My reaction at the end of Green Book’s screening was: ‘Best road movie after driving Miss Daisy..,classically made, impeccably performed and written’.
The story follows the highly famous and incredibly successful pianist, Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali), who takes great risks as an African American man touring through the highly racial deep south. Tony Lip (a spectacular Viggo Mortensen) a bouncer from an Italian-American neighborhood in the Bronx, who is hired to drive the musician on a concert tour from Manhattan to the Deep South. 
They must rely on “The Green Book” to guide them to the few establishments that were then safe for African-Americans. As the tour progresses, the audience goes through many parts of the south where not only racism was prevalent against African Americans and Italians, but also acknowledge the severe homophobia that existed so terribly in the 1960s. A real story that shows the journey of Tony and Don. Confronted with racism, danger-as well as unexpected humanity and humor-they are forced to set aside differences to survive and thrive on the journey of a lifetime. One white and one black met at the apartheid society. At the beginning, they didn’t understand each other and came up a lot of conflict. After a period of time, they started to help each other and Tony always stood up for Don .They turned to be friend or even more than that. I loved the direction, the cinematography , the music, the editing and the excellent performances,.
I truly wish the ‘green of that book’ would change color into ‘gold’, the color of the Oscar.
(traduzione)
La mia reazione alla fine della proiezione di Green Book è stata: “Miglior film on the road dopo Driving Miss Daisy. Una pellicola classicamente realizzata, eseguita e scritta in modo impeccabile”.
La storia segue il famoso pianista afroamericano Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali), che si azzarda a voler fare una tournee nel profondo Sud degli Stati Uniti. Tony Lip (uno spettacolare Viggo Mortensen) buttafuori di un quartiere italo-americano del Bronx, viene ingaggiato per guidare il musicista Devono fare affidamento su “The Green Book” per essere guidati verso le poche strutture che venivano segnalate come sicure per gli afro-americani. Il tour inizia e attraversa molte luoghi impregnati di razzismo contro gli afroamericani e severamente omofobi. Di fronte al razzismo, al pericolo, oltre che all’umanità e all’umore inaspettati, sono costretti a mettere da parte le loro differenze per sopravvivere e continuare nel viaggio. Un bianco e un nero che si incontrarono nella società dell’apartheid e che superano conflitti, trasformandosi in amici e anche più.
Ho amato la regia, la cinematografia, la musica, il montaggio e le eccellenti performance.
Mi auguro davvero che il “verde” del libro cambi colore in “oro”, il colore dell’Oscar.
‘GREEN BOOK’ I SO WISH THE ‘GREEN’ WOULD GO ‘GOLD’, THE COLOR OF THE OSCAR!
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Last night at Teatro Carcano, Milan the World Premiere of QUEEN LEA-R,
Open scenario, a doll store with a vintage feeling , on stage the Nina’s Drag Queens Company, in a quite intense musical play conceived by Francesco Micheli, renewed and re-written by the British playwright Claire Dowie and the Italian composer Enrico Melozzi.
Queen LeaR deals with some uncomfortable themes of our time, such as old age, illness and death, on the background of a generation with a hard legacy on his back, a generation of children who may never be fathers. Drag queens act, sing, dance, make people laugh and cry, live and stir strong emotions: for this reason a drag queen is the perfect key to translate Shakespeare in a present-day form, innovating it through a contemporary, eclectic and excessive mask. Queen LeaR is also built on the idea of mixing together different kinds of show. The ambition is to put on stage a form of entertainment at the same time popular and high, which takes its strength from the use of pastiche and the break of genres boundaries.
I loved (and the public too) the crazy and unxpected inserts of contemporary hits from the Italian Franco Battiato’s The Cure to the classic I will survive just to mention few. All songs ‘live’ revealing some pretty good voices. This format is not so new… the iconic Quartetto Cetra, back in the 60’s or the ilarious Trio used that gig in the past. The drag queens’ performances as contemporary opera: a theater with a great visual impact and accurate musical drama dealing with capital issues sometime sacrificing the enjoyment of the show.
The History of Bocconotti –
The Bucci family owns and maintains the correct doses of one of the first recipes handed down. At the right balance between the ingredients, it combines passion for the traditions of Abruzzo and Castel Frentano.
on the tables the delicious sweets from the heart of chocolate and almonds. So, after giving directions on where to buy the Bocconotti to many people, in his mind he took a very happy idea: to put the same Bucci family to work with the opening of a workshop and a shop for the sale of Abruzzo dessert ! Sure of his intuition decided in a very short time to kick off the activity, strong also of another element: he was the custodian of one of the oldest recipes ever handed down by Bocconotto, thanks to his grandmother Sabbiuccia, known for his reputation as a skilled custard. It was she who prepared the Bocconotti for all of Castel Frentano and for every party: why not make such a delight to taste even those coming from neighboring villages? It was 2008 … and from there, after a period of settling, the success came, thanks to an increasingly large audience of customers and consumers who were able to recognize in the Bottega del Bocconotto of the Bucci family a quality guarantee closely linked to the tradition of Castel Frentano.Today the Bottega del Bocconotto is a flagship of all Abruzzo, 
a family-run business supported by valuable employees, operating in all stages of processing, from the preparation of individual ingredients up to packaging and sale.
traditions of the Italian regions.
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There are several legends about the birth of the Milanese panettone.
There’s another side to the story. The Peduzzi Family (with Gaetano Sergiacomo, founder of Rustichella d’Abruzzo in 1924 and grandfather of the current Owners Maria Stefania e Gianluigi Peduzzi) moved from Valle d’Intelvi (Como) to Chieti (Abruzzo) in 1800, bringing with them all the Lombard culinary influences and starting the generation of high quality Food & Wine.
Aladdin’s Lamp is placed in the very rich collection of fairy tales by the legendary Compagnia Carlo Colla & Figli where, alongside the titles of the repertoire as Cinderella and Puss in Boots, among the new creations. It was in fact expressly written in 1993 by Eugenio Monti Colla, who in the following year also directed him for his debut at the Spoleto Festival. The show, proposed in Milan in ’94 / ’95, was subsequently on tour, among other things, in Cremona, Rome, Puglia and the Macerata Opera Festival, always welcomed with great warmth by the public.
Also in this case the “numbers” affect: the marionettes are two hundred, including protagonists, supporting actors, extras and animals; the animators are twelve of which two employees to move only the genius, a singular creature two meters long with the head, the bust and the arms of papier-mâché and the rest of the body made of silk and organza; the paintings of the show are thirteen plus the prologue and correspond to the same number of scenes, partly realized ex novo and partly coming from old 
Loison bakery grants three generations of people able to constantly challenge themselves to keep up with the times and with food trends. Born as a small wood-oven bakery, through 75 years, the small workshop of Costabissara has become a well-established company whose production is in demand all over the world. 
In 1938, when Tranquillo Loison opened his small bread bakery in Costabissara , close to Vicenza, Italy, bread was a staple food for the majority of the population. However, the introduction of ration cards during World War II limited its distribution and consumption. The end of the war and the improvement of the economy led to an increase in the demand for sweeter and tastier products. 
That is when Tranquillo began producing focacce with figs and raisins. His son Alessandro soon expanded the range of products adding spreads, wedding cakes and fresh pastries that he would deliver personally to local coffee shops and families. In 1955, Alessandro began specializing in the production and sales of Panettone and Pandoro cakes, yielding about 20-30 kilos a day. This new activity, together with the pastry line, was immediately much more profitable than selling bread alone, a product that was discontinued in 1960. In 1992, Alessandro’s son Dario joined and eventually took over the company contributing to its international expansion as a symbol of what’s ‘Made in Italy’.
Loison has its own Museum and Library featuring a collection of historical postcards, antique confectionery items and books on the history of bread baking and pastry. A place where to breathe and promote culture. Dario Loison at times undertakes the role of university professor and gives lectures on entrepreneurship at Italian universities. Loison hosts groups of students who visit our company for a day to understand how and where ideas are born.
The other I tried is the Cherry Panettone (with red cherries) 
For more info
The Langhe offer panoramas of carefully cultivated hillsides, following ancient land divisions punctuated with buildings that lend structure to the visual space: hilltop villages, castles, Romanesque churches, farms, cellars and storehouses for cellaring and for the commercial distribution of the wine in the small towns and larger towns on the margins of the vineyards. 
This landscape covers eleven little towns located in the wine-growing areas with outstanding landscapes and the magnificent 
The moRning after we left for an ‘simulated’ truffle huntIing with the expert trifulau Carlo Olivero and his dog Steel. Simulated means that a truffle was previously hidden on the ground (of course Steel didn’t know where…) 
Well, in less than 10 minutes the was able to locate one. Then Carlo took us for a little walk, when suddenly Steel went crazy over a spot and started digging, He was right! There another big one (and not purposely hidden) Everybody, Carlo included, very happy! Grand finale. Gala Dinner at 3 Michelin star 
and guest Chef Támas Szell, from 
The truffle is a sort of mushroom known since ancient times. The first testimonies come from the diet of the Sumerian people and from the time of Jacob the Patriarch, around 1600 – 1700 B.C. Truffle are known as a qualitative ingredient in finest quality kitchens. Their cost could reach up to amounts of one hundred dollars per kilogram!y
An edition, the one just ended, which took place “Between earth and moon” paying tribute to the satellite of the earth which, through the phases of the moon, is an integral part of the search path and which was also inspired by organizers and visitors. The vintage, quantitatively and qualitatively exceptional, has been lived intensely at the World Market of the White Truffle of Alba, the largest international exhibition of truffles from the Piedmont hills of Langhe, Roero and Monferrato. Here each single truffle has been checked by the special “Quality Commission”, available to customers for the entire duration of the Fair to guarantee quality and safety in purchasing. 
The season, which was hypothesized could be very interesting for the quantity and quality of the product, has surpassed the brightest expectations with about 700 kg of Alba White Truffle sold at the World Market of Alba White Truffle.
featuring Chef Gabriele Boffa, 
where we got the chance to meet with the Artist Valerio Berruti.
There are several legends about the birth of the milanese panettone.
This line, called
Last night, all the ‘hip Milan’ packed at the Teatro Nazionale, in occasion of the comeback concert of Loredana Bertè, the undiscussed Italian Queen of Rock. Not a real come back: Loredana did not disappeared from the stages and the press, but she is not been recording a new album since 13 years.
HafenCity It is the new futuristic district of Hamburg, area of creatives and artists,
Here atmosphere is easy and relaxed , The motto says COME AS YOU ARE! There is also free access to a spectacular spa in stones and wood. In the morning a rich buffet breakfast is set up, there you can find everything, including rote gruetze, my beloved raspberry, blueberry and cherry sauce served on lean yogurt. Yummy!
For lunch or dinner, the HEIMAT restaurant welcomes you with local and international food.
There is a wide variety of room types. Cabins, Each of the cosy 21-25sqm / 226-269sqft M Cabins contains a queen-size bed and has an ocean-going atmosphere without compromising on comfort. Perfect for short trip ashore. As you would expect from 25hours, they are designed with plenty of attention to detail.Anchoring made easy. The M Cabins+ are boutique retreats with an area of 21-25sqm / 226-269sqft and maritime-themed decor. Ideally suited for a short shore leave. These rooms either overlook Hamburg’s spectacular port or have full-length windows looking out onto the quiet courtyard.ou can almost smell the sea. 
The laid-back Bunk Bed Cabins have an area of 20sqm / 215sqft and contain two single beds. You could be forgiven for forgetting you’re still on land. Ideal for friends to discover Hamburg or colleagues after a long office day. In addition you can find large Cabins are inspired by the harbour and the sea and offer enhanced comfort. With an area of 31-35sqm / 334-377sqft, they feature a king-size bed and additional seating. Finally the spacious XL Cabins, perfect forr those guests who are planning a special or extended stay in Hamburg and the logbook is a great source of inspiration. 
After a day spent exploring, free use of the Hafensauna is the perfect way to unwind.span approx. 40sqm / 430sqft and feature maritime design and extra comfort. The rooms each have a king-size bed, a couch to relax on and a Nespresso coffee maker.
A room with a bath is available on request.
Novotel Hamburg City Alster Hotel
5-minutes away from Alster-Schwimmhalle and within 20 minutes of English Theatre Of Hamburg. Highlights at this hotel include in-room free WiFi, free high-speed Internet,
You’ll find nice touches like soaking tubs and free toiletries to enhance your stay. Coffee/tea makers, free newspapers, and safes are also available. Enjoy the fitness centre, Turkish bath/hammam, and sauna. Business amenities include a meeting room and a business centre.
Each morning excellent buffet breakfast is served between 6:30 AM and 10:30 AM. Sights within a 20-minute walk of this 4-star Hamburg-Nord hotel include Museum of Arts and Crafts Hamburg and Mundsburg Center. Enjoy the comfort of the sauna and the video games area. Rooms are spacious and bright, 
Super comfy bed…I slept like a baby!
I had a great lunch at the hotel stylish restaurant Novo2, and a nice chat with the executive Chef, who told me that his menu focuses on seasonal products and evergreen tasty meat. and suggested a juicy and tender La Maracho Rump Steak with sauteed vegetables and … a silver swan (just for decoration…)
26 members representing 18 countries (Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela) and the two Federations European industrial pasta manufacturers (UNAFPA) and industrial Semouliers. 
The first World Pasta Day was held in Naples in 1998. Since then, this event has been held every year, moving to Genoa, Rome, New York, Barcelona, Mexico City, Istanbul, New York Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Moscow, São Paulo and .Milan EXPO 2015
Organisation and AIDEPI (Italy) in Dubai, with the support of ITA (Italian Trade Agency).
for more info
I spent 4 fantastic days in a fantastic city: Turin, capital of the Piedmont Region, Italy.
adventured myself in a fascinating journey through the Royal Palace and the Savoy dynasty. The breathtaking apartments, the Royal Library, the Royal Armoury, the Savoy Gallery, the Archaeological Museum and the close Guarini’s Chapel of the Holy Shroud recently reopened to public.
The venue hosts several great exhibits, including Easy Rider, a glamorous exhibit that celebrate the magical world of motorbikes, evergreen symbol of “leaving the world behind”, “freedom”, and “speeding into the unknown”. and a great photo gallery showcasing the amazing work of Elliott Erwitt. 
Soundframes that investigates the complex relationship between music and moving images. 
: 
Welcome to Turin, Capital of taste!
Shall we lunch ?
‘We are a vegetale–integrale restaurant’, told me Antonio Chiodi Latini, the quite bizarre owner and creator of this minuscule venue in the center of Turin. ‘No meat, no fish, no derivates, not at all those sad unflavored vegan dishes. We don’t want to be a trendy place, We like to research , experiment and have the right knowledge of raw materials, their benefit, their taste. We propose a new approach to healthy food, whole foods, paying attention to plant-based ingredients, placing them at the center of our dishes in all their simplicity’.
and ending with the ‘chilly’ sorbet Freddoloso (90% fennel, cardamom, cream of parsley.) As drinks a healthy kombucha (fermented tea , pine needles and cones) and a delicate smoothy with fennel extract, celery. green apple, lemon, ginger and zucchini squash.
Languorini 
C
Are you a coffee lover?
Do not miss 
Check out 
The menu is a fanny mix between Italian and Piedmontese dialect, b
Then a Turin must: Fritto Misto Piemontese. A fried mix of salty to sweet. Enjoy 9 different ingredients: sweetbreads, anchovies with green sauce, tomino cheese with green sauce (parsley, garlic, olive oil)) Vegetable flan with Parmesan creamy sauce, amaretto, fruits and more. Perfectly fried, crunchy, not greasy and super tasty
Then I had the opportunity to taste the Finanziera, a real Piedmont treat. Apparently it was born in the eighteenth century and offered by the peasants to the revenue officers, whose jacket inspired the name. y. It’s an old poor recipe that used the less noble parts of slaughtered animals and the entrails, such as brain, 
Where to stay?
A spring with below-average temperatures and plentiful rainfall slowed down the vegetative growth of the vines and required attentive care in the vineyards to ward off plant diseases caused by the excess water. Then, in September and October, there were consecutive warm and clear days which helped to balance vine growth and ensure proper ripening of the grapes. This turn in climate resulted in a harvest of much higher quality than expected given the circumstances. In particular, the Nebbiolo grapes proved to be some of the best of that year, showcasing the aromatic terroir that distinguishes it. This is all thanks to the contrastof hot days and cool nights that occurred in the last phase of ripening.
In on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of extraordinary composer and good food lover Gioachino Rossini,, the prestigious Milan pastry shop Giovanni Cova & C, also distributed in the US under the label Brera Milano 1930, pays homage to him, dedicating his panettone to his works.
custodian of the works of the greatest Masters of Melodrama 
A sweet tribute to
No proper visit of Ljubljana can be complete without a visit to the fortified castle way on top of the hill dominating the city. Easily accessible by tram, it rewards any visitor with breathtaking views of the city as well as a cultural journey into Slovenia’s history. 
fine dining experience thanks to the talent of chef Igor Jagodic who is seen as a true reference in Slovenian fine dining. To top it all, this comes at a very reasonable price with tasting menus going from 44€ for 4 courses to 77 euros for the top of the hill 9 course experience. This is quite incredible for a chef already saluted chef of the year, winner of Regional Restaurants official selection.
Ljubljana is the delicious, small, neat, clean, surprisingly lively and cheerful capital of Slovenia. The tiny, pedestrianized center, under the hill where the Fortress dominates the city, follows the curve of the Ljubjanica river and the walks on both sides are home to an impressive number of bars, restaurants and trendy clubs that are the heart of the nightlife. To go from one side of the river to the other there are the three old bridges, Cevlarski most, the Triple bridge and basically the one of the Dragons.Turning around you will meet green electric cards with the words Ljubliana The Friendly City. They are free, for tourists and locals, and you can go up for a tour of the city or simply to move comfortably from one side to the other
sedentary transport, there is Urban, electric train ups and downs that runs throughout the city. € 8, ticket valid all day. Turning around you will meet green electric cars with the words Ljubliana The Friendly City. They are free, for tourists and locals, and you can go up for a tour of the city or simply to move comfortably from one side to the other.
You can also take a Boat Tour, a suggestive excursion in a boat open in summer and heated in winter, to discover the city from the river Ljubljanica.
Today totally renovated and ntegrated with modern elements. used for a different events, including exhibits, cultural meetings, shows and concerts. Don’t expect lavish ballrooms, the castle served mainly a military role, but various sections of the high perched citadel have small museum like spaces to visit, from Slovenia’s tormented history to a beautiful puppets collection. 
On the terrace the excellent 
Those who want to be free to choose can also pick à la carte from various Slovenian specialties, as humble as a Kranjska sausage served in the pot with freshly grated horseradish and sautéed potatoes. But there are also chef’s creations with elegant plate compositions: I had an amazing crispy octopus with young peas and strawberries anyone or would you rather experience the matured beef with goose liver, poached egg yolk and vegetable bouquet. Every Sunday the Flea Market is a collector’s paradise. There you can find vintage stuff, original items, paintings, ceramics and jewels, while the Central Market offers fruit, vegetables, spices, Slovenian specialties such as ham and the traditional prekmurska gibanica (my favorite is at 
It is a charming alpine lake, in the center of which stands a small island with its Gothic church from the legendary bell whose toll is customary to express 3 wishes.Bled is also offering hot spring source and thermal waters.
Last bit not the least: The precious 
Let’s be honest, before I set foot at the beautiful Movia wine bar in Slovenia’s capital, I had never heard of “orange wines”. Have you? If not, the best thing is to do is go right now over there and ask for an orange wine tasting. For 18€, you will get a flight of 4 of them, beautifully presented and explained by the great staff, possibly Leonard, the charming and oh so enthusiastic young sommelier in the making. 
Since when has this technique been done? Only 5000 years ago, approximately, especially in the Caucasus region and what now is Georgia (the country). But, it’s only 20 years or so ago that the process made a big come back. Here we are, Slovenia having been with Italy one of the wine countries at the forefront of this revival. So, if in doubt, you are in the right place and in good hands to discover the world of orange wines.
To go with them, Vinoteka Movia also offers various plates of delicacies to round things up, including some gorgeous and perfectly sliced “pata negra”, the king of Spanish cured hams, but also local charcuterie, cheese and Italian mortadella, for example. Now, orange wines are not for everyone. Some may actually be turned off by their semi-oxidized aromas: instead of appreciating expressions of honey, tropical nut, cooked apple and hazelnut, they may think this wine has passed its age or has been left opened on the counter for too long, thus this wood varnish and linseed oil smell and flavor. It’s alright, no panic… 
You are entitled to your taste, Borut won’t hate you or eat you up! He is prepared with about every type of wine you may like in the house. And yes, all of them Slovenian wines. Go for a flight of white wines, red wines or a mix of both with a tasting of various Movia wines, Movia being a very large producer located in Ceglo, on the western side of Slovenia, close to the order with Italy. Trust me, Slovenia is THE “under-discovered” wine country. The diversity of the terroirs and wine styles may be actually their obstacle to global recognition, because it is quite difficult to any non-Slovenian to decipher what’s written on a bottle: what refers to the area, what to the grape varietal, what to the producer? 
With its fantastic staff, so attentive and knowledgeable, the quality of the pours (and of the gorgeous glasses used), I can tell you Vinoteka Movia is THE place to go for both newcomers to the world of orange wines and Slovenian wines in general, and aficionados who already know a thing or two on the matter, ready to be wowed and ask for more!