I swear it’s not all my fault, I’m not the only American invading Italy at the moment.
I had the pleasure last week of meeting the seven young, aspiring chefs who were brought to Italy on a two week immersion course at the prestigious ALMA Culinary School. Their scholarships were funded during dinners held for the Year of Italian Culture in the U.S. thanks to S.Pellegrino, Frescobaldi, Masi, Donnafugata, Berlucchi, ALMA e Massimo Bottura. The young Americans stay culminated in a gala dinner hosted at Alma, where the young chefs presented their culinary creations to a dining room of journalists and professors. I, unfortunately, had to miss the dinner because of a nasty cold, but you can see pictures of the evening here.
But that’s not all. Milan, too, is wearing stars and stripes this fall with Autunno Americano, an initiative of the Comune di Milano in collaboration with the American Consulate. From Warhol to Pollock to Bob Dylan to swing dancing, the program boasts over 50 events and 40 collaborations over 150 days. You can find the full program of events here.
Of course, we can’t forget Hilary Belle Walker, who has been thrilling Milan’s fashionistas with her shop Bivio. And there is also Tizzy Beck, with her two restaurants on the naviglio grande: Tizzy’s and Rookies. Also worth mentioning are the countless gourmet burger bars that are sprouting up like weeds in this city at the moment.
So, buckle up Italy! For now it looks like I’m not the only “Americana in cucina”!
