia Bedda! Discover some of Sicily’s unique traditions through costumes, fine art, photography, ceramics, Business Circle literature, and a delightful display of life size marionettes. This multimedia experience includes a video on Sicily and its rich history, Joe Genova’s paintings and a unique collection of photographs from Joe Zarba, Karen J. La Rosa, Noel DeGaetano, Mimmo Pintacuda, Ferdinando Scianna, and the westchester italian Business circle is a group of local industry Giuseppe Tornatore. leaders whoWestchester are organized in their support Italian of the westchester italian Sicily, Its People, Places and Traditions cultural center and our programs. This lecture series, presented in English by Prof Gaetano Cipolla from St. John’s University will explore Sicily’s dynamic history as well as its vivacious people, language and literature. joseph apuzzo,Business jr. Brian a . kCircleeating joseph armentano richard langiulli, DDS Culinary Events Our culinary and wine programs for adults 21 and over are among the most popular programs cav. john f. calvelli neil r. lubarsky we offer. Feast on Italian delicacies, explore wines from the regions and learn about traditional michael caridi o. anthony maddalena preparations. Presentations and tastings include From Fishing Boats to the Kitchen: Sicily’s Glorious Seafood Traditions and Culinary Crossroads: Classic Recipes and Traditions. Hands-on workshops michael a. caruso, DDS declan maguire include Sicilian Recipes Every Italian Should Know and Contemporary Italian Cuisine. domenick ciaccia william d. marsillo Our popular Culinary Programs for Children include Pizza alla Nutella, Biscotti della Nonna, james r. d’arcangelo michael p. mazzilli and Pasta A to Zeta. Children, ages 5 and up, have fun while learning to prepare traditional thomas n. de caro james a. oliverio Italian foods. anthony frantellizzi enzo pizzimenti Discover Italy! vincent de giaimo joseph a. ruhl, esq. This multi-media, virtual travel program uncovers some little known treasures that are not to be missed. Each session includes a representative tasting. This season we feature Emilia Romagna patrick de iorio, esq. christopher Santomero & Parma, Montepulciano, and Ciociaria. robert etre frank Scanga Musica! richard flamio frank Sinatra jr. Distinguished performers from around the world present concerts in our intimate lecture hall vincent p. gianatasio james j. veneruso, esq. followed by a reception where you can meet the artists. On the program this fall are A Tribute to adriana greco anthony l. verrelli, esq. Astor Piazzolla, Musica di Sicilia, Pier Paolo Iacopini, and Concerto di Natale. (in formation) And so much more! From Italian language programs for adults and children starting at age 2 to investigating your ancestry; from celebrating the life of Don Bosco to classic books and cinema with our Professor-in- Residence, Antonio Rutigliano of NYU; and from Sicilian marionettes to movie nights for teens, the Westchester Italian Cultural Center offers the most robust program of Italian culture to be found in the tri-state area. For information about the Business Circle To learn more about our programs and events, visit us on the web at wiccny.org please call 914-771-8700. 4 Sicilia Bedda a celeBration of Sicily 5 The Intense Flavors and Fragrances of Sicily by Giovanna Bellia La Marca ith increasingly greater reducing condiments to the foods’ own numbers of people visiting juices, and adding a savory mixture of fresh WSicily to enjoy the history of aromatic herbs chopped and mixed with the island, the ancient Greek temples, the good olive oil, salt, and sesame seeds. landscape with all its hill towns, the natural The appeal that Sicilian cooking has for beauty of the mountains, the sandy beaches, us today is that it is a simple, flavorful, and the beautiful cities, visitors rave about unpretentious cuisine dependent on the delicious food of this region of Italy. At a uncompromisingly fresh ingredients in time of great interest in healthful, nutritious, season and at the peak of flavor. The and appealingly interesting foods, the techniques of everyday cooking are simple cooking of Sicily provides a wealth of tasty and are aimed at preserving the flavor, and wholesome recipes. Sicily is the largest texture, and the wholesomeness of the fresh island in the Mediterranean Sea, and its ingredients. The Sicilian cook’s ingenuity is cuisine is among the oldest in Europe, a fact his or her greatest asset. Many recipes and that is amply documented in the history of variations can be made from the humblest the island. vegetables, elevating them to holiday fare. Four hundred years before the birth of There are wonderful recipes that are Christ, Plato was engaged by the Tyrant made to celebrate the various holidays of of Syracuse, Sicily, as the teacher for his the year. Easter Sunday/Monday offers a son Dionisius the Younger. Plato tutored double celebration. The centerpiece of the young man for three months before the Easter Sunday menu is the traditional returning to Greece. Plato deplored the ‘mpanata ri agnieddu, a delectable lamb time and attention that was devoted to the pie that will reward the adventurous cook preparation and consumption of food in who is willing to try it. This lamb pie is Sicily, and he was distressed by the Sicilian’s made with a bread crust that encloses well- love for food. He was convinced that in seasoned lamb stewing meat, bones and all. the midst of such decadence and self- The meat juices soak into the bottom crust indulgence, the youth would surely come as the pie slowly cools, making it a very to no good. Plato must not have disliked flavorful and tasty morsel. The Easter feast desserts, because he forgave the Sicilians continues on Monday, when people pack a for their sweet tooth, conceding that sweets delicious lunch and head for the country or were the great contribution of the Sicilian more commonly, to their vacation home in gastronomy to the ancient world. the countryside or at the nearest beach to Sicilians knew about “nouvelle cuisine” celebrate Pasquetta. 2,300 years ago when Archestrato, the Sicily, which in ancient Roman times was James Beard of his time, cautioned against called the “granary of the Italic peninsula,” making sauces too rich. He recommended still produces some of the best durum 6 Sicilia Bedda a celeBration of Sicily 7 include marzipan fruits; ricotta-filled cannoli; spectacular cakes decorated with “L’Opera dei Pupi” candied fruits; cookies filled with dried fruits, nuts, and honey; and perhaps the best The Origins of the Sicilian Marionette known dessert, granita, a smooth refreshing fruit ice that can be made at home quite easily and with fantastic results. by Tony De Nonno My grandmothers, Concettina and Milina, always said that Sicilians would eat well if they had eggs, flour, legumes, and fresh vegetables. Historically, these simple ingredients were the mainstays of Sicilian cooking. Ingredients need not be expensive, and cooking techniques needn’t be complicated in order to eat well. To raise this simple cooking to cuisine, I would add good olive oil to the list, the best cold- pressed extra-virgin olive oil you can afford to buy. I grew up watching my mother, father, and grandmothers making feasts out of the most humble and inexpensive ingredients.