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Hello,

I am not Italian, far from it, I'm from Yorkshire, but having worked with Italians for many years, seen them cook, eat and enjoy the foods of their country, listened to their stories of growing up in Italy, hearing their memories of the food and celebrations of their childhood, makes me wish I had been brought up the Italian way. If you were to ask my friends or family, they will tell you that I am obsessed with Italian food, but in my defence, who could not fall in love with a food culture so full of history and tradition, so absorbing and so totally fascinating.

I guess one of the good things about my approach to Italian food is, that as a kind of ‘faux Italian’, I have no loyalties to any particular region of Italy. One of the main problems I have found with Italian food is that Italians never consider themselves as Italian, they are Tuscan, Calabrese, Sicilian or Sardo . . . never just Italian. Every Italian is an authority on food, it is second nature to be able to talk, and very often argue, both informatively and passionately about the food of their region, their town, their family and probably most important and influentially, their "mamma".




This is why I find Italian food so fascinating, the passion with which all Italians can prepare and speak about food is so endearing and infectious, to listen to them speak about the dishes of their region just makes you want to eat it.




 
 
 


7 comments:

  1. I know I am lucky to be Italian, but being Scots-Italian, is even better because I got the best of both worlds! (I have to say, I prefer British sweets to Italian!) I had thought you were Italian from all your incredible posts and pictures of fabulous Italian food! Nice work!!

    Btw, is the photo above of you with Antonio? Besides telling us you are in Yorkshire, there's no information about YOU at all! ;) Can't tell if you are male or female, so I apologize if that's not you in the photo, and you are in fact a lady! ;)

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    1. Thanks Christina, and yes it's me with Antonio Carluccio I had the absolute pleasure of meeting him at Malton (in North Yorkshire) Food Festival. I never really thought about putting amything on here about me, but I'm extremely flattered you thought I was Italian . . You've made my day :)

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    2. Oh, wonderful! Now I get a face to go with your blog and facebook page! ;) I have to tell you that I'd much rather eat at your house than most Italian restaurants in Los Angeles and that's the honest to God truth! Your food looks amazing and more importantly, authentically italiano! ;) Ciao a presto! CC

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  2. Hi Wayne, I just discovered your blog thanks to Christina's recommendation and I am very glad I did! You absolutely deserve a Cannolo Award for helping preserve authentic (continental) Italian food and for spreading its foundations to the English-speaking world. I've already added you to the list:

    http://www.disgracesonthemenu.com/p/cannolo-award.html

    Congratulations, Wayne!

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  3. Thank you so much Paolo and very nice to meet you. I have proudly put my Canolo award on my page as you can see.

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    Replies
    1. Likewise :) Thanks a lot for displaying the award!

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