MAGIC IN THE BOTTLE The amazing work of Eric Maillet revealing an undiscovered side of plastic bottles.

Posted on December 17, 2015 by nontouristytourist

Photographer Eric Maillet author of superb images for legendary perfumes such as Dior, Giorgio Armani, Ives Saint Laurent, Lanvin, Hermes, not to mention the jewelry and the watches by Cartier. A genius…with a quite unique passion: plastic bottles!
Let me explain.
Spazio Eventi of the Pirelli Tower is hosting the amazing exhibit Water is Life,
that includes 25 artworks by Maillet. ATT00001
The Artist uses a common water bottle to create an abstract, unexpected, colored, and different image. Those sequence of circles, let your imagination fly towards cathedral mosaics, glass windows, extraterrestrial flowers, kaleidoscopical trompe l’œil and imaginary new planets.
I met with Maillet last night and I could not not ask about the story of those surreal creatures that were hypnotising the viewers.
With an adorable smile, Maillet revealed the secret. “They are just multi colored water bottles, I love to discover, collect, and fill them up with water, then I shoot from the top”

Eric Maillet

The exhibit Water is Life is produced by Mario Rescio and André Werther, and curated by Lele Del Fabbro in collaboration with Regione Lombardia. Till 18 January 2016 at Spazio Eventi of the Pirelli Tower in Milan.
Entrance Via Fabio Filzi 22. Monday to friday from 1.00 pm to 7.00 pm

STOP GMOs

Posted on December 17, 2015 by nontouristytourist

Slow Food says : “It’s a matter of democracy
as well as ensuring food sovereignty”
December 16, the European Parliament supported in great majority the objection proposed by the European Parliament’s environment committee to the decision of the European Commission to authorize the new GM maize variety NK603xT25. This is not a binding decision but it underlines a strong political act. In fact, Slow Food condemns the European Commission not only for the authorization of the two new GMO crops*, but also because it has disregarded the on-going objection process of the European Parliament, the institution which is directly elected by the European citizens and which expresses the points of views of the European people. gm-pic
The fact that the delegates of the Member States in the European Commission have overlooked the worries and concerns of European citizens is something that should not happen in an institution that claims to be the guiding voice of democracy

LET’S TALK 500

Posted on December 14, 2015 by nontouristytourist

The iconic FIAT 500 will be the primadonna of a not to be missed chat with Lapo Elkann, Enrico Leonardo Fagone, Roberto Giolito and Luca Napolitano in occasion of the launch of Fiat 500 – The design book published by Rizzoli. cover This visually rich and fascinating book explains not only the genesis and “design metamorphosis” of each model, but also their backgrounds,
and explores the contributions of the designers who have helped to
develop them with innovation and foresight. PAG 32-33 Let’s take a colorful ride on board of the most iconic Italian car, discovering the project, the lines and the evolution in a book that tells the design, style and the transformation into a modern city car. A visual history of the FIAT 500, the ultimate lifestyle car that has
remained a timeless classic and design legend. PAG 79
Considered to be one of the most popular models in automotive history, the FIAT 500
has become a legend over time. PAG 53
Its innovative features, the original and recognizable design of its bodywork, and its versatility have distinguished it as an automotive icon with enduring appeal. FIAT 500: The Design Book is an invitation to embark on a captivating journey
through the main milestones of the 500 project.

Wednesday December 16th 2015 at 6.30 pm at the Galleria Carla Sozzani

DREAMING OF A… WILD STRAWBERRY CHRISTMAS

Posted on December 14, 2015 by nontouristytourist

It’s Xmas time ! Here comes Bing Crosby singing the magic
“I am dreaming of a White Christmas”
This year Massimo Grazioli, fanciful pastry Chef from Legnano Lombardy, made a twist to the lyrics of the most popular Xmas song and to the filling of most popular Italian Xmas cake, a delicious sweet bread called panettone.
Grazioli’s panettone is amazingly tender, soft, juicy, fragrant and generously filled up with raspberries and …wild strawberries.

Massimo Grazioli lab and store are located in Via Rossini 15, Legnano.
Check www.panificiograzioli.it
HAVE A WONDERFUL… WILD STRAWBERRY CHRISTMAS!

QUATER PARA, succulent cake inspired to the traditional Italian lace

Posted on December 8, 2015 by nontouristytourist

quater A decadent cake inspired to traditional lace that Italian grandmas are still tambouring in Cantù, Italy. SCREEN S 18

Cake layered with pastry, frangipane pistachio, soft biscuit almond and corn, quater 1 quater 2

orange marmalade, plum paste, cocoa with the imprint of the traditional Cantù lace. quater 6 quater 7 quater 8
Here the recipe:
http://marraweb.it/filmato2.html
It looks wonderful, it tastes delicious…and probably you will never make it.
Too much work!
Much easier to check Marra’s web and order one!
quater chefs

PINOCCHIO FOREVER

Posted on December 8, 2015 by nontouristytourist

The magic of Walt Disney‘s animation has a masterpiece:

the story of the wooden puppet named Pinocchio created by the imagination of Collodi.

The long-nose little hero, will be celebrated in occasion of the exhibition INFINITO PINOCCHIO (held at Palazzo Sormani from October 17 to December 30) a film festival of popular films dedicated to the worldwide famous puppet.

The festival spans the version beautifully done by Oscar Winner Roberto Benigni pinocchio benigni

to the the first film adaptation of Pinocchio, a black and white silent version dated 1911 tthat will be screened on Dec 26thwith live music by Francesca BadaliniMore info at

http://mic.cinetecamilano.it/rassegne/infinito-pinocchio/

live Cavalleria and Pagliacci…not to be missed

Posted on December 4, 2015 by nontouristytourist

Thursday, December 10th. It will be an amazing night for opera lovers.
It will happen in one of The Space Cinema, a great chain of movie theaters all over the Italian territory, hosting two long waited live performances from London Royal Opera House.
CAValleria P I am talking off Mascani’s Cavalleria Rusticana and Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci, two short works, each recognized as the masterpiece of its composer, are presented together in a new production of the award-winning Damiano Michieletto. marchiello dirige
Exaggerated and cheeky, tender and inventive, energetic and ironic: 40 years old Michieletto is considered the richest talent of Italian directors, who come and go between lyrical and dramatic theater.
The two masterpieces, set up as Sergio Leone westerns, will reveal their western soul.
The event, hosted by Director of The Royal Opera Kasper Holten, will see Damiano, the great sopranos Carmen Giannattasio and Eva-Maria Westbroek, his superb cast and the amazing production team
explore the production, the tradition of verismo opera and why composers such as Mascagni and Leoncavallo chose to write gritty operas about real life as opposed to romantic fantasies.

To know the all venues and for more info www.thespacecinema.it

3 ‘Nobel’ days in Oslo (possibly at the Grand Hotel)

Image

The Nobel Peace Prize 2014 has been awarded to Pakistani education activist Malala Yousafzai and Indian children right’s campaigner Kailash Satyarthi.
Malala rose to fame after Taliban militants shot her at close range in the head for speaking out against the Islamic extremists and demanding education for girls.
Satyarthi has headed various forms of protests and demonstrations, all peaceful, focusing on the exploitation of children for financial gain.
Nobel Committee chairman Thorbjorn Jagland said the joint prize was symbolic because it was important for “a Hindu and a Muslim, an Indian and a Pakistani, to join in a common struggle for education and against extremism.
Highlights of the 3 days event include:
Save the Children’s Peace Prize Party [in Norwegian] outside the Nobel Peace Center.
Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony in Oslo City Hall.
Torchlight parade and The Nobel Banquet at the Grand Hotel
Oslo 9,10,11 of December 2014
Great time to visit Oslo, celebrate PEACE, enjoy the magnificent Grand Hotel a superb symbol of a first-class hospitality with tradition, atmosphere and style.

And this is me …right on the famous Grand Hotel balcony, where the Nobel Recipient waves to the crowd.

My 10 fav restaurants in Venice (“cicchetti” included)

Posted on November 17, 2015 by nontouristytourist

La Palanca at the Giudecca

RESTAURANTS
40 ladroni Address Fondamenta della Sensa, 3253, ( great food, nice garden) good prices
La palanca ph 041 5287719 see pic! ( open only for lunch) take vaporetto, exit la palanca, go left. located in the great Giudecca area, tables outside, great view, facing S.Marc Square.make a reservation good prices
Mistra‘ Address Calle Michelangelo 53c also in the Giudecca aerea ph 041 522074
Ostaria alla Vedova, famous for the Best venetian meatballs and more, close to the famous Golden House, Cà d’oro Address: Calle del Pistor ph 041-528-5324. good prices
Trattoria Da Bepi adress Cannaregio, 4550 stop ferry Ca’D’oro.
Al Paradiso perduto– Address Sacco della Misericordia – Cannarreggio aerea- (the owner will pick up the fish for you)
Le antiche carampane (where real venetians go) ) ph 041 5240165 Address :: San Polo, 1911, expensive, excellent, closed sunday and monday .

TRADITIONAL VENETIAN CICCHETTI
( tapas + wine) for a drink or aperitivo during the day, evening.
Arco douzen of tapas, close to ponte rialto direction san polo) good prices
Corte del remer ( next to fiaschetteria toscana) self service great happy hour Address: calle del remer, ph 0415228789
Al Mascaron tiny tiny and traditional ( great cicchetti and more) Castello 5525, Calle Lunga Santa Maria Formosa ph 041 522 5995 good prices

Do you enjoy the traditional mountain cuisine?

Posted on November 16, 2015 by nontouristytourist

Here my article for Zester Daily
http://zesterdaily.com/world/peak-cuisine-7-dishes-at-heart-of-european-mountain-food

Milan gets greedy for food. MILANO GOLOSA 2015 will satisfy everyone appetite.

Posted on November 15, 2015 by nontouristytourist

3 days of gourmet food, cooking shows, meetings and…did I say food?That’s the succulent program of the 4th edition of Milano Golosa, a gourmet bonanza
that will invade Milan Oct 3-5 at Palazzo Del Ghiaccio, located in Via PiranesI. This annual event, created by Davide Paolini, the soul of the respected www.gastronauta.it
will take to an extraordinary journey.

Before the show starts, the program includes several “Fuori Milano Golosa“ events where great chefs will create new and traditional dishes.
Amazing locations too, starting from the trendy furniture store Dilmos, where 7 producers will offer the best of their production during an aperitivo, that will combine excellences between design and food.Then to the next door I Salentini Restaurant, located in Via Solferino 44, which is hosting a tasting menu featuring specialties made with local product from the Salento area, including the celebrated pasticciotto, a traditional sweet made of shortcrust pastry filled with cream or chocolate.

If you want to know ( and taste) more of Milano Golosa, check info at
www.milanogolosa.it

VOILA’ MILAN GOURMANDE! Milano Golosa Oct 3th-5th 2015

Posted on November 3, 2015 by nontouristytourist

Milano Golosa opened today and it will indulge your palate till Monday Oct 5th
Yesterday, the annual food bonanza had several delicious preview events.
I picked up the chic APERITIVO at Dilmos, furniture store, that marked an unusual encounter between design and culinary.
Seven producers were offering their 7 treasures.
Here they are:
testa in cassetta from Salumeria Giacobbe,

castelmagno d’alpeggio cheese Terre di Castelmagno, caciocavallo lucano cheese Latteria Salvia Maria,

Cerignola olives by Agricola Fratepietro,

home made bread by Matera Pane&Pace,

To drink prosecco Docg di Valdobbiadene Bisol

and …the best of the best the amazing onion and saffron pre-desserts dolcetti by Opera Waiting,

I ended the evening at the close by I Salentini restaurant.
To my taste, some dishes were excellent, some less appealing.
I started with a very salty capocollo, a nice palette of Salento oil&vinegar marinated vegetables (loooved the artichokes and the sun dried tomatoes) followed by a disappointingly overcooked pasta (the super nice owner Antonio suspected a probable kitchen faux pas ).
The hit of the night? Great paparine, spontaneous green growing in the olive trees territory, stirred the traditional way, with celline, minuscule black olives, chilly, garlic and Salento olive oil.Finally a rich and delicious pasticciotto, a typical cake from Lecce and its surrounding areas, made with a sweet crust and pastry cream and a great white wine Moscato Salento Estella. Now…curious about paparine?
Experiment your italian and check at 0’45”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnQnR8HHkuo and how how to cook them at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPAFQvPx-6Y
For more info and a visit ( this year or maybe in 2016) check
http://www.milanogolosa.it/

MILAN EXPO 2015 Wine Pavillion, a true multi-sensorial experience. Tasting Settesoli.

Posted on October 20, 2015 by nontouristytourist

Great surprise at Expo 2015!
I visited the Wine Pavilion boasts a wide array of communications tools, as it narrates the history of wine-production.The exhibit brings all five senses into play, with taste taking priority. Some of the best-qualified sommeliers are on hand to arrange wine-tasting experiences blending tastes with aromas.

I attended to the Cantine Settesoli tasting hosted by charming PR Roberta Urso.

My favorite wines?
Inzolia, a very reasonable price for a great white wine. Light and fruity, just the way I like it. Roberta suggested fatty fish such as halibut or dory with potatoes and cherry tomatoes to go with.
Grillo, with a distinct aroma of jasmine and citrus.To be served with grilled vegetables, medium seasoned cheese, legumes soups, raw meats.
The legendary Nero D’Avola with its ruby red, and a brightly intense taste, smooth and warm, with a distinctive scent of marasca, local red cherry, excellent with raw meat and grilled white meat.

The Mandrarossa wines are the toprange of Cantine Settesoli.
They come from the careful selection of both the vineyards and the vines, together with the harmonious combination of local culture, traditional farming and winemaking technology.

The tasting ended up with an amazing finale.

The “meditation” chardonnay CALADEITUFI cala Mandrarossa Vendemmia Tardiva, produced in a small vineyard that slopes down toward the coast, between sandy dunes and wild vegetation. the breeze refreshes the grapes that are left to ripen on the plant. Deliciously perfect as a “solo” wine or accompanied by light cheeses, desserts, dry fruits.

Settesoli is the largest wine company in Sicily, Twenty million bottles are made in a year and they are sold in 35 countries. “Settesoli is a stellar constellation, said proudly Cantine the general manager Salvatore Li Petri, each producer is a star”.

The unstoppable Italian PRISCILLA, the musical.

Posted on October 18, 2015 by nontouristytourist

You know the story: two drag queens and a transgender woman travel and make trouble in the Australian desert on board of the Priscilla bus.
The cult movie became a musical performed all over the world.
From London West End to Broadway, the “Priscillamania” invaded Brazil, Stockholm, Greece, The Philippines, and Spain, just to mention few.
I have to say that the most glamorous Priscilla event was the one held in Milan, Italy.
It started in an amazing tent, build for the occasion at Fabbrica del Vapore,
featuring not only a great stage, but also many vendors selling Priscilla memorabilia,make up, boas, wigs, games and much more, Not to mention the irresistible “stick your head” posters pr 4 that transform audience into a funny Priscilla look alike.

Audience used to go before the show to have fun and stay after to get familiar with the cast in their dressing rooms. Priscilla success was unstoppable, after four months of sold out performances, it moved to Teatro Arcimboldi, the younger brother of legendary Teatro alla Scala, then celebrated the EXPO 2015 from June to October at the historical Teatro Manzoni in Milan, Priscilla-dressed up for the occasion, serving a yummy hoers d’oeuvres “happy hour”. Resident Director Matteo Gastaldo and resident music supervisor Fabio Serri conduct a stellar cast, featuring great performers, starting the three “primadonnas“ Cristian Ruiz (in the double role of Tick and Mitzi), who studied at NY Movie Center and Beatrice Bracco school in Rome and worked with acclaimed choreographer such as Debbie Allen and Susan Stroman. Marco D’Alberti (who plays Bernadette), an eclectic performer who’s carrier spans from dancing at the Accademia Nazionale di Danza and Teatro Alla Scala ballet schools, to singing acting and modern dancing. Finally the acrobatic Riccardo Sinisi, he is only 23 years old and already the…“veteran” of the show, since he debuted as Adam (among as the flamboyant, adorable Felicia) in the first Priscilla tour, back in 2013. The show boasts more than 500 costumes originally created by Oscar winners Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner, a new number where the audience is invited to perform on stage , and of course…the Bus Priscilla.

I told you, this musical would not stop.
More shows are scheduled at Teatro Brancaccio in Rome and Teatro Coccia in Novara.
To know more about the Italian Priscilla tour www.priscillailmusical.it

That’s me as a patriotic Priscilla…lol

Mummenschanz. THE MUSICIANS OF THE SILENCE

Posted on October 16, 2015 by nontouristytourist

Here it comes again. The magic world of Mummenschanz hypnotizes one more time.
The group of four mimes debuted last night at Teatro Carcano in Milan, Italy.
Despite some technical issues, the show captured the audience, as usual.
The performance started with two huge hands that opened the curtain, flirted with the audience and finally met each other to give the green light to the 80 minutes show, that boasts some Mummenschanz favorite moments and features some new numbers.
In a totally black stage the group of four mimes, bring to life an extraordinary variety of imaginary creatures who fight, love, care, have fun and …reach.There is often a destination to land on, a goal to finalize, a mission to persue in the those creatures world. Like the paper toilet couple (she is in pink, he is in blue) that seams to flirt, or the funny Pac Man lookalike who finally reach the top of a table.

Searching, and reaching, a comfort zone, either they are flying or folding their bodies. One of the best moments is the classic encounter between two masked creatures, which keep changing their plastic faces, in a never ending metamorphosis, transforming themselves into animals and humans.

The company will tour around the world. Lots of dates in Italy and Usa,
Check Mummenschanz international tour at http://www.mummenschanz.com/en/
Photos Courtesy of Mummenschanz.com

Vienna. When culinary tradition is kept alive with panache.

Posted on October 12, 2015 by nontouristytourist

Check my article in Zester Daily
http://zesterdaily.com/world/vienna-culinary-tradition-panache/

HALLOWEEN FASHION

Posted on October 10, 2015 by nontouristytourist

gioia!witchlook1a gioia!witchlookpag2a100

2015 VENICE FILM FESTIVAL MINGLING WITH THE STARS AT PG’S

Posted on September 15, 2015 by nontouristytourist

LOOOVE good movies , love good food, love Venice!
Here my article in ZesterDaily.com
http://zesterdaily.com/cooking/eat-learn-mingle-venice-film-festival/

FASHIONABLY CHINESE SPRING 2015 AT THE MET GALA

Posted on September 14, 2015 by nontouristytourist

From May 7 through August 16, 2015 The Costume Institute’s spring 2015 exhibition will be Chinese Whispers, Art, Film, and Fashion. The exhibition will explore how China has fueled the creative imagination for centuries, high fashion will be juxtaposed with Chinese costumes, paintings, porcelains, and other art, as well as Chinese films to reveal ongoing dialogues between East and West, past and present.
Save the date!

Fano, Italy. Come and taste the best “brodetto”of the world!

Posted on September 9, 2015 by nontouristytourist

Brodetto is an elaborate traditional Italian fish soup
Fano is a beautiful seaside town in the Marche region.
A good reason to check the FESTIVAL INTERNAZIONALE DEL BRODETTO, an international bonanza of delicious fish dishes prepared by Italian and International top Chefs. In top of that, you’ll find cooking shows, wines, products, music and the warm welcome of the people from Fano.
Sept 10th-14th
For more info check www.festivalbrodetto.it