Venice: Warm Autumn Days and New Beginnings. “L’Estate di San Martino”, Saint Martin’s Summer, is a time when warm weather returns, albeit briefly, before winter – our Indian Summer. In Italy, it is a moment to bask in the joy of the harvest and wine making when the coffers are full of the bounty from spring and summer’s hard work in the fields. It has come to symbolize a time of change and “new beginnings.” The new vintage is almost ready, which means barrels need to be fully emptied from last year’s wine to be cleaned for the new. Venice’s way of celebrating this time of year is one of the most festive, especially for children. Our menu this week...
Thanksgiving is a time to reunite family. For this, i Ricchi will prepare its annual Italian American feast for pick-up on Wednesday, the day before, so our staff can spend the day with their families.
Many of our customers still will not be traveling this year, so we thought it a great idea to offer this 4-course celebratory meal so even those spending the day alone could enjoy some home cooking.
In Italian American homes, Thanksgiving is the perfect melding of two cultures. For Americans, Thanksgiving has become the quintessential national holiday of goodwill and abundance. Italians easily understand and embrace Thanksgiving as they love any holiday that brings people together around the table.
Harvesting Green Gold: Olive Oil in Tuscany. In was October 18, 1971…the day I fell in love with Italy. My fate was sealed that crisp autumn morning when I went to harvest olives for the first time. The moment they strapped that woven willow basket around my waist, I couldn’t wait to ascend into those silvery branches. The olive harvest is a unique opportunity to participate in an autumnal ritual that is essential to Italy’s agrarian and culinary culture.
This week’s menu highlights the use of olive oil, exalts the flavors of the season and features some of the dishes you might find at an olive harvest feast.
Halloween with an Italian Accent.
Halloween may not be so foreign to Italian culture as some might think. There are legends, rites and traditions around All Saints Day (Nov 1) and All Souls Day (Nov 2) that coincide with Halloween as we know it.
This menu highlights Autumn's ingredients with a nod to regional specialties and a "spooky" Tuscan dessert.
Although modern Halloween carries no sort of significant meaning for those in Italy, it is still a holiday that involves doing something all Italians love: celebrating.
Italian Americans: Assimilation and Perseverance.
The Italian assimilation into the US was particularly difficult, marred by stereotypical images of unsavory people prone to criminality. Despite these depictions, Italians focused on building their American identities. Interestingly enough, it was through their food the Italians forced the rest of America to adjust. It was the Italian restaurants opened by immigrants here that changed and improved America’s understanding and appreciation of Italian culture. Once only available in their neighborhoods, Italian food has won its way into the hearts, minds and stomach of all Americans. Here’s to another delicious week of featuring some of the most famous from around the country!
