Direct from Italy! Follow the adventures of two Americans running a villa in Puglia, Italy, and learn all about Italian the culture, people, food and fun. Every week, we’ll share our lives with you and what life in Italy is really like especially for two Americans. From Italian recipes to travel in Italy to interviews with others who share the same Italian spirit, we’ll cover it all. So come along for the ride and discover that life is better when you put a little Italian into it.
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So, full warning, this is not a happy podcast. But I just wanted to say a little about Paul and thank you all for your support.
For those of you that don’t know, Paul Cappelli passed away this year after a short battle with cancer.
From all of us at the Cappelli family — Steven, Connie, Nikki, Casey, and Logan — we want to thank you all of you so, so much for all your support.
His creative, amazing, loving, and bigger-than-life spirit and love for all things Italian will live on in everything we do at Villa Cappelli. Forever.
Thank you.
064: Translating Pasta
Friday, April 17, 2020 • Duration 32:07
We take a lot of pasta names for granted. Sure, we all enjoy “spaghetti,” but do you know what it means? How about “penne” or “fusilli”?
In this podcast, we talk about the names of various pastas. And in many cases how the name describes the shape.
If you want to see actual pictures of the various pastas, check out all the pics in the show notes.
Also, at the end the podcast, we give you a few cooking tips on pasta.
055: Spring in Puglia
Thursday, March 22, 2018 • Duration 35:45
Another quick catchup episode, talking about spring in Puglia, our new dogs, our spring projects, and other odds and ends of life in our villa in Puglia, Italy.
Topics we cover:
• How we lost our dog Orso recently
• And how we decided to get some new puppies
• Mina came to us from a farm in the Mugia
• Mina is a girl, which is what Paul wanted
• Mina is also a Maremmano, here’s a little about that breed:
- An Abruzzo sheepdog
- Used for centuries by Italian shepherds to guard sheep from wolves
- They have a solid, muscular build, a thick white coat, a large head and a black nose
- The coat is thick and long and forms a thick collar (or mane) around the neck
• How Mina was terrorizing the casts, so we had to get Mina a playmate
• He is half Maremmano and half Dogo Argentino, though he looks all Dogo Argentino
• He has very distinct markings, and after a lot of suggestions from our Instagram friends (link), Logan came up with the name Duke
• A little about his breed:
- A large, white, muscular dog developed in Argentina
- Their primary purpose was for big game hunting, like wild boar
- Some say they look similar to American Pit Bull Terrier
- While breed as big game hunters, they are also trained for search and rescue, police assistance, service dogs, military work, and more
After a long hiatus (we were super, super busy), we are back with a podcast catching you up on everything that’s been happening since we last broadcast.
Have a subject you’d like us to cover, let us know in the comments.
• How we had to grow our beards out in the middle of a heatwave in August
• Our experience on set and the characters we played
• How hot it was on set
• Why we got to name our characters with our real names
• Paul’s family from the Fresno California area that visited
• How Paul’s uncle refused to come back to Italy when he was 16 and instead went to Chicago and then Fresno, where he settled and had kids. Michael is his grandson
• How his cousin did come back to Italy eventually for an arranged marriage
• How many of the Terlizzi descendants still live in the Fresno area
• And the other areas they have settled as well
• How all immigrants tend to settle in the same area
• Our visitors from Israel
• What Israelis are like as guests
• A funny story the grandfather of the group told us relating to his name being Jesus
• Our friend John Herbst visiting from NYC
• The skit that John always compares our podcast to:
[embed]https://youtu.be/bPpcfH_HHH8[/embed]
053B: Bonus, Eat Happy Sweepstakes
Saturday, September 9, 2017 • Duration 04:43
If you're seeing this before September 9, 2017, you're in luck and can still enter our amazing Eat Happy Sweepstakes! Just click here to enter
If you're seeing this after the fact, please sign up for our mailing list on the right or below this post so you can be notified when we have another sweepstakes!
Below is the list of prizes and sales copy if you are interested.
Win over $700 in Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil, food, and cookbooks! Prizes include:
An autographed copy of Anna Vocino's best selling cookbook Eat Happy ($34.95)
One half-hour phone consultation with star cook Anna Vocino ($150)
Two 3L tins of pure Villa Cappelli EVOO ($199.98)
One 500mL bottle Villa Cappelli EVOO ($24.99)
One 500mL bottle of Organic Villa Cappelli EVOO ($34.99)
One jar of Villa Cappelli Bay Leaves ($9.99)
One 500mL bottle of Artisinal Red Wine Vinegar ($12.99)
Two Villa Cappelli Spaghettata Spicy Spice Blends ($13.98)
Two bags of Villa Cappelli 100% Italian Sea Salts ($15.98)
Two bags of Villa Cappelli Italian Herb Sea Salts ($17.98)
Two bags of Villa Cappelli Italian Lemon Sea Salts ($17.98)
One Villa Cappelli Erbe Di Puglia ($6.99)
One Villa Cappelli Spicy Sun-Dried Tomato Spread ($8.49)
One Villa Cappelli Sun-Dried Tomato Spread ($8.49)
One Villa Cappelli Sun-Dried Tomatoes ($8.49)
Four bags of Villa Cappelli "Crack" Fava Chips ($27.96)
Bonus recipes from Anna Vocino ($19.99)
A free half-hour phone consultation with celebrity fitness trainer, Vinnie Tortorich ($100)
Why are we doing this?
Long story short, we are Mom and Pop gals and guys competing against giant food corporations with million dollar budgets.
This contest helps us reach folks like you and spread the word about quality food and healthy eating.
What are people saying about us?
Anna Vocino Paul Cappelli & Steven Crutchfield Who we are, in case you didn't know by now.... Anna Vocino Paul Cappelli & Steven Crutchfield
053: 21 Things Italians Do Better
Episode 53
Sunday, August 20, 2017 • Duration 48:32
What do we think Italians do better than anyone? Find out in our list below. But first, a couple of notes.
While some of you finding this post will read through this as a blog post, please note these are podcast show notes where Paul and Steven discuss their thoughts on the 21 Things Italians Do Better. So hopefully you’ll listen to the podcast as well, so any nuances come through.
Also note, when we say Italians, we mean Italians living in Italy. Not Italian-Americans. While a lot of these apply to both, this is meant to be our observations of Italians living in Italy.
So without further ado, here are 21Things Italians Do Better.
1. Food and Cooking
Food is so personal and subjective, steeped in tradition. So while I’m sure many might argue that there are other amazing national cuisines out there, many would agree Italian food is amazing.
The secret could be a couple of things. Most notably, the fact that they eat very seasonally. Thus the flavors are all very fresh and delicious, at the height of their flavor if you will.
So with Italian cooking, dishes can actually be very simple. It’s about highlighting the fresh ingredients, not covering up something with a heavy sauce to hide a flavor.
[Note: In the interest of getting these show notes up, I will follow up on the Caterina d’ Medici information we talked about in the podcast.]
2. Fashion
This can be divided into two parts, one part being the actual designers and one being the fashion of Italians every day.
So the designer part is easy, as there are lots of big names in the fashion industry, including Versace, Gucci, Valentino, Prada, and Dolce & Gabbana.
However, the populous as a whole always ascribes to La Bella Figura, or “The Beautiful Figure.” Meaning that one is always looks and composes oneself to make the best possible impression.
In our experience, this is very much ingrained in a lot of the Italian people, especially older generations, who will not leave the house without dressing up.
3. They make family a top priority 4. Italians are great at showing affection 5. Italian really know how to “take it easy” 6. No one speaks with passion like Italians 7. Italians are amazing designers 8. Italians enjoy meals like no one else 9. Italians rule when it comes to coffee 10. Nobody cleans house like Italians 11. They appreciate fine art like no one else 12. They are very respectful 13. Italians are great politicians 14. Italians are also very good about personal hygiene 15. Italians are passionate lovers 16. Italians know about anatomy like no one else 17. Italians are great drivers 18. No one travels and vacations like Italians 19. Italians are great about keeping it in the family 20. Italians fish like there’s no one’s business 21. No one does drama like Italians BONUS: 22. Nobody does extra virgin olive oil like Italians What do you think? Did we miss something that Italians do better? Let us know in the comments below.
052: Small Town Italian Politics
Sunday, July 2, 2017 • Duration 39:13
In this episode, we catch up with some renovations happening at the villa and Paul’s adventure in local small town Italian politics.
Topics we cover:
• How we added three new bathrooms upstairs
• How we saved a lot of time and money by using existing sewer pipes instead of adding in new ones and new construction to our first floor
• One villa guest who stayed with us, Natvar Bhavsar who used pigments in his painting
• Paul’s adventure in politics
• Three strange rules (strange to us) that exist in Italian elections
• First off there were 290 candidates for 17 city council seats
• One reason is each of the parties, of which there are many, they have to nominate a certain number of people in order to be considered a “list” or a “party”
• All these parties then form coalitions, there were three this election nominating three men for mayor
• The next rule that was strange was the fact that you have two votes for city council, and if you want to use both votes, one has to be for a man and one for a woman
• While understanding the thinking behind this, it seems like a strange law
• In a national election, you are voting for a party, not for a person
• In Italy, people always lament about how people here get jobs not so much based on merit, but on who they know, etc.
• However, when it comes to politics, most people don’t seem to be voting based on merits, but on the fact they are voting for their cousin, or their brother-in-law, or their neighbor, etc.
Some more about Italian politics
051: The Olives and the Grapes, an interview with Kenny White
Thursday, April 13, 2017 • Duration 54:31
Kenny White — the pianist, singer/songwriter, producer and arranger — has been in the NYC recording scene for decades. And lucky for us, he recently blessed us with a concert at Villa Cappelli. So we took the time to sit down and get his thoughts on the current music scene, his creative process, and even play a few songs.
Topics we cover:
• How Paul and Kenny met in the advertising business • The Coke commercial that Paul and Kenny worked on:
• How Paul wanted a 60 piece orchestra for the spot and Kenny then had to write a piece for 60 pieces which he had never done before • How Kenny had to stay up to write the song and miss his wife’s birthday • A film had never been filmed at Rockefeller Center before • Getting through the bureaucracy is by schmoozing people • How people are buying vinyl again • Kenny is doing a tour of his latest album Long List of Priors • The countries he's toured, including Belgium, Holland, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, England and Italy • The title comes from the song “A Road Less Traveled” • The song, “The Other Shore” • Kenny’s song he wrote when leaving Italy, “The Olive and The Grapes” Lyrics below:
The sun made good time today, broke the long night’s tension It skied along the cloud tops, ’til it lit the starboard engine Doesn’t matter how the coin lands, heads or tails, With paradise dissolving into the vapor trails
Up here, you’d think we’d be much closer to the spot where heaven waits No that’s down there, somewhere among the olives and the grapes
Lost under fedoras, dead smokes and worn out skin The men stand at the bar and nod to every person hat walks in Already on their 4th cup, the fraternity is clear As they laugh at the same jokes they’ve told for 40 years
I’m leaving with a missing part, the story’s incomplete So I’ll make up an ending with fewer bruises and scrapes, ‘The boy who traded in the blacktop for the olives and the grapes”
050: Preparing Asparagus — hunting, buying, and cooking
Friday, March 17, 2017 • Duration 21:17
In this podcast, you’ll learn all about Paul’s hunt for wild asparagus, some tips on how to cook asparagus, and what to look for when buying it in the store.
Topics we cover:
• How much wild asparagus Paul as been picking
Wild Asparagus. Much thinner than the cultivated kind.
• Why Paul goes picking on Thursdays
• Two ways to cook the asparagus
If you steam them or use a “wet cooking method,” they will taste more “green” and grassy
While if you roast them or use a “dry cooking method,” they will take more “meaty”
• How you can cook them/steam them very easily in the microwave using the below method:
• When Paul worked on microwaves for GE, the best uses for microwaves
• Paul recipe a pasta cooking the wild asparagus with some mussels, garlic, onions, parsley, and tomatoes
• How you pick the wild asparagus, pinching them off a picking them from the fields
• How asparagus goes well with shrimp
• A bit about our KTM chili flakes which contains the Carolina Reaper
• The tomatoes we use for cooking in the winter, a slightly dried hanging tomato
Here are the tomatoes we talk about in the podcast.
• The most amazing bowl of Pasta had in Naples features just tomatoes and basil
• The waiter claimed it was so good because the tomatoes were grown in the volcanic soil
Another wild asparagus picture. Notice the "thorny bush" it comes from.
049: 15 Strange Things Italians Do
Wednesday, February 22, 2017 • Duration 35:12
To start with, this should probably have a major subhead: "15 Strange Things Italians Do that are strange to Americans." Because I'm sure they are not strange to any Italian or even other parts of the world. But to two Americans, these are a few of the weird things we've noticed Italians do.
Know any others? Let us know in the comments. And don't forget to share this with family and friends who might get a kick out of it.
1. They don't wear seatbelts or use baby seats
Not sure if this is a macho thing? Or they believe it's safer because you can, I don't know, throw yourself from the car? Whatever the reason, they almost refuse to do it.
To keep the car from beeping at them, they will either buckle the seatbelt behind them in the car. Or, they will actually carry around an extra buckle, just a buckle with maybe a little strap on it, so they can put that in the latch to stop the car from beeping.
It is against the law and you will get a ticket if you are stopped, so don't try this when visiting.
Is this only a southern thing? Small town thing? Let us know in the comments.
When it comes to the kids, the children will actually sit in mom or dad's lap while they are driving. Sometimes while the parent is also on the phone driving a stick shift.
We have no rationale for this one. It's just crazy.
This is definitely more a southern thing I think than northern. But littering here is just not looked at as a terrible thing like it is in the states.
I have watched someone literally clean out their car while driving down the road. Reaching down to throw out a plastic bottle, then some papers, etc. When was the last time you EVER saw that in the states?
4. Italians will not "drive" in the passing lane 5. They never go outside with wet hair 6. When entering a room in someone else's home or a store, they have to say "hello" 7. They never eat eggs for breakfast 8. Non-gay Italians of the same sex will walk arm in arm or hand in hand 9. They kiss hello and goodbye 10. They wear scarves all the time 11. They always dress to go out 12. They cross themselves when they pass a church or anything religious 13. They have weird store hours 14. They will not eat or drink anything to go 15. They always ask you what you had for lunch So, how'd we do? Any other strange things Italians do that we missed? Let us know below in the comments. And don't forget to share this post with family and friends with the share buttons below.
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• We had a very good olive harvest this year, but it was a very late harvest
• Our new 3L tins
• We have a few new products:
- Some anchovy fillets
- Colatura di Alici, like an anchovy fish sauce
• The Colatura is sort of like Garum, which was a fermented fish sauce used as a condiment in the cuisines of ancient Greece, Rome, and later Byzantium
• Paul helped come up with the name of company who makes the products in Amalfi, and the company’s name is Amalfin
• If anyone is interested in us carrying their line of tun products, let us know.
• It is high-quality tuna packed in oil
• Paul wants to know what it is called “Tuna fish”? Why not just “Tuna”? Is it a marketing thing? Does anyone know? Please let us know in the comments!
• Our new ceramic jugs to decant our 3L into a pouring jug
• How olives are drupes, making extra virgin olive oil essentially fruit juice
• Drupes include coffee, jujube, mango, olive, dates, coconut, cashew, almond, apricot, cherry, damson, nectarine, peach, and plum.
• Michael’s podcast that we mention is here, so you can enjoy his playing on our out of tune piano.
• Our hashtag promotion. Just snap a dish you made with our products or you with our products, and hashtag #villacappelli on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. We will be choosing at random, one lucky winner each month to get a free bottle of our extra virgin olive oil.
• Sign up for our 3-Point Thursday emails below!
• How Saint Joseph’s Day is Father’s Day in Italy.
• The group who came with the charity we donate to every year, Family Equality
• Why we believe you should use Google Maps, NOT GPS when traveling in Italy
• All the industries smartphones have destroyed, watches, digital cameras, notebooks, calendars, GPS units, maps, etc.
• Our friends Sarah and Erwin from Brussels who visit us every year
• Patrick Brunner our friend from NYC and LA who visited us, and how he had a very hard time getting here for over a year
• Our other regular guests, Angel and John from Boston who came with their group of friends
• How Paul drove them around to some different and off-the-beaten-path places in Puglia and to the Amalfi coast
• Some sights to avoid in Puglia
• How we can customize tours for you when you come visit
• Our friend Matt who also came to visit his husband Chantry at the end of their honeymoon
• Our culinary tour that we had this year
• And our new culinary tour for May 2018. If you’d like more information, check it out here
• Our friend Daniel Miller and his crew that came to visit
• Paul’s quick vacation to San Diego to see his daughter Nikki
• How he got to go fishing with Nikki and Matt (her fiancé). If you’re in the San Diego area and want to have a great fishing experience, look him up here.
• How Puglia is not great about tasting and wine tours, but quite a few guest this year had really great experiences and the local wineries
• Paul had quick trip to Paris and all the amazing food he had there and brought back, especially the blood sausage
• Paul's love of the food stands and flea markets in Paris
• The group of Hungarians that came to finish off the season
• How Hungarian is one of the hardest languages in the world to learn (a point covered in my 3-Point Thursday Newsletter. Sign up to get it below!)
• The good times to visit us, especially if you are only looking for a room or two
• How great the end of September and October is in Puglia, almost like a second spring
On Villa Cappelli:
"I can't go back to using any other olive oil. It's ADDICTING!!!!!" — Nare P.
"Best Olive Oil on Planet. I use it on everything as it's so versatile, salads, cooking, baking, roasting, the list goes on!" — Luke T.
"I don't think I really understood how good olive oil could be until I had the product from Villa Cappelli.....VC makes a product full of flavor, rich in complexity and full of love." — Diane E.
On Eat Happy:
"This cookbook deserves no less than 5 stars....I wish I could give it more!" — Anzura
"I've never been much of a cook until this book. Every recipe works and is sooooo delicious!!!" — Marina B.
"A must-have for anyone dealing with autoimmune or mood issues, such as celiac, fibromyalgia, RA, depression, eating disorders" — Jody R.
When I’m not in the kitchen, I’m an actor, comic, voice overer, blogger, and podcaster.
Celiac and Gluten Free since 2002, I wrote Eat Happy to recreate gluten free versions of comfort food favorites from my half Italian, half Southern-girl heritage.
In 2012, I partnered with the inimitable Vinnie Tortorich to co-host and produce The Angriest Trainer Podcast, and my recipes these days are mostly free from sugars and grains—the Vinnie term is NSNG—No Sugars No Grains. I use fresh ingredients whenever possible, and I keep things simple.
NSNG and cooking has changed my life, so I hope I can help it change yours.
We’ve been hosting, cooking and touring Italy for over 13 years, and like you, we love everything Italian. The food, the culture, the people — all of it. It really comes down to living life to its fullest, which Italians do every day.
In a former life, we were both international advertising creatives, creating some award winning famous ads. However, we grew tired of corporate life and Italy was calling.
So we moved to Puglia, Italy, and created Villa Cappelli, an agriturismo hosting guests from around the world while making Italian food products for people like you.
We love sharing our love of Italy, and all of our products — all 100% Italian, natural, and delicious — are our way of giving you just a little taste of Italy.
It’s nice to see so many people with such a sense of style.
Paul’s mother is a prime example of this. While most of the time she’s sitting around in old clothes in her room watching TV, if company is coming over or we are going out, she definitely gets her bling on.
There are many examples of this.
They will dote over any kid in the room.
They will never leave a kid with a babysitter, like a neighbor or family friend. They feel that’s just not right to leave them like that.
Every day (at least in the south), they go home at noon to have lunch with the family.
And every Sunday, you must eat with all your family.
They have multigenerational families living together, where the grandparents take care of the kids.
These are just a few examples, but anyone who’s ever been to any Italians home for Sunday lunch or any special event, sees right away how important family is to every Italian.
Some cultures, well a lot of cultures, have a hard time showing any kind of affection, to family, much less to friends or acquaintances.
Italians are much more, shall we say, “touchy-feely.”
While they won’t run up and give you a kiss or bear hug on a first greeting, after one or two meetings they will expect the kiss-on-the-cheek greeting.
NOTE: If you’re coming to Italy always remember, go to the right first! You will touch your left cheek to their left cheek, then reverse and touch your right to cheek to their right cheek. Actual kissing or kissing sounds are optional, depending on personal preference.
Another interesting note for us is how men here have no problem showing affection. Male fFriends will easily walk arm in arm or put their arm around their male friend at the table. They have no problem showing affection and don’t think of it as “gay” as say someone might in the states.
Different but similar to La Dolce Vita, Dolce Far Niente is the “sweet do-nothing” or the art of doing nothing.
La Dolce Vita is enjoying the life around you — the food, the sunsets, riding on the back of the Vespa with your loved one, etc.
Dolce Far Niente is defined by Merriam-Webster as “pleasant relaxation in carefree idleness.” Really, it’s just enjoying doing nothing. Indulging in relaxation and blissful laziness.
The fact that Italians even have a phrase for this concept shows you just how good they are at doing it.
Eat Pray Love explains it a bit more:
Maybe it’s because they are so passionate about life, but Italians are very passionate when they are communicating.
Doesn’t matter if it’s about politics or the correct driving directions, Italians are very animated when communicating.
Pick up any Italian interior design magazine and you’ll be blown away by the beauty and innovation you see on every page. It really is breathtaking sometimes.
Perhaps it comes from a population who truly loves fine art and culture. But from wherever it comes from, Italians do amazing design.
It can be argued when it comes to cars, this had dropped off a bit in recent years.
But in other areas, especially home design, I think they still do amazing stuff. We have a tray, a simple kitchen tray to carry dishes on, that is amazingly simple, beautiful and totally useful. As Paul says, “It should be form meets function, not form over function.”
Especially in the south, you’ll find a lot of Italians head home every day for lunch and enjoy a big meal with the family.
But it’s really not just about time with the family or getting out of the midday sun —which are also important.
For Italians, it really is about enjoying the meal. Unlike say in the states, where most of the time you are eating for sustenance, because you have to. Italians sit down and enjoy every single thing on the table.
You’ll even notice this even with the way a lot of Italians eat. They won’t load up a plate full of every different item. Instead, they eat put one item at a time on their plate, enjoy it, then move on to another item.
It’s all about savoring everything. Buon appetito!
Coffee is almost so ingrained into the Italian lifestyle that when most people think of Italy, they picture sitting at an Italian cafe having an espresso.
Here’s it’s a ritual. There are “rules.” (No cappuccino after noon. Drink it at the counter or table, not on the go. Etc).
Many business meetings start with a cup of espresso. Just about every meal ends with one. And anytime company comes over, day or night, you always offer them espresso.
But perhaps it is such a part of their culture because it’s so good. They might not be grown their own beans, but they certainly know how to roast it and prepare it.
They hate dust. They hate dirty clothes. They hate clutter.
We have never seen any dust in any home we visit here in Italy.
If they saw a dirty piece of clothing on the ground, they would pick it up, wash it, iron it, and give it back to you.
I only wish I had an ounce of the energy they do for housecleaning.
They study art. They live in it. It gives them a deeper understanding and appreciation for it that a lot of other cultures just don’t have.
This harkens back a bit to the fashion and design points as well. They just love life and making it beautiful and appreciating it all.
When you first meet a woman, you never refer to her by her first name until she says you can. Until then, it’s “Signora.”
As another example, when we were doing reconstruction here and the architect or engineer would show up on-site, the contractors (who honestly probably knew as much about all the engineering stuff as they did) would always address them with their formal titles. Not by name.
They are always very very respectful of their elders. As they should be. But here, they are the leaders of the family. They are listened to, respected, and obeyed if necessary.
It really comes down to the art of the deal. Italians are great at working the system.
When it comes to actually governing, it can easily be debated they are probably not the best. But if you need to find away to get something done, they can usually find a way around something or work through a friend to help you out.
As a good Italian friend once told Paul, “You Americans are great a marketing and sales, but when it comes to politics, you don’t know s***.”
I do believe the multi-party system in government tends to exasperate this trait. Italians have to compromise to get things done. With a two party system, things tend to be black and white. Either you are for this or against it.
Italians have to navigate the subtleties to get anywhere.
Perhaps the biggest example of this is the bidet. While Paul states the bidet was invented by Italians in the podcast, a lot of people believe it was an invention of the French in the 17th century. However, the earliest written reference is in Italy in 1710.
Either way, Italians are obsessed with them. I’m actually surprised they can even travel to other countries where you’d be hard-pressed to find one anywhere.
Not only are the passionate when they speak, Italians love to love. Whether being classically romantic or lustfully sexual, they are passionate about love and making love.
I’ll just leave that one at that.
When Italians aren't feeling well, they can tell you where they are hurting and what is probably wrong internally.
They can name you all the body parts and how they function.
Not sure why. Not sure how. But Italy is a country full of anatomy loving people.
Some of you are probably thinking, “What? They are CRAZY drivers!”
While they can drive a little “wild,” Italians do know how to drive very well.
You rarely see or hear of many accidents.
They obey the passing lane rule on the highway to a fault, never driving in the left-hand lane and only using it for passing.
While Paul disagrees with me, I believe they are good at parking. They might not always park in the lines so well, but they can parallel park like nobody's business.
They are also very aware of pedestrians in towns, as people are keen on walking out into the middle of the street, so they have to stop on a dime all the time.
They usually are traveling at least two or three times a year and are always planning their next trip.
Paul believes they might not be very adventurous on their trips. For example, they might go to Egypt but stay in a resort the entire time. So they really aren’t seeing Egypt per se.
But they do love to explore the world. I think this still goes back to the deep root of all their culture, where it's all about enjoying life.
When you talk about stuff that has to with the family, it stays within the family.
Family secrets remain family secrets.
Which, on a lighter note, is really troublesome when it comes to getting recipes from some of the ladies in town.
This goes along with our #1 point above food, but specifically, Italians really do seafood very very well, especially in the south.
It’s probably not the first thing you think of when you think of Italian food. I’m sure pizza, pasta, and gelato are first on many people’s minds. But when it comes to catching and preparing fresh seafood, Italians are amazing at it.
Just look at Italian mothers. Or any famous scene around an Italian dinner table. Or any famous Italian opera.
Paul uses the example of the Addolorata. The Pained Madonna, who is always dressed in black and has a dagger through her heart. Because of course that’s how every grieving mother feels when her child passes away before her. “Like a dagger through her heart.”
While Spain might produce more volume, Italian extra virgin olive oil is known all over the world over as being amazing, delicious, and nutritious — the best.
Obviously, we are biased in this one, but we honestly do believe that. And if you want to sign up for our free 4 part email course on how to tell if your extra virgin olive oil is really extra virgin, just click here.
• Why the one left wing coalition is not throwing his support behind the other left-wing coalition
• What it will take for Paul’s party to win in the runoff election
• Paul’s speech during the election
• Steven’s surprise in the passion and dedication people showed for a small town election, holding debates and getting very fired up
• How some of the people during the debates were spitting on the other candidates
• How the whole town almost shuts down a few days before the election
• There is a 48 media blackout before the election
• What the incumbents did to win the election
• The results of the election for Paul
• How because there are so many candidates running, a guy who got 2% of the vote got elected to city council
• Why this seems so confusing for us coming from a two party system
• NOTE/UPDATE: Paul’s party did not win in the runoff election
• Why Paul decided to run
• How Paul uses Facebook to influence the government here
• Italy is run through a Parliamentary Republic with a multi-party system.
• Italy has been a Parliamentary Republic since June 2, 1946 when the monarchy was abolished
• Executive power is held by the Council of Ministers which is led by a Prime Minister
• Legislative power is held by two house of parliament primarily, and secondarily by the Council of Ministers which can introduce bills and holds the majority of the parliament
• The judiciary is independent of the executive and legislative and headed by the High Council of the Judiciary
Paul's Speech:
War has knocked on doors here, spilled its venom in the streets And history’s been laid low between enemy drumbeats A young girl sits by the water, like so many have before her Imagining a life that reaches way beyond her border
I know that she has planned at least a hundred great escapes But she belongs right there among them Belongs right there among them She belongs right there among the olives and the grapes.
Kenny White - vocal, piano, Antoine Silverman - string arrangement, Gary Schreiner - accordion, Marty Ballou - bass, Antoine Silverman - violin, Entcho Todorov - violin, Jonathan Dinklage - viola, Anja Wood - cello
• Which comes first for Kenny, the lyrics or the music when writing music • Kenny’s songwriting theory • How most music today is about nothing, has no real story • Paul believes because music is not political today, it might be holding back political movements and causes • The political songs that Kenny has written • Why songs aren’t political today • The movie “The Last Waltz” • The picture of the Pope’s visit to NYC where no one is “in the moment” • Kenny’s experience with Woodstock • Paul’s experience at the Watkins Glen Concert • Kenny’s home in Brooklyn, New York • Kenny’s experience growing up with a lot of Italian-Americans • Kenny having to find someone to guard the stage during the homecoming dance • Paul’s experience with music and Coke commercials • To buy Kenny’s stuff:
• Kenny’s song with David Crosby and Peter Wolf • Paul’s experience with Joe Cocker
Did you like our interview with Kenny White? Any questions for him? Let us know in the comments.
• The way some of the older women make fresh tomato sauce
• Some tips on buying asparagus
Look for bright green or violet-tinged spears with firm —not limp — stems.
The tips should be closed and compact.
Avoid limp asparagus. Take out a stem from the bunch and see if it is limp.
• How to store your asparagus when you bring it home — namely placing them in just a bit of water as if they are fresh cut flowers
• But why you should eat it very quickly
• How Paul likes the asparagus with our new Red Wine Vinegar
• The smell associated with asparagus — how some people have it, some can’t detect it, and how they don’t know why it happens
• How food transcends all
• How the last podcast hit a nerve with some people (LINK)
Bonus asparagus info:
• Asparagus is made up of 93% water.
• It is low in calories and is very low in sodium.
• It’s a good source of vitamins and fiber.
• The white version of asparagus enjoyed in the Netherlands, Spain, France, Poland, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Turkey, Italy, and Switzerland. The asparagus is covered in soil as they grow to “blanch” them. Since no photosynthesis starts, the shoots remain white. It is believed to be less bitter and much more tender. But honestly, I’m not so sure on that. I personally like a bright, green asparagus.
• Hollandaise sauce is a popular sauce to serve with asparagus. Hollandaise is an emulsion of egg yolk and liquid butter with lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
• Asparagus originated in maritime habitats, so it likes soils that are too saline for normal weeds to grow. Thus, a little salt was traditionally used to suppress weeds in beds intended for asparagus. The downside to this is of course that bed couldn’t be used to grow anything else.
You will never see an Italian bite into an apple or pear unpeeled, even if it is washed. That sucker has to be peeled before it passes those lips!
The new rule in Italy is that when purchasing fruit in a market, the display has to say if the peel is edible. If it is organic, the peel is edible. I bet they still peel the organic.
This is strange to us but it is CORRECT. The passing lane should only be for passing. And while Italians do drive fast and like maniacs, they do strictly adhere to this rule.
So if you are driving in Italy, don't stick around in the left lane. Pass someone and get back into the right-hand lane. Otherwise, you'll have a lot of Italian drivers honking and flashing their lights at you.
It goes back to colpo d'aria, the thought that a hit of cold air will cause sudden death. OK. Not sudden death, but pretty much every other malady out there. It's also why they won't drive with a window down, hate fans blowing directly on them, and wear scarves in the summer (see #10 below).
You might have already greeted them at the gate. Or the room they are entering could be empty with the lights off. And there doesn't have to another person even around. But when they enter the room, they will say, "Buon Giorno" or "
Or the room they are entering could be empty, with the lights of and not another person even around.
But when they enter the room, they will say, "Buon Giorno" or "Permisso."
Polite? I don't know. To an American, it's just weird.
Today, most Americans probably have more in common with Italians in this regard. Today, American's will grab a bowl of cereal or a cereal bar before running out the door and aren't usually cooking up a batch of eggs.
However, you will never see an Italian scrambling up some eggs and bacon for breakfast, even on the weekend. Italians are pretty consistent in their concept of breakfast, which usually consists of a coffee and a pastry. That's it.
Italians are pretty consistent in their concept of breakfast, which usually consists of a coffee and a pastry. That's it.
Italians are very affectionate and not afraid of physical contact. Male friends will even horse around grabbing each other by the groin.
It sort of goes back to the whole phrase "Are they gay or just European?" Sometimes, honestly, it can be hard to tell, even with good gaydar.
Strangers, no. But after meeting someone once or twice, you almost always greet them with a kiss.
Remember, always start on the left cheek. So your left cheek against theirs. Then, move to right cheek against their right cheek. A little crisscross dance if you will.
Whether you actually touch cheeks, making kissing sounds, or actually kiss each other's cheek is all sort of a personal preference.
This goes back a bit to the colpo d'aira thing, as Italians seem to get afflicted all the time with cervicale. As near as we can tell, it's sort of a stiff neck. Or some sort of neck ailment.
Paul also thinks it's part of national pride thing for them. They must accessorize and be stylish. It's just part of being Italian.
You will never, ever see a "people of Walmart" post in Italy. Mainly because there are no Walmarts, but also because they would never be caught dead outside the house in pajamas, torn shirt, sweats, workout clothes, or even a slightly worn t-shirt.
For the women, this is especially true.
The guys are obsessive about their shoes, though. Even sneakers. If they buy a new pair of tennis shoes and they come to visit us in the country, if you want to go for a walk they must change their shoes first. A scuff would be a mortal sin.
Even in the car when driving by a religious spot, you'll see them make the sign of the cross (head, stomach, shoulder, shoulder) in the car.
It almost becomes a habitual thing. Like looking both ways before crossing the street.
Even the atheists. For those, I guess it's a superstitious thing.
This also goes hand in hand with men having to touch their balls when passing a cemetery or hearse.
Want a 24/7 deli or gas station? Good luck with that.
Want to pick something up at the store on your way home for lunch? If it's after 1 PM, good luck with that.
As I've talked about in the past, especially in small towns, everyone goes home for lunch. So from 1-4 PM you won't find much open except the big huge supermarkets or department stores.
But they also have weird days where everything in town is closed. It's part of a guild system. For example, no restaurant in Terlizzi is open 7 days a week. Not a one. And I believe all but one are closed on Monday, and then that restaurant is closed on Tuesday when the rest reopen.
Also, on Thursday night, every fruit and vegetable vendor in closed.
Why doesn't someone break ranks and open on Thursday? They'd make a killing! Maybe that's the greedy American talking, but it is strange to me.
NOTE: I'm sure this is mostly only in very small towns.
Paul believes some of the reason for this, besides the guild rules, is that a lot of these shops are Mom and Pop stores and they don't trust anyone else at the register. Some of it also a way to protect their way of life. Everyone wants some time off.
You will never see an Italian walking down the street with a cup of coffee. You will also never see them driving while eating a sandwich.
You will never see an Italian walking down the street with a cup of coffee. You will also never see them driving while eating a sandwich.
Even at a rest stop. They will order their sandwich, then eat it at either the counter or a table in the rest stop.
It always comes back to food, doesn't it?
When a friend stops by for coffee in the afternoon, invariably after a nice "hello" and "how are you doing," they will ask you what you had for lunch.
It's the strangest thing. Except when someone is talking about an amazing meal they had a restaurant, when have you ever in your life asked someone what they had for lunch?
Good thing we always take a picture of what we're eating so we can show them!
