Blending Newsletter March 2014

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2013

NEWSLETTER

ISSUE 1 - YEAR 4 | PALAZZI/FUA | MARCH 2014

Photo Courtesy of Riso Acquerello

BREAKING NEWS

APICIUS & ACQUERELLO AT PITTI TASTE

by Blending Staff

The month of March features an important event for foodies and gastronomers in Florence.

Pitti Taste will be held on March 8-9-10 and is a food and wine fair where top Italian producers will present their delicacies at the Stazione Leopolda event center. Visitors can browse the many stands at Leopolda by purchasing an entrance pass as well as check out an entire calendar of off-circuit events gathered under the Fuori di Taste calendar available online.

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Restaurants, enotecas, and shops throughout town will host diverse presentations, specialty menus, and tasting events starting from March 6, prior delicacies at the Stazione Leopolda event center. Visitors can browse the many stands at Leopolda by purchasing an entrance pass as well as check out an entire calendar of off-circuit events gathered under the Fuori di Taste calendar available online. Restaurants, enotecas, and shops throughout town will host diverse presentations, specialty menus, and tasting events starting from March 6, prior to the official Leopolda fair start on March 8, and continue until March 11. FUA's Apicius students and faculty are featured on March 7 at 7pm in collaboration with the renowned Riso Acquerwello rice company from Vercelli, Piedmont, in northern Italy. Acquerello rice is

famed for the aging and refining processes that result in a unique flavor sought out by chefs all over the world.

This product will be the focus of a cooking show at the Apicius via Guelfa 85 campus, where FUA faculty and students will share with the public their international take on an Italian favorite. Pitti Immagine curates several fashion and food-related trade shows throughout the year that are an important industry meeting point for international buyers and journalists. The Taste edition is a special encounter for the food sector and a must-visit experience for both professionals and the general public.

The complete Fuori di Taste calendar can be consulted here: www.pittimmagine.com/en/corporate/fairs/taste/fdt.html Discover Riso Acquerello at the company website: usa.acquerello.it

ART

PUNCH: FUA PROFESSOR PHOTOGRAPHS BOXING CHAMPION LEONARD BUNDU

by Tatyana Valova

Photograph by David Andre Weiss

They say that “home is a where the heart is.� On the evening of February 12, Ganzo, the creative learning lab of FUA, became a real home for many who attended the opening reception of Punch by David Andre Weiss. Punch is an exhibition presenting photographs of Leonard Bundu, the Italian boxer and 2011 European welterweight champion.

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NEWSLETTER

FEBUARY-MARCH 2014

A friendly and welcoming atmosphere hovered in the air while everyone greeted one another and chatted softly. The event was part of Aperi-art, the Wednesday meetings merging art and aperitivo at Ganzo. Guests could enjoy food and drinks prepared by the students of Apicius, the School of Hospitality at FUA. The calm and quiet mood changed when Leonard Bundu entered the venue. The audience burst out shouting and applauding the champion. When the first splash of emotions calmed, everybody was prepared to listen to a welcoming speech.

David Andre Weiss has been a photographer since 1988.

He received his bachelor's degree in Art History from the University of Chicago and attended the International Center of Photography in New York. After completing his studies, Weiss became a city agency photographer

for the City of New York, covering events ranging from Nelson Mandela's visit to the first terrorist attempt on the World Trade Center. He is currently working on several projects, including a documentary on Bundu.

Following Bundu since 2011, Weiss has been able to capture various moments and moods. Weiss and Bundu have become close friends, making Weiss's photos even more special. It is impossible to say that they exhibit only one mood. Energy, tension, and power characterize them on one side while tranquility and sophistication show them in a completely different way. This intimacy caused guests to feel also as old friends and made this exhibition so special and unique.

PUNCH BY DAVID ANDRE WEISS will run up to March 31, 2014 via dei Macci 85/r, Ganzo

COME SÉ: UNEXPECTED ART IN A RENAISSANCE PAINTER’S HOME

by Ivana Malvoni and Tatyana Valova

Photographs by Daniela Ptrò

Come sé, entrance of the exhibition

Art is a tool to express yourself, your thoughts, your emotions, and your attitude towards something. It is like a shadow that you leave after yourself; it is not equal to the self, but it is what you are. And without the component of “you” the shadow will not be exact.

It wasn’t difficult to identify the artists and their works at the exhibition Come sé that opened on February 22 at Casa Masaccio (where the master painter resided) in San Giovanni Valdarno. The artists seemed photocopied into their work. Take the girl with dreadlocks and sneakers, for example! The colorful and playful balls of clothing bundled together in a laundry basket must be hers. Or that guy over there, he surely created the video of pictures over a span of four hours,

capturing the scenes outside his bedroom window. Each installation, photograph, painting, and video tells the story of the artist and his/her individual personality.

“My author is XY.” The interesting concept of this exhibition was represented in its title. Come sé is a word-playing title.

It translates to “as if,” but with the accent on sé, Come sé becomes “like oneself.” It goes without saying that personality plays an essential role in this exhibition. The 3

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relationship between the two curators and the artists is also crucial. In fact, the interaction was collaborative: many of the artists were very young and not fully experienced, the curators helped to shape their work and their personalities.

In addition to a piece’s formal appearance, its meaning also counts, the so-called filling of an art pie. However, as human hearts are a mystery, sometimes it can be difficult to understand what an artwork shows.

Fortunately, attending the exhibition opening was the opportunity to talk to every artist about his or her work. We started to feel as if we had become friends of the artists. Hearing them talk about their work really opened up their personalities and we got to see a small portion of their private lives. Observing the art while listening to their authors brought the pieces to life.

The unique location should be pointed out. The artists are students of the Accademia di Firenze, a local public university and provider of the “proper” education in fine arts. Masaccio, one of the Renaissance’s founding painters, was born in San Giovanni Valdarno and

Left: Daniela Pitrè, PalleInLavatrice, clothes, powder detergent, plastic basin, 2014.

Right top: Stefano Giuri, Untitled, video, 2'35", 2014.

Right bottom: Jonida Xherry, Triplo Legame, plaster mold, wool yarn, wood, 105x52x27 cm, 2014.

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Casa Masaccio, the municipal gallery dedicated to contemporary art, has been named after him. Given this small town’s huge role during the Renaissance, this contemporary art show by young/emerging artists is both controversial and inspirational. The mix of history, famous and lesser-known names, and a Renaissance birthplace that welcomes current exhibitions represents an important step towards the future of contemporary art and makes it come alive.

“My name is… I am like this… I love this and that… and I can do this and that…” Michele Liparesi, Irene Lupi, Gabriele Mauro, Daniela Pitre, Philipp Path, Jonida Xherri, Francesco Basini Gazzi, Paolo Bernacchia, Davide D’Amelio, Shiva Derakhshan, Stefano Giuri, and Lori Lako are the names of the artists who give us the opportunity to see how the self can be presented without saying these over-used and trivial phrases.

Tatyana Valova studies Contemporary Italian Art and Gallery Management at FUA. Tatyana Valova and Ivana Malvoni are part of the F_AIR – Ganzo Collective for the Spring 2014 Semester.

COME SÉ curated by Elena Magini and Arabella Natalini Casa Masaccio, San Giovanni Valdarno Feb. 22 – Mar. 23, 2014

NEWSLETTER

FEBUARY-MARCH 2014

FOOD & WINE

LA PROSCIUTTERIA

by Cecily de la Peña

Photograph by the author

RATING: LOCATION: Via dei Neri, 54, 50122 Firenze, Italy +39 055 265 4472; www.laprosciutteria.com/ ATMOSPHERE: Cozy, casual, and Tuscan with a trendy vibe.

SERVICE: Self-service, but employees are attentive and approachable.

RECOMMENDED: Tagliero di degustazione, ribollita, parmigiana clamorosa di melanzane, carpaccio di roast beef al tartufo, panini, cantuccini.

PRICES: Very reasonable. Taglieri di Degustazione 7.50 – 15 €, Panini 3.50 - 5 €, Main Courses 3-8 €. No cover fee charged. Water and bread included.

OPEN: Every day from 11:00am to 11:00pm.

Stepping into La Prosciutteria is like entering a fantasy world in which fragrant hams of Tuscan prosciutto hang from the ceiling and bottles of imaginatively labeled wines line the walls. La Prosciutteria defines itself not as a restaurant, but as a locale in which patrons can eat, drink, and spend time with friends and family.

Unassuming and authentic, La Prosciutteria immediately embraces you with its casual atmosphere.

The eatery, which opened in July of 2013, is entirely self-service. Diners are free to choose their own table, either inside or just outside on the lively Via dei Neri.

La Prosciutteria seamlessly synthesizes centuries of Tuscan culinary tradition with a trendy vibe. Almost all of the products sold at La Prosciutteria are made inhouse at Renascimentho Firenze, the restaurant’s twin company in Montespertoli. Hot dishes change daily, while the fixed menu provides an array of traditional Tuscan dishes. The wines offered showcase a broad cross-section of white and red Tuscan wines that pair exceptionally with the food.

The Tagliere di Degustazione was the star of our meal.

Delicate slices of aromatic finocchiona, salty Tuscan prosciutto, salami and mortadella piled high on a rustic wooden board and served alongside a young pecorino cheese and crostini slathered with creamy Gorgonzola and a sweet liver paté. The ribollita was very flavorful and satisfying while the Parmigiana Clamorosa di

Melanzane, though not entirely clamorosa (Italian for “sensational”), was certainly very good. It could have used an additional pinch of salt, but the flavor of the eggplant was well complemented by the light tomato sauce that accompanied it. The Carpaccio di Roast Beef al Tartufo showcased paper-thin slices of beef finished with a simple drizzle of aromatic truffle oil. To round out the meal, a mellow 2011 IGT Tuscan Canaiolo paired perfectly with everything.

At lunch, the line out the door foreshadows what is to come: the panini are fantastic. La Prosciutteria offers a wide selection of predesigned sandwiches on their fixed menu. Alternatively, customers are free to choose from the variety of homemade breads, cured meats, cheese, vegetables, and spreads.

Finally, the cantuccini (offered in almond, raisin, and double chocolate) are the perfect sweet ending to a very satisfying – and very Tuscan – meal. La Prosciutteria is perfect for Florence: a locale that pays homage to rich Tuscan traditions while simultaneously embracing the innovation that it has to offer. Brava, La Prosciutteria!

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RECIPE OF THE MONTH: ARTICHOKE AND PECORINO PASTA

by Elspeth Humm

Ciao and welcome all new students and all of you returnees who are back for another semester! Every month this part of Blending is dedicated to a seasonal recipe chosen by one of the chefs at Apicius or Ganzo. The recipe selected is always a traditional Italian recipe and one which is simple enough for you to try at home.

Photograph by the author

This month I have been active at the Ganzo kitchen experimenting with delicious food. Executive Chef Andrea Trapani and I thought it would be nice to share one of the

favorites with you. Mezze maniche pasta served with artichokes, marjoram, and pecorino flakes. This is a really lovely dish that is even more delicious with crispy pancetta

and lots of pecorino cheese! 360g mezze maniche pasta or you can use something similar 100g grated pecorino cheese!

Serves: 4 Time to Cook: 10 minutes Time to Make: 15 minutes

Method: → Remove the majority of the outer leaves from the artichokes and cut the stem short. → Cut across the top of the remaining leaves, as they are spiky at the tip. With a peeler, remove the leftover knobby bits on the outside of the leaves. → Cut the artichokes in half and scrape out the choke. → Place in a bowl of cold water with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to keep the artichokes from oxidizing and going brown. → Place the crushed garlic clove and the olive oil in a frying pan.

→ Slice the artichoke into thin strips and sauté on a medium heat with the juice of one lemon. → Add the white wine and allow the alcohol to burn off. Season with salt and pepper. Set to the side. → In a frying pan, cook the pancetta on a medium heat. Set to the side when it is nice and crunchy. → Boil and salt the water for the pasta. Add the pasta and cook al dente. Add to the frying pan with a little water. → Finish the cooking and add the cheese off the heat, stirring it into a creamy sauce. Crumble the crispy pancetta on top. Serve and enjoy!

Ingredients: 4 artichokes 360g mezze maniche pasta or you can use something similar 100g grated pecorino cheese 40ml white wine 1 garlic clove 1 lemon 30ml extra virgin olive oil 1 bunch fresh marjoram 80g finely diced pancetta 6

NEWSLETTER

FEBUARY-MARCH 2014

TAKING THE COMPLEXITY OUT OF WINE

by Lauren Fromin

Full-bodied, smooth with an intense violet-red color and toasted aromas. Delivers an overwhelmingly complex flavor of fruity notes and a pinch of herbs while being enjoyed before or after dinner. It’s obvious a certain kind of wine was just described - well it would be to your everyday wine connoisseur.

Italy seems to have a larger population cultured in wine than most other countries. This makes sense, considering Italy is one of the world’s leading wine producers.

But what about the rest of us who

may be new to the culture of wine and the science behind it?

Fortunately for students, FUA offers Wine Club, a unique opportunity which delivers knowledgeable, local perspectives on the subject. One Monday each month, guests gather at Ganzo to sample highly ranked (and often highly priced) wines in a responsible and affordable setting while meeting with key figures from well-regarded wine companies. The club offers an exploration of wine culture in Florence and Tuscany from an insider’s perspective as well as the opportunity to learn about top-rated Italian wines directly from their makers.

Wine Club is a great opportunity to dabble in the art and science of wine tasting and pairing. Imagine the next time you are surrounded by friends and family after your studies in Florence and are able to impress them with your brand new wine skills.

Upcoming dates: March 10 and April 14, 6 p.m. at Ganzo via dei Macci 85/r How to sign up: Meetings are first come, first serve and signups must be made one week in advance.

Membership costs 10 euros per meeting. Email massimo@apicius. it to reserve your glass.

Photo courtesy of FUA

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TRAVEL

WANDERLUST

by Charles DeFilippo and Susanna Maduro Photograph by Charles DeFilippo

What does it really mean to get lost? And what do we find while being lost, or wandering?

FUA Travel Writing students Charles DeFilippo and Susanna Maduro provide two unique perspectives.

A Thousand Times

by Charles DeFilippo What am I doing here? A place I have seen a thousand times, so I applied.

The Duomo printed in a travel guide.

A picture of Ponte Vecchio firm on my grandmother’s wall. The stack of maps given to us at orientation cluttered my desk - every shop or bar the city had to offer. But now I don’t have any of that! I thought of how lovely Florence would be, got in the car, a layover in Paris, I had been here for a few weeks already.

It all happened so fast. A brisk walk to class multiplied, 45 minutes by foot, or more. I looked for those landmarks, but passed the same streets with great repetition, again and again. I wanted to discover, now at a loss of breath. Embarrassed, I sat quietly and the lesson resumed.

I left the next morning with nothing but time. My camera hung my by side - its eye saw the finest detail in all things. I became distracted by an Italian couple, but their conversation was too fast to understand. I suspected to find wine shops on every corner and I did - this did not help. I roamed for hours, hoping to find my way home.

Speeding Vespa scooters, narrow streets and bicycles piled one on top of another. I turned down a main road with slender sidewalks. A local approached me, I didn’t think there 8

was room to pass - he did. My nose followed the smell of fresh pastries for quite some time. My feet ached from the uneven stone, my steps echoed. Vacancy. Owners had gone home to prepare a hearty lunch.

Tourists filled the plazas, staring aimlessly. I kept walking and passed by a musician, my change rattled across his case. No maps. No guides. I wanted to get lost a thousand more times.

NEWSLETTER

FEBUARY-MARCH 2014

WHAT KIND OF TRAVELER AM I?

By Susanna Maduro “The traveler sees what he sees.

The tourist sees what he has come to see.”

- G.K. Chesterton I’d be lying if I told you that I always know where I am going. I call myself a wanderer and that is the kind of traveler I think I am. In my opinion, part of life is not knowing always where to go, rather just to go.

There is quite an excitement about wanting to go to a different place and see the things you would like to see and/or expect to see. But I do not call that traveling.

It is called “seeing the things you would like to see.”

Traveling is more than that; it is discovering things as you walk on by surprise. For example, I have been in Florence for several weeks and I am still discovering things. Of course a matter of weeks is not a lot of time but I am sure that even if I am here for a whole year I will still discover new things.

Not knowing what to expect is what makes traveling so exciting. For me, that is the reason why we travel.

Of course people may know where they are heading, and yes, someone may tell the travelers about the places. But one does not know the place until one is there to witness it for themselves. Wandering around a destination is key to finding a connection between one’s self and the place. For example, I went to Palazzo Pitti and thought it was beautiful. But what I liked most in it was the Giardino di Boboli. I went with a friend; neither he nor I knew where to go, we just walked and walked.

We went into what we called “secret paths” and kept on walking. I thought it was wonderful not knowing where to go, getting lost is the best way to know where you are going. We found our way out and I left Palazzo Pitti wanting to come back and wander again.

Wandering is always good when traveling and, in my opinion, wandering with music included is even better.

J.R.R Tolkien once wrote, “Not all who wander are lost” and it is totally and completely true. Wandering is essential to humankind. It most certainly allows the mind to exercise a little more and use its imagination.

When a person only knows things, the mind does not work much. But when wandering, the mind actually exceeds its limitations.

FASHION

FRESH LOOKS & CONCEPTS IN FLORENCE:

by Paige Zylstra

Photographs by Luca Damiano

Many streets in Florence are lined with elegant shops such as Gucci and Ferragmo that hold stories of the city's high profile fashion companies with an established background or legacy. However, there is a new and more alternative Florence waiting.

All you need to do is cross the bridge to the other side of the Arno River. Past the tourist-flooded Ponte Vecchio, nestled in a side street just off the tiny Piazza della Passera and near Santo Spirito lies a hip concept store. Different in both location and style, Bjork offers a unique experience for a younger Florentine crowd.

Filippo Anzalone, a Florence native, opened the store in 2013 after returning from his studies in the UK. Anzalone was inspired by some of the shops he saw in London and wanted to bring his fresh ideas back to his hometown. Bjork boasts up and coming designers both international and Italian such as A Kind of 9

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Guise, Won Hundred, LRNCE, among many others.

Offering a trendy selection of clothes, accessories, art, and furniture, Bjork is a treasure chest filled with unique pieces that can't be found anywhere else in the city. Another rare feature of the store is the literature selection. Anzalone himself designed the elegant shelving to host unconventional international books and magazines with design-related articles for shoppers to stop and peruse. While the space may be

small, Bjork maintains a modern yet cozy feel with its varied prints and open spaces. The store is also an ideal setting for some of the events and showcases that Bjork hosts. Although Bjork does not have an official online store, you can check them out at bjorkflorence. tumblr.com or like their Facebook page, facebook. com/bjorkflorence. Better yet, venture off the beaten path to H&M and visit the hip staff at Bjork Florence store on via dello Sprone 25/r.

STUDENT LIFE

MIND AND BODY WORKSHOPS: A HARMONIOUS ENCOUNTER

by Faith Roane

Mind and Body workshops help students restore peace of mind in conjunction with physical activity to their lifestyles while abroad. “In each of the sessions, we have cultural components,” SLD's Melissa Rossi shares, “but our main focus is to break down any barriers that the students are facing.” During the month of March, there will be two opportunities to attend Mind and Body workshops.

Self-Defense Workshop, March 7 Mind: This session allows students to put their minds at ease. Although Florence is a safe city, it gives students a great sense of confidence in this foreign to place to know that if anything were to happen, they would know how to respond to the situation at hand.

Body: In addition to the calorie burning that comes 10

with moving your body, this practice of self-defense helps train your body to react to its surroundings for your greater safety.

Empowerment Yoga, March 14 Mind: Yoga is a popular form of meditation among students. It forces its participants to purge themselves of their current stresses and anxieties — the thoughts of being far from home and in a foreign place, the tensions of bad roommates, the struggle of finding good wifi. Gone. At least for a little while. This purging act allows one to return to the hectic pace of life with a sturdy head on one’s shoulders.

Body: Although many people think of yoga as merely a time to focus on one’s breathing and clear one’s mind, the poses and body movements that come with the territory actually build sculpted core and limb muscles.

Yoga allows participants to have a healthily toned body.

NEWSLETTER

FEBUARY-MARCH 2014

CITY WALKS: GET TO KNOW YOUR FLORENCE

by Anna Liberman

Photograph by David Andre Weiss

The students here at Florence University of the Arts are very fortunate to be surrounded by vast amounts of history and culture.

They are even more fortunate because they have many resources available to fully enhance their cultural and historical awareness of the wonderful city around them.

For example, the City Walks that Connecting Cultures provides on Monday nights at 8:45 pm are one of the outstanding opportunities to take advantage of while studying at FUA. During a recent encounter, Professor Giovanni Rossiello (also known fondly as Gianni by students and colleagues) lead a tour of eager students through the San Giovanni Quarter. Rossiello described architectural methods

of the Duomo and Campanile, anecdotes from the Piazza del Mercato Vecchio, the Medici family history around the Palazzo MediciRiccardi, and much more. Rossiello, who has lived in Firenze for over 18 years and has an architectural degree, has graciously taken the time to lead these City Walks sharing his extensive knowledge of Firenze and it's architectural history. Currently, Rossiello holds many positions at FUA; through APICIUS he is a manager at Ganzo, as well as a professor for food, culture, and hospitality classes.

In the past he has taught Italian language and interior design courses. Rossiello is very involved with FUA and its organizations, and it is easy to see why with the

variety of opportunities it offers.

His wide range of cognition and appreciation for the amazing background of Firenze is apparent as he narrates the colorful antiquity of the Renaissance in Firenze.

Future City Walks include the Santa Croce Quarter, the Santa Maria Novella Quarter, and the Secrets of Florence. If you are interested in engaging yourself in the rich culture and history of Firenze, City Walks are the perfect tool to utilize during your stay here!

Upcoming City Walks in March: March 10 (Santa Maria Novella) and March 31 (Oltrarno) To sign up or for more info: Please contact: sld-studentactivities@fua.it 11

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REDAZIONE / MASTHEAD

Supplemento di / Supplement to Blending Magazine

Direttore Responsabile /

Reg. Trib. di Firenze n° 5844 del 29 luglio 2011

Editor in chief

Anno 4 – Numero 1 - Marzo 2014 /

Matteo Brogi

Year 4 - Issue 1 - March 2014 Caporedattore / Editore / Publisher

Editorial Director

Florence Campus per INGORDA Editore

Grace Joh

Via Alfonso La Mamora, 39 50121 Firenze

Coordinamento Editoriale / Managing Editor

Sede editoriale /

Federico Cagnucci

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