Vincent Scordo writes all about Italian food and recipes. We share our pasta, pesto, tomato sauce soup, risotto, chicken, lasagna, cookbook and easy food recipes. Live the Italian Way.
(photo: examples of simple Italian food: lentil soup, fennel and cucumber salad, and flounder with breadcrumb topping)
We're at a food crossroads in America and anyone who takes food seriously in the United States should consider themselves lucky to be living in today's culinary world. The food universe landscape in the United States is moving from the ultra bland and crude dishes of the late 19th/early 20th centuries and the processed food and meat and potato world of post World War II America to an environment more akin to the major food traditions (countries) on the planet (viz., French, Italian, Chinese, Mexican, etc.).
Like in Italy and France, you can now find handmade products produced by local experts in the United States as well as excellent small and large markets stocked with the best raw ingredients on the planet (some made here and some brought in from other countries). There's also an explosion of food related media from the New Yorker's excellent food issue to the countless food related specialty blogs and web sites. Head to your local bookstore (or shop online) and the choices for cookbooks, food related non fiction, etc. are mind blowing. Turn on your TV and find good food related content from Mike Colameco, David Rocco, Jacques Pepin, and CBS Sunday Morning's Food Special. In short, we're most likely right in the middle of a food revolution, versus a crossroads, and as is the case with any revolution it's easy to loose sight of what prompted the unrest with a given tradition and head in the wrong direction post revolution. Simply put, we have much better food choices in the US (even compared to 10-20 years ago) but the next 20 years will truly determine how we eat, shop, and think about food.
Over the last few years there's been renewed interest on the topic of what makes people happy (or happiness studies). "Renewed" is probably the wrong word since humans have been chasing fulfillment and happiness since we picked up traits such as language, consciousness, and the need to write things down and keep records. The interest in happiness I'm talking about is the modern kind and the type that Harvard Professor Dan Gilbert has studied in depth and popularized through books such as Stumbling on Happiness.
The field of happiness studies is full of interesting fun facts like the general claim that happiness does not scale with income and that after an individual has attained certain material items (i.e., a comfortable home, adequate savings, a full belly and the prospects of keeping it full long term, et. al.) he or she doesn't become happier with more stuff. Increased happiness, in turns out, comes by way of non material interactions and experiences.
There's a certain comfort in all things deemed old: Old homes, old devices, old parts, old countries, old texts, old people, old trees, old clothes, old friends, etc. The old can be defined as something not made or experienced recently and having a history (or story) or emotive quality. An old friend can bring you back to your old childhood street and memories of running free while absorbed in a simple game of hide and seek. And an old, weathered, home can bring joy and gratification knowing it's history, how it was made, and a sense of it's parts as a joyous collective.
(photo: an ancient olive tree on the family olive orchard)
Driving on the A3 autostrada from the Reggio Calabria airport to the village of Pellegrina (a tiny Comune di Bagnara Calabra) my mood changes instantly. I'm greeted by a penetrating sun, flowing sea breezes, and intoxicating smells of earth. The greeting has come courtesy of Calabria, the terra of my parents and the very foundation of my soul.
(photo: the "wheat harvest"; taken in Calabria and including Latella and Scordo family members)
The above photo is a favorite from my mother's collection and was taken on the Latella family wheat field in southwestern Calabria (just outside of Bagnara) during the late summer harvest, most likely in the late 1950's / early 1960's. The photo includes my Grandfather (Vincenzo Scordo), Grandmother (Rosa Scordo), and various uncles, aunts, and family friends. My grandfather is located on the right in the 3rd row and my grandmother is in the second row on the extreme right (looking down). Both of my Scordo grandparents have since passed away but my mother's mother and father (Vincenzo and Vincenzina Latella) are alive and (somewhat) well in Calabria.
(photo: by Piero Morello. getting confirmation on the body of water, but I believe it's the Stretto di Messina)
One of the most satisfying moments associated with the warm weather months is the immense existential euphoria or perception of sun (temperature and sight), wind (hearing and touch), and scent (smell). Take today, for example, it's 83°F and sunny in the northeastern part of the United States and I feel extraordinarily happy. I can't make a connection between my happy state and a particular item, but I think it has something to do with the weather, my wife and child, and the many neurotransmitters (i.e., amino acids, peptides, and monoamines) floating around in my brain. In a reductionist and philosophical kind of way, I feel happy because the things around me are helping me be happy (that is to say, they are creating the behavior and I'm <viz., my brain> experiencing the aforementioned representation).
I remember the first time I visited my then girlfriend at her college campus in the state of Indiana and the thought of my lovely sweetheart in all of her collegiate glory is still vivid in my mind's eye. However, I also remember the vast flatness of northern Indiana (specifically, South Bend). In fact, as soon as I stepped off the plane I needed to re-orient myself because my right hemisphere wasn't processing why I could see for miles and without interruption - a truly mind blowing experience at the time.
(photos: discovered on a town street during an Easter walk with our son)
One of the cocktail party fun facts I often recite is that the burgeoning field of "happiness studies" correlates life satisfaction via a few simple items, including friendship, travelling, social outings (including participating in sport), and time spent with family. Of course, some of the non-correlative items are large vats of money, a fleet of super cars, unyielding fame, a Newport mansion, and a closet full of high end clothes and shoes.
(photo: don't be fooled by the Carlo Rossi gallon jugs, the contents are 100 percent homemade wine)
As many Italian Americans can attest to making homemade wine is one of the culturally defining moments of our group. Making and bottling homemade wine is practiced by thousands of immigrants and 1st/2nd/3rd generation Italian Americans in the United States. The process begins in the Fall with the crushing of varied grape varietals and ends in the Spring with the bottling process. The entire Scordo homemade wine process is documented here.
If you're not an avid reader of the Atlantic (or similar general interest magazines like the New Yorker) then you've undoubtedly missed both B.R. Meyers' anti foodie argument/rant (in a piece called, "The Moral Crusade Against Foodies - gluttony dressed up as foodie-ism is still gluttony") and James McWilliams' March 1st response entitled, "B. R. Myers and the Myth of 'Sustainable' Food".
Both articles are entertaining and touch on highbrow food terms/concepts such as organic, locavore/local, slow food, food sustainability, etc. yet have the stench of pop sociology that would make David Brooks rage with anger (Brooks is the only popular writer that is objective enough to get non academic sociology correct). Heck, McWilliams even mentions Immanuel Kant and French philosopher Pierre Bourdieu - is he kidding (and this is coming from an ex-Philosophy major who was entrenched in circles which espoused theoretical bullshit on a consistent basis)? At the end of day here's what both writers are saying: Meyers' article condemns "foodies" for being glutenous while McWilliams' points out no one is correctly doing sustainable food.
(photo: clam sauce in pan including chopped clams, garlic, olive oil, red pepper, and parsley)
Why I Would Want to Be Reincarnated as Pasta and the Scordo Pasta Challenge.
In many Indian religious traditions, such as Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism, it is believed that when a human dies s/he is reborn into a new body. You'll also find the same concept in Greek philosophical thought. In my view, the idea of reincarnation sounds pretty damn good, but I'd certainly wouldn't want to come back as a living and breathing thing (certainly, not a human being with all of the complexities associated with consciousness and morality - one lifetime of figuring out what to believe in, what is right and wrong, and how one ought to live is plenty for me ). Rather, I'd want to come back as a perfect representation of food (to serve a single function and then expire <read: be eaten!>). Some of the examples I've been thinking about include the tomato, the fig, cured pork, and pasta. Just think: coming back as a pasta shape to be made into a wonderful dish that is consumed by a hungry Italian who would be instantly satisfied (how's that for a fulfilling, yet short, existence).
(photo: beaches in Scilla, with its castle overlooking the Sicilian coas, Piero Morello)
By now you know my connection to the region of Calabria in southern Italy and my familiar, immigrant, story. You know, for example, my parents immigrated to the U.S. from a tiny hilltop village in southwest Calabria called Pellegrina in the 1970's and that I've been influenced greatly by the traditions found in the region. However, I've never told our loyal Scordo.com audience what I specifically love about Calabria, so here are the five things I love about Calabria and, in turn, the Italian life (and yes there are negative aspects about the Province but I'll save those observations for another post):
(photo: eat more real food like tomatoes, red onion, sardines packed in olive oil, fresh whole milk mozzarella, great bread, and red wine)
The web is on fire with talk about the recently revised dietary guidelines from the USDA. The USDA, which updates their food recommendations every five years, now suggests reducing the intake of sodium, eating less food, and consuming more fresh foods, however, and as the food pragmatist Mark Bittman suggests:
"...aside from salt, the agency buries mostly vague recommendations about what we should be eating less of: we're admonished to drink "few or no" sodas -- hooray for that -- and "refined grains," Solid Fats and Added Sugars."
Michael Rhulman, yet another food critic whom I admire greatly, simply asserts if the government wants to regulate how we eat then why don't they tax the mega-corporations making and selling crappy food and teach the US population how to "roast a chicken and make pasta carbonora?"
(photo: peaches in Calabria, Italy on the grounds of Zia's farm)
I almost hugged our TV last night. Well, I didn't exactly get up off the couch to embrace our electronic box because I was under a fleece blanket and several layers of wool and cotton and getting up would have meant losing the precious body heat trapped in my vicinity. What prompted the urge to hug our TV was the 4th round of the Australian Open tennis tournament underway in Melbourne, Australia. The lovely, and liquid crystal induced, images comprised of sunny weather and tan spectators made me yearn for our summer here in the Western hemisphere. And while the first day of Spring is several months away my Mediterranean blood desires warm days now.
Alas, I don't have magical abilities when it comes to controlling the vicinity of the sun in relation to our small planet, so barring a move to Australia I'll patiently wait for the warm weather to arrive here in the United States. If the wait is too much for you to bare, then have a look at some of our food photos from last summer which should help with your mental state; I can't help with the physical, sorry:
(photo: some of Dr. K.'s homemade duck prosciutto sliced thin and eaten with bread and Prosecco)
I'm a big believer in chasing happiness in life and not the 30 minute kind that's associated with a new car, electronic device, or a bigger house (sorry all you hedge fund managers and Goldman employees). Happiness, after all (and there's empirical evidence for this) is derived from things like time with family, meaningful friendships, social outings, and travel. I'd also equate eating well with happiness as time with family and most meaningful social interactions inevitably include food and drink.
One food type that brings great joy to both my taste buds and mental state is cured meat. Cured meat, when done well, is one of the greatest representations of food on the planet (and also one of the most primitive). Curing (and smoking) meat dates back to the Ancients and in the United States Native Americans smoked meat by way of hanging it on their teepees (the smoke from their fire would do the preserving). My own family in Calabria has been curing whole muscle pork and salame for a couple of hundred years and it's a food product that I grew up with and continue to enjoy fiendishly.
(photo: hummus or chickpeas with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Omit the tahini if you'd like a more Italian version!)
By now many of our readers have realized that Italian food is all about simple preparation and great ingredients. In short, simple food equals great food that is satisfying, easy to prepare, and healthy for you. Some of my favorite everyday Italian food include items so simple you'd think I have the palate of a a five year old, but I derive great culinary satisfaction from:
(photo: by Piero Morello. Children in Calabrian classroom.)
One of the great appeals of living in a country like Italy is that daily life is truly enjoyed. That is to say, a stroll by the sea, a day hunting with friends, or a simple prank in a classroom is seen as a form of fulfillment or happiness.
The following photos were all taken by a photographer named Piero Morello who lives in Reggio Calabria (near my parent's hometown of Pellegrina). Piero shoots mostly in black and white and captures that wonderful simplicity and beauty that is the simple art of living in Calabria, like many areas of Italy.
Enjoy the photos:
(photo: by Piero Morello. Hunter and dog)
(photo: by Piero Morello. Grapes on vine)
(photo: by Piero Morello. Hunter and dog)
(photo: by Piero Morello. Hunters walking.)
(photo: by Piero Morello. Hunter.)
(photo: by Piero Morello. Sea near Bagnara Calabra.)
(photo: nonno and nonna's New Jersey basement where I first experienced the "Sunday Visit")
One of the nicest Italian rituals I continue to observe to this day is the "Sunday visit" The idea of the Sunday visit is centered on spending time with your family and friends, maybe consuming an espresso or aperitif, and celebrating a leisurely day without work or obligations. I was exposed to the Sunday visit early on at my grandparent's home, where we lived with my parents until I was five years old, and was amazed at the stream of folks entering our finished basement just to say "hello."
My grandmother's brothers or family friends were frequent guests and I'd get a kick at sitting at the plastic covered table with the weathered men (the women were at home making lunch, usually capretto, pasta ,coniglio, etc. which didn't strike me as odd as a little boy). The conversation was, of course, in Italian and the men didn't think anything of a 5 year old, American born, boy speaking perfect Calabrian dialect. As a pretentious kid, I'd ask all sorts of questions and was only asked to get up from the table if there was an adult waiting for a seat (thinking back the men were more than courteous). When I was asked to get up I'd walk over to the couch located at the back of room and from that vantage point I'd marvel at the smoke filled room with simultaneous conversations going on all at once; the environment was carnival like yet elegant with well dressed folks drinking exotic liquors and sipping dark coffee from small cups. It wasn't until I went off to college that I realized that the Sunday visits were, in a sense, social experiments were I learned the art of conversation, family hierarchy, the value of money and the importance of loyalty.
I'm not sure if my son Tommaso will experience the same existential, Sunday morning, moments his dad experienced in the early 1980's, but I hope, at the least, he realizes that remaining close and loyal to one's family can bring about tremendous fulfillment and satisfaction (that is to say, it can make life truly beautiful).
(photo: my grandfather and his sons in mid 1960 Pellegrina <Bagnara Calabra> Calabria)
The year was 1997 and I was a college junior applying for a prestigious fellowship for first generation college students. The fellowship provided funds and a mentor to guide and prepare students for graduate work in the humanities and sciences. The fellowship had strict academic and social-economic requirements. On the socio-economic side, students were expected to be first generation college students, fall on the lower end of the income scale, and come from an ethic group that were/are underrepresented at US graduate programs.
In my view, I was qualified for the above fellowship and was excited to apply. The question as to whether I was from a distinct ethnic group (underrepresented in academic circles) was not an issue in my mind (the last I checked most prestigious universities had faculties brimming with Waspy sounding last names and not surnames ending in vowels). After all, I did not learn to speak English until I was 5 and thought the American side of my Italian-American moniker was just a way of acknowledging that we breathed the air in New Jersey and not Calabria; I spoke, ate, lived amongst, and thought like an Italian, so I was a true Italian.
(photo: typical Italian wedding in Pellegrina, <Bagnara Calabra> Calabria)
When I got the call from the faculty advisor alerting me that I would not be selected for the summer fellowship program, my immediate reaction was rage. Not because I had been denied, but rather because I had been denied for not being from an appropriate "ethnic group"; at least the groups that were currently in fashion as being minorities in the US and in turn at Academic institutions. I pleaded my case with the advisor and asked, for example, how many of the students that had been selected spoke a second language or had been to the region/country that deemed them to be a minority, for example? The answers that came back were disheartening and I felt betrayed.
The incident made me think long and hard about what it means to be an Italian-American living in the United States today. Unlike Geremio and his son Paul in Pietro DiDonato's classic novel Christ in Concrete, being an Italian American in New York at the turn of 20th century did not come with the added effort of proving one's status as an American with Italian ancestry. After all, Geremio's son Paul was Italian, although born in New York (like the author who was born in West Hoboken). No one at the turn of the 20th century would accuse Paul as being an American, rather he was an Italian who happened to be born to recent immigrants from Italy. Suffice it to say, if such an academic fellowship existed in Paul's time, he would have surely qualified as being part of a true ethnic group.
(photo: my grandmother's family posing as though they were well off - they were not)
So, what has happened to the Italian-American in the 90+ years since DiDonato's seminal novel? Has the Italian-American remained truly unique with strong ties to what it means to live like an Italian in a foreign country? Or have the images of Sonny, Tony Soprano and the cast of Jersey Shore penetrated our media and fame driven society so deeply that to be Italian in America is solely about being involved in crime, putting gel in one's dark colored hair, and consuming tomato sauce?
Again, what has happened to the attributes of the Italian American that were so pronounced and vivid in DiDonato's America yet so dull and mis-represented in our current epoch? In my view, unadulterated assimilation has happened (some self induced and some pushed by the larger American society) of the negative kind that leaves the current Italian American in a state of watered down culture and misrepresentation (in short, what we have in the United States today are many pseudo Italian-Americans).
All is not lost for the modern Italian American, however, and there are glimpses of living the Italian way in America that are centered on practical living, working hard, eating well, and simply living the Italian way. I see first and second generation Italian Americans shunning the popular, and myth driven, portrayals of the goofy, unintelligent, Tony Soprano (don't let the literary critics convince you he was a seminal and complex TV character; he was a mafioso with strong survival instincts) and argue that being Italian in America is just that; namely, living like a typical Italian that has been transplanted to North America (with a focus on food, family, friends, and enjoying deep and meaningful experiences every day).
So, how do you live as an Italian in America today?
Many personal finance gurus will tell you to head to your local food market with only certain items in mind and shop only by price. Moreover, the penny pinching crowd would argue that the purpose of buying, and in turn consuming, food is to be as efficient and cost effective as possible.
As you probably guessed, I don't subscribe to buying food based on price or coupons available. Rather, I purchase food based on freshness, quality, and value (don't interpret value as buying the lowest priced item, this behavior is illogical!). I place a high value on the happiness and pleasure I derive from eating well and, in turn, I often spend a bit more than average on fresh produce, good quality meats and fish, bread, wine, dairy, eggs, etc. In terms of eating out, I do cringe on spending a ton of money on restaurant food (even the variety that garners accolades from Michelin and the NY Times). For example, I recently dined at the Blue Hill restaurant in New York (famed for their association with Blue Hill Farm and locally produced items) and came away disappointed in terms of the quality of the ingredients, preparation and outlandish cost (in my mind, there was no value in dining at Blue Hill because the cost did not justify the overall experience).
With the above observation in mind, I put together a leisurely Sunday meal of grilled veal loin chops with Chinese eggplant and feta and a tomato salad. I also had a few pieces of thinly sliced prosciutto and figs to hold me over during the cooking process.
I prepared the locally raised veal chops on an outdoor grill with a generous amount of salt and pepper. I use an old fashion Weber grill with wood charcoal (I think this is important). The Chinese eggplant was grilled as well and tossed with feta cheese, lots of freshly ground pepper, kosher salt, olive oil, and chopped parsley. Finely, I assembled a tomato salad with some very local tomatoes (from my parent's backyard), local basil, local cucumber, red onion, and lots of olive oil, salt, pepper, and dried oregano from Calabria!
We consumed our meal with a glass of Pinot Noir from California (not my first choice, again, based on value, but it was a nice choice considering the oppressive heat and the grilled veal).
(photo: the beach in Bagnara Calabra - pure happiness!)
At times, I think the political and cultural columnist David Brooks has a little bit of Mediterranean blood flowing through his body (regardless of his Anglo-Saxon appearance). Time and time again Brooks puts together elegant arguments on the paradox of American living, why gun control is necessary, or, say, how most people struggle to find happiness. While I don't agree with every opinion Brooks' holds, I did enjoy a recent New York Time Op-Ed where he argues that we, as a society, should spend more time chasing what truly makes us happy versus material wealth . The article got me thinking about how many of Italians I know have high levels of happiness (especially the ones living in Italy) and why they so easily grasp how to lead a good life.
It's no secret that Europeans, generally speaking, have a higher quality of life than most Americans. The "European way of life" is known throughout the world as emphasizing family, food, and overall well being, while here in the United States the perception is that the more money one makes the better off he or she will live. Are the Europeans just freaks of nature high on multiple cups of espresso; afterall, isn't a flashy career more important than an afternoon siesta and a pre dinner aperitif?
The above questions beg the ultimate question; namely, why wouldn't everyone want to live like an Italian (or their Europeans neighbors)? Are we too focused on capitalist models here in the United States training our best and brightest to become investment bankers versus well rounded individuals who have a passion for leading a happy life?
Prescribing how to lead a happy life is akin to telling someone how to dress or which religion to follow; that is to say, most folks don't want to be told that they would be happier only if they did X, rather they want to discover their own path to smiling each and every day.
My advice is to listen to the latest psychological research on what makes people happy throughout the world and follow a little bit of Brooks' advice. In turn, here's a quick summary of how Brooks interprets the latest empirical findings from the new field of "happiness studies" and why living the "Italian way" may be more beneficial than chasing the almighty dollar (or living like an American):
1. "Marital happiness is far more important than anything else in determining personal well-being. If you have a successful marriage, it doesn't matter how many professional setbacks you endure, you will be reasonably happy."
2. "Poor nations become happier as they become middle-class nations, but once the basic necessities have been achieved, future income is lightly connected to well-being."
3. "The US is much richer than it was 50 years ago, but this has produced no measurable increase in overall happiness. On the other hand, it has become a much more unequal country, but this inequality doesn't seem to have reduced national happiness."
4. "Winning the lottery doesn't seem to produce lasting gains in well-being. People aren't happiest during the years when they are winning the most promotions. Instead, people are happy in their 20's, dip in middle age and then, on average, hit peak happiness just after retirement at age 65."
5. "People get slightly happier as they climb the income scale, but this depends on how they experience growth. Does wealth inflame unrealistic expectations? Does it destabilize settled relationships? Or does it flow from a virtuous cycle in which an interesting job produces hard work that in turn leads to more interesting opportunities?"
6. "The daily activities most associated with happiness are sex, socializing after work and having dinner with others. The daily activity most injurious to happiness is commuting. According to one study, joining a group that meets even just once a month produces the same happiness gain as doubling your income. According to another, being married produces a psychic gain equivalent to more than $100,000 a year."
7. "If you want to find a good place to live, just ask people if they trust their neighbors. Levels of social trust vary enormously, but countries with high social trust have happier people, better health, more efficient government, more economic growth, and less fear of crime (regardless of whether actual crime rates are increasing or decreasing)."
8. "Most of us pay attention to the wrong things. Most people vastly overestimate the extent to which more money would improve our lives. Most schools and colleges spend too much time preparing students for careers and not enough preparing them to make social decisions."
9. "Interpersonal bonds are critical to being happy day in and day out...overall, economic and professional success exists on the surface of life, and that they emerge out of interpersonal relationships, which are much deeper and more important."
(photo: couch's whiting or blue whiting with red onion, peppers, and tomatoes)
(UPDATE 1/31/09: Contest is closed. The winner is Evan Lucas! Thanks to everyone for participating.)
In Elena Kostioukovitch's preface from the book, "Why Italians Love to Talk About Food" Elena asks, "And why is that you identify particular historic moments with references to food?" The "you" Elena is referencing are the intelligentsia of the Italian landscape (i..e, scholars, journalists, historians, political figures, etc.) but she might as well be talking about the seamstress from Naples or the fisherman from Calabria. You see, for most Italians, food is the identifier of moments (hence the phrase, "Parla come mangi" or Speak the Language of Your Food); it bonds Italians, allows them to experience pleasure, and defines what it means to lead a good life. In America, we consume material or money, while in Italy its inhabitants eat wonderful foods to "live well and soundly" (and it's the most basic and pure form of consumption).
(photo: is that drying pasta or makeshift window curtains?)
(photo: the long process of harvesting saffron)
I have to confess, I was fascinated with Kostioukovitch's book well before I sat to read through the 450 pages. My fascination wasn't, of course, centered on how a people could disregard economic or material status for the sake of food, but, rather, why anyone would want to chase the good life in any other manner beyond eating well. You see, I learned early only to associate both important events in my life, as well as the mundane, with wonderful food. For example, I associate my first trip as a boy to Italy with the taste of cold pressed extra virgin olive oil from Nonno Latella's small olive orchard outside of Bagnara Calabra. The olive oil was different from the corn oil my Italian family consumed in the States (we couldn't afford olive oil in those days) and I quickly identified our trip to Calabria with the green nectar from many years to come. And it wasn't just olive oil that formed strong references to key events in my life. I still associate, vividly, the smell of frying dough with Christmas Eve (zeppola), boiling pasta water with Sunday mornings (linguine with a rabbit ragu), sun dried tomatoes , provolone cheese, and salami to my parent's Saturday evening dinner parties, and strong stove top espresso with my mother's breath.
Kostioukovitch does a great job of documenting the same sort of food associations I mention above in her 19 chapters on Italian regions, history, and folklore. I was particularly interested in her chapter on Calabria and it didn't disappoint. Here are some interesting food and cultural tidbits on the southern Italian province of Calabria from Kostioukovitch:
(photo: I'll take the zucchini blossoms!)
1.In some parts of Calabria, "farmers still read omens from a pig's entrails when it is taken to slaughter, as the Etruscan haruspices did." I remember when Nonno Latella used to slaughter a given pig from his stock (about every 2 years or so) and the ritual was very solemn (he didn't do much reading or perform any rituals; rather he was focused on slaughtering the pig).
2.Calabrian women danced and shouted incantation to drive away evil spirits while kneading dough. Both my Calabrian born grandparents kneaded plenty of dough and I don't remember them shouting, unless of course I came into the kitchen with dirty hands. However, I do remember Nonna Scordo telling me I had very poor hip movement when I kneaded (she said I had no rhythm or style and she was right).
(photo: grilled seafood in Veneto)
3.The sign of the cross is traced on loafs of bread before they enter the oven. I'll have to ask Zia Giovanna if she performs this ritual in her bakery each morning. My hunch is that she may on occasion trace a few crosses, given her belief that one can make major life decisions by placing a single drop of extra virgin olive oil in a bowl of water and then asking the oil to move in a certain manner (when she did this for me as a small child I thought we were playing the Oiju board game; I was slapped quickly and told to sit still).
4.Calabria was part of Magna Craecia (or "Greater Greece" from the eight century B.C. until the third century. The Romans arrived in Calabria 500 years after the Greeks and loved the local wines! After the Roman empire fell, "Calabria was ruled by the Germans, the Goths, the Lombards, the Byzantines, the Normans, the Franks, the Swabians, the Saracens, the Spanish, and the French." The 'ndrangheta (Calabrian mafia) begin flexing it's muscle from 1850 onwards and some say they've never loosened their vice grip on the region (a sad fact for the people of Calabria).
5.Cistercians monasteries dominated much of Calabria and their traditions continue to this day, such as practicing an ascetic way of life and deep reliance on agriculture.
6.An annual swordfish sagra (festival) is held on the first Sunday in July in Bagnara Calabra. The sagra features wonderful food and is best known for the blessing of the ontre or traditional fishing boats used to spear swordfish. The is one cool event and it takes place only 10 minutes outside of Pellegrina (Pellegrina has it's own sagra focused on wheat)
7.Calabrians are famous for the diversity of their eggplant crop as well as reliance on fava beans, broad beans, and white beans. Many fish are consumed from the Tyrrhenian and Ionia seas including swordfish, tuna, sardines, and herring. See my article on 10 Ways to Cook Like An Italian here.
(photo: boar head next to boar salami?)
Contest / Book Give Away
In order to spread the concept of leading the good life via food (or at least talking about it!) the folks over at Farrar, Straus, and Giroux hava agreed to send a free copy of Why Italians Love to Talk About Food to one lucky Scordo.com reader ! Here's how you can enter the Why Italians Love to Talk About Food book giveaway contest:
- Prize Giveaway includes one (1) copy of Why Italians Love to Talk About Food.
- What you need to do to enter: 1. leave a comment under this post on a favorite food memory (from any region of the world) and how you indentify it to a major life moment or event (or even an important person or relative) and 2.sign up for the Scordo.com What's New Newsletter here (if you're already a newsletter subsriber than you'll need to sign up as a fan of Scordo.com on Facebook here).
- Only one entry per person please.
- The contest is open until 12 midnight on 1/30 and a single random user will be picked via Random.org (sorry contest only open to folks from the US given shipping logistics). The winner will be announced immediately on Twitter (so please follow me) and on Scordo.com by 5PM on Monday, 2/1.
(photo: book cover)
- Please use a valid email address when leaving a comment so I can contact you just in case you're the lucky winner (I'll need your shipping address).
- Farrar, Straus, and Giroux will send out the book to the single contest winner during the week of 2/1.
Finally, Elena was nice enough to answer a few of my questions on Italians and food. You can find the full interview below and also purchase the book via Amazon:
1. How did you first get interested in the relationship a typical Italian has with his or her food?
It was soon after I began my formal study of Italian language and culture in the University of Moscow. Suddenly I realized that there's a multitude of topics, either abstract or practical, which are closely linked to a food themes of in the mind of Italian people (and of people of Italian origins of course). An Italian says about his or her mother that 'she's as gentle as a bread', about a friend: 'we're like mac and cheese' ('cacio con i maccheroni'), and about a nasty person: 'his pumpkin (head) obviously lacks salt (brains)'. So the more I've been reading Italian journalism, poetry, novels, even philosophy and academic books, the more obvious it was: in order to understand Italy and Italians, one definitely should familiarize herself with secrets of their culinary code.
2. What surprised you the most about how Italian interact and relate to food?
I just love their comprehensive approach to food! A dish can't be 'delicious' or 'bad' per se, it's to be evaluated in context of the entire feast menu. To really enjoy spaghettis, one should take into account a dish that was served before it (antipasto), what was a main dish, and what followed (a dessert). Such an approach suppose that a customer is not only able to evaluate a palatability of every single dish, but also understands what sequence/combination of dishes might be considered prefect, good, adequate, bad, or disastrous. I should affirm that literally every adult Italian has got - subconsciously in the majority of cases - this culinary culture, that he or she has adopted from the very childhood, both in family and in social institutions (kindergarten, school, college etc.)
Yet to say that Italian teenagers today - and especially in big cities - gradually absorb an American-style eating traditions: hamburgers, French fries, hotdogs, Coca-Cola. It is possible that in a decade or two Italian culinary rituals and traditions will sink into degradation and will be swept away by a globalization.
3. Americans get a bum wrap for their relationship with food (not to mention the typical American diet); are things changing in the US? Will we ever see regional cooking make a comeback in the US?
Well, you tell me! I strongly hope that there's a possibility for that in the US, but let your readers express their own judgments. I will enjoy reading them. (Scordo comments: well, what do you think of Elena's question, will American ever be food obsessed in the way Italians live and eat?)
4. Your book is not a typical cookbook; was it difficult to talk about food with no references to recipes?
The main subject of my book is not a food in itself, but what Italians SAY about it. To a certain degree, my book is a systematized collection of testimonies of Italians who cook, sell, describe, picture, enjoy and eat Italian food. To put it the other way, my book's main focus is not on recipes, but on existing general concepts and their roots.
5. Is there a particular regional, Italian, cuisine that you like best?
My favorite regional Italian cuisine is definitely that of beautiful Toscana (Tuscany). Its food is full of energy and dynamism essential for Tuscan character. I adore the taste and look of fresh Tuscan products: vegetables, bread, fish, meat, and not to forget about its inimitable wine. I would highly recommend a freshly-made fiorentina beef stake (only a couple of minutes on grill), a cazzimperio salad made of fresh vegetables and special seasoning (vinegar, olive oil, local spices). Tuscan bread is in the base of the world-known bruschettes. As for a local fish courses, made of Tuscan fish, so rich in flavor, my favorite is a delicious cacciucco soup, which according to a local tradition should be prepared of at least five different kinds of fish (as many as Cs in its name, cacciucco), though the more the better.
6. Of the southern regions of Italy, is there a dish or food philosophy that you enjoyed researching or were surprised by?
As almost every newcomer, I was amazed by a practice of meridionale (southerners) to eat a wet uncooked fish or seafood just from the net, seasoning it only with salt and lemon juice and washing it down with chilled white local wine. This viand turned to be just as tasty, nutritious and delightful as French oysters accompanied by Chablis wine or Japanese fugu sushi with Japanese beer; the only difference is that the last two are world-famous luxury food, while only few connoisseurs outside Italy know the divine taste of a freshly caught octopus, sea urchin and frutti del mare accompanied by chilled Fiano wine (brought to Apulia by Angevins some 800 years ago). To tell you all the truth, I believe that one should try these delicacies only in Italy, combining a joy of gourmet with other esthetic pleasures Apulia with its magnificent seashore and plenty of old Norman castles offers.
I've often stated here and to many friends directly that recent immigrants have an intuitive personal finance philosophy that not only embraces the pillars associated with the American dream but also runs counter to the deeply entrenched, and ugly side, of modern American life: consumerism and materialism.
Some friends get the above point quickly and agree, while others look at me like I'm an alien and think: "this guy is crazy, why wouldn't everyone want an iPhone, a shiny black German sedan, and several Coach handbags?!"
Living life is joyous on occasion, rough going sporadically (hopefully), and even keel on most days. The aforementioned goes for superstar power brokers and well endowed professional athletes - life, as a matter of fact, is ever changing and a challenge (and mundane at times).
There are, however ,a few simple tips you can keep in mind to optimize life (the tips, of course, are not exhaustive and are meant as a discussion starter while you're showering in the morning pondering those great thoughts):
1. Thinking On Your Feet
Thinking on your feet is quite possibly the No. 1 practical skill set of all time. The skill set can aid in a multitude of scenarios from an impromptu discussion on the value of the product line you manage with the company CEO to the ability to argue a position or answer a question in your college seminar. Thinking on your feet can also land you the ideal job you are looking for because, at the heart of it, a job interview is a sort of spontaneous conversation where the hiring manager is evaluating your ability to speak and formulate ideas. Simply put, if you can't think on your feet you might as well be flipping burgers as the local McDonalds.
2. Meaningful Small Talk
If you distill small talk to it's very essence, it's about being able to handle social situations well. A person who does small talk well can relate to just about anyone (from the local sanitation worker to the academic at the local college) and quickly situate himself in a social setting and make friends, communicate that he or she is a trustworthy individual, and ultimately put the group or person he / she is engaged with in a calm and agreeable manner.
3. Take Care Of Your Body, Teeth, and Hair
OK, I'm currently typing this blog entry in shorts, black socks, and with a little bit of scruff on my chin (read: I haven't shaved in two days), yet I'm telling you it's vital that you take your appearance seriously (I'd look better if our 6 week old wasn't dominating our life currently). I've heard that half of life is merely showing up and looking good; that may be true, but the looking good part should consist of daily exercise, dental hygiene (read brush your teeth, floss, and visit the dentist), regular haircuts and the use of hair product (I'm serious), and respectable, but not too showy and ostentatious, clothing. You convey a ton to people well before you open your mouth, so get the easy part right and simply look good (it's not hard).
4. Be Flexible...With Everything
Like thinking on your feet, the ability to be flexible with life is key to living well. As much as planning and thoughtful analysis is part of my DNA, I see the ability to quickly change directions in life and adapt to shifting professional, family, and social situations as an even more vital skill set. I think the aforementioned skill set is especially important for younger folks in their twenties and early thirties when patience and seeing the big picture can be difficult (contrary to popular belief, I think older folks are better capable and equipped to change or adapt).
5. Keep your family Close (i.e., You Can Have Too Many Friends)
I've written on the virtues of maintaining a strong connection to mom and dad time and time again. And it's not just mom and dad you want to keep close, but also sisters, brothers, in-laws, uncles, aunts, and cousins. Maintaining strong family ties creates a real world social network that can help with renovating your home, raising your 1st born child, dealing with difficult life decisions, and just living life in general. At the risk of sounding like a right leaning conservative, family is vital. Now, I do include a few close friends within my family group, but I don't have too many close friends because it takes time to nurture friendships (and let's face it, you can't raise a family, work, stay close to mom, dad, and sis, and maintain relationships with 50 "close" friends).
I've always had romantic notions about living in the country. I've dreamed of waking up early and going for long walks and surveying the many acres on my "property" ; maybe encountering wild life and foraging for wild mushrooms (just like Mayle's book, "A Year in Provence"). I would certainly take refuge in the fact that I could not see another neighbor for miles and enjoy fresh country air entering a rustic, but chic, 19th century farmhouse (renovated with all the necessary modern conveniences, of course). Our country home would be near the sea as well, so I could enjoy the water at the beginning of each day.
The above is just a dream, of course. And the fact is that suburbanites in American are significantly more satisfied with their living arrangements than are residents of cities, small towns or rural areas, according to a Pew Research Center Social & Demographic Trends. Our family lives in a relatively small town (about 9,000 citizens) just 10 minutes outside of New York City in New Jersey. Our town has a suburban feel with many trees, sidewalks, lawns/ivy, and an active, family-oriented, base population. The proximity to a major city, however, does skew the town feel a bit towards the urban, at times.
Choosing where to live is a major life decision and folks are usually influenced by several factors including:
- price of homes.
- quality of schools.
- proximity to job(s).
- proximity to other family members / where they grew up.
- safety.
- available social/recreation activities
- available commercial outlets (shopping).
Photo: Harris Farm, Hollis, NH
As I see it, living in a suburban/urban area has many advantages and while I dream of the rural life enjoyed by my Italian family in Calabria, I could not spend the majority of my time in the country (at least at this stage of my life). Living in a suburban area allows me to:
1. Enjoy my extended family and good friends.
2. Enjoy a short commute to my job (and the availability of potential future jobs)
3. Access to good food/recreation/commercial establishments (I can play tennis, go food shopping, and find virtually any product I may need all within ten miles of my home).
4. Access to different people and cultures (in today's world, if you can't speak the language of diversity and feel comfortable with folks from different part of the globe you might as well have no skill set)
5. Access to educational resources (this not only means good schools for our kids, but also access to libraries, universities, lectures, etc. for adults; if you stop learning, then you stop living)
The suburbs do have disadvantages and I'm sure the average New Yorker, for example, will rattle off many reasons why they're happy to exist only on the Island of Manhattan, but there does seem to be some difficulty in living, long term, in an urban environment (such as cost <see Free Money Finance's article on cities and cost of living>, proximity to other people, space, etc.).
I'll stick to the Burbs for now and aspire to short stints by the sea and the chic countryside.
How is it that we are so eager to watch other people browning beef cubes on screen but so much less eager to brown them ourselves? For the rise of Julia Child as a figure of cultural consequence -- along with Alice Waters and Mario Batali and Martha Stewart and Emeril Lagasse and whoever is crowned the next Food Network star -- has, paradoxically, coincided with the rise of fast food, home-meal replacements and the decline and fall of everyday home cooking.
Amen, Mr. Pollen! It seems that everywhere you go people are talking about food; that is to say, how much they love eating it, seeing it on TV, paying for it, reading about it, dreaming about it, etc. However, what folks aren't doing with food is actually making it.
Recently, I had a two day Facebook comment thread discussion with offthebroiler.com food writer, Jason Perlow. Jason and I have never met but I have great respect for his knowledge of food and, of course, the great content on his site. Our discussion on Facebook centered on pizza, specifically, the value and quality of buying pizza from a high end pizzeria (viz., Pepe's Pizzeria in New Haven, CT). Jason was arguing that Pepe's achieves ethereal pizza status (given "char" and "pliability") because of several factors, the most important being the wood burning oven the pizzeria uses (wood burning ovens can get very hot, to the tune of 800 degrees and I've had the pleasure of standing next to my Aunt Giovanna's olive and chestnut wood feed oven in southern Italy). My position was/is that, as Pollen states, good food is about the making and not just the eating and that you can achieve great results by making food at home (including pizza).
Eating out at restaurants, other than the occasional splurge, is in my view a royal waste of money (not to mention the health effects). Now, don't get me wrong, I do consider myself a foodie (as much as I hate the word), but I take great pride in making my own food (using great ingredients and knowing where they come from), saving money, and spending a evening enjoying the end product with a glass of wine and my family.
Much of what Pollen is talking about above puts food consumers in the US in a mindset that believes, "I must eat at that famous restaurant" or I could never do what the Iron Chef on the Food Network is doing because I lack a restaurant style stove or truffles from northen Italy. This type of thinking has led to a huge decline in how much time we spend "preparing" our own meals; as Pollen states:
Today the average American spends a mere 27 minutes a day on food preparation (another four minutes cleaning up); that's less than half the time that we spent cooking and cleaning up when Julia arrived on our television screens. It's also less than half the time it takes to watch a single episode of "Top Chef" or "Chopped" or "The Next Food Network Star." What this suggests is that a great many Americans are spending considerably more time watching images of cooking on television than they are cooking themselves -- an increasingly archaic activity they will tell you they no longer have the time for.
You need time to cook good food and there's no way around it (not massive amounts of time in the long run because most home chefs become very efficient at prep and cooking over time). You don't need fancy equipment to make great food at home, but you do need good ingredients and plenty of variety (this is why many individuals turn to high fat foods and restaurant eating). You also need to experiment with different types of cuisine and see preparing food at home as a long term investment in both your health and general happiness/quality of life.
So, become a true foodie and start cooking at home and eating out less. Take the money you would use for a mediocre meal out and buy fresh, high quality, ingredients and prepare a meal at home (I swear you'll be impressed). I also promise your quality of life will improve and, yes, if you have a Pepe's Pizzera around the corner from you you can order a large pie on occasion!
Here are some related links from Scordo.com that will help you make your own food:
At no point in one's life do humans bare so little responsibility for their own survival as they do when they are swimming around in their mother's amniotic fluid (Ron Currie Jr.). Think about it: newborns need to learn how to digest liquid, take in oxygen and pump out carbon dioxide, dispose of their waste, learn how to sleep, and draw a distinction between night and day.
I recently witnessed, single handedly, the marvel that is human adaptation when our son Tommaso entered the world on July 19th. Thankfully, Tommaso took his first gulp of oxygen and liked it (he did it again and then let out a gentile scream - the kind that gets attention but is considerate of others). Thereafter, Tommaso took survival into his own hands and begin to move to stay warm, tensed his muscles to support his body, and, generally, reacted positively to things he liked (e.g., his mom's breast) and negatively to items he found offensive (e.g., a nurse's cold hands) - his way of communicating via behavior (sorry Noam).
Little Tommaso's survival skills got me thinking about how many adults do not take their own survival (read happiness/career/love life/financial matters/etc.) into their own hands. Survival has a slightly different definition for most adults, however it seems, for example, that most adults do not decide what career they end up in, or how much money they'd like to earn, or how fulfilled they'd like to feel.
Learning how to survive or controlling one's destiny (literally speaking) may be the number one practical skill set of all time (followed closely by "thinking on your feet" and "social skills"), yet there doesn't seem to be any available advice on how to, overtly, optimize one's life or survive with great efficiency. In turn, here are a few tips to help the non-infant live a highly optimized life (who says you can't be re-born!):
1.Listen with one part of your brain and forget with the other. Listening to other people and receiving a top notch education is critical, but the key is to interpret what people are telling you via your own filter. Lazy people take advice and run with it, smart people process out the crappy part of any piece of advice and keep the gold nuggets.
2.Risk and failure are not bad things. You can't survive optimally without getting lots of things wrong or risking a comfortable situation for a more lucrative end game.
3. Don't be normal. This means trying your hardest, for as long as possible, to avoid lusting after "stuff" (car, house, electronics, etc.), getting married, reproducing, and the mass media.
4. Aspire to be stubborn. Persistence, otherwise known as stubbornness, will keep you going when your competitor quits and when all your friends are telling you to abandon a business idea / innate passion / etc.
5. Listen to your body. First reactions to an idea or person are often correct (the whole "gut reaction" thing, well, it's pretty much correct). Sweaty hands and a quickening of your heart rate may mean you've thought of an excellent idea or just made a huge mistake becoming partners with Joe Smith.
6. Stay scared. Fear rules in the wild and calm and peaceful animals get eaten first. Now, you probably don't have to worry about getting eaten by your neighbor if you fall asleep watching a re-run of Curb Your Enthusiasm, but being highly aware of your career goals, happiness level, competition, etc. can all contribute to controlling your own destiny.
Daniel Gross, a columnist at Newsweek and Slate, published a recent article in the NY Times Book Review that argued that today's über rich are essentially leisure-less tycoons who need to work around the clock. Gross goes on to argue that, "among Type-A, self-made members of the leisure class (read ultra wealthy), there's a sort of reverse prestige associated with leisure."
The idea that leisure is bad and that "conspicuous consumption", or spending only to build prestige, should be avoided comes out of Thorstein Veblen's 1899 classic, "Theory of the Leisure Class". For Veblen, writing during the peak years for Standard Oil and U.S Steel (the first billion dollar corporation), the rise of a social class concerned only with consumption wasn't a sign of progress it was, as Gross states, "a relic of barbarism, and evolutionary step from feudalism, and hence, un-American."
Veblen saw the equivalent of today's Bill Gates and Warren Buffet as individuals who contributed very little to society and who were focused more on acquiring wealth and leading a lavish lifestyle than giving money back to society, for example (of course both Gates and Buffet give away much of the their wealth).
The Theory of the Leisure Class also raises many interesting questions in relation to personal finance such as:
1. How much money is enough to lead a good life? And if we all achieve personal finance freedom (i.e., no debt, adequate cash savings, a comfortable home, steady income streams, etc.), then what truly comes next (golf and a martini every day or running your own charity)?
2. Is it bad to chase money, acquire material things (things that truly have no utility, such as luxury vehicles, multiple homes, etc.), and not truly contribute to the community, and society, at large?
3. If your personal financial situation is negative what got you into that position in the first place? Did you think that consumption would make you happy and did you have a warped sense of what capitalism can truly offer, you, the individual?
Personal finance, at the end of the day, is as much about personal lifestyle (and views about consumption) as it is about saving money and leading a frugal life. In many parts of the world, a large home with all of the material side dishes isn't a goal (including advanced countries with well off citizens like Sweden and Norway), rather happiness and quality of life seem to supersede materialism and consumption.
How do you view consumption, working hard, and personal finance? Do you work to save in order to gain independence or do you aspire to, privately or publicly, to live like the good old American tycoons of the past?
Apologies for the short hiatus, life gets in the way of posting at times but I'm fully re-charged and ready to dispense some tips! Today I'd like to look at when it's not appropriate to be frugal; after all, you don't want to put yourself in a zero-sum game situation because you've become a mindless pragmatist! Here are six areas where it doesn't pay to be frugal (both in terms of quality of life and ROI):
There's really no way around it, good shoes are expensive. And you don't want to buy inexpensive shoes given that you will directly feel the impact. By good shoes I mean handmade dress shoes that have a leather sole, hand stitched seams, real leather exterior, and a quality heel. Handmade leather shoes often cost $250-$350 and should, technically, last a lifetime. Proper shoe maintenance includes buffing and conditioning the leather and using shoe trees. High quality shoes also have a replaceable leather sole and heel. As far as clothes, I think designer labels are a waste of money but I do believe in buying good quality dress pants, shirts, belts, socks, sweaters, coats, and suits. Suits and dress pants should be made of high quality wool and should have a thread count in the hundreds.
House Upkeep/Maintenance
All homes require upkeep, including recently constructed homes. Older homes are notorious for needing constant upkeep, but regardless of whether you live in an early 20th century foursquare or a modern, glass infused, home, you'll need to constantly deal with cracking sheetrock, aging roof, shifting asphalt, faulty windows, aging tile and appliances, exterior and interior molding and trim, landscape, etc. My simple advice: fix the important things as they happen and don't delay a repair. A simple fix on some exterior molding, for example, can prevent interior water damage and more serious repair down the road. If you need replacement windows, for example, look at all wood, low E double glass, replacement windows as opposed to cheaper old vinyl alternatives. Spend as much money as you can on quality materials without buying top of the line (for example, you probably won't make your money back on exotic marble from Brazil, but you'll certainly get ROI on a standard color granite).
Treating Family and Good Friends Well
Being stingy with family members or good friend is wrong headed and does not preserve relationships. I'm a big believer in developing social networks and treating the important people in your life with respect and kindness. A good life can't be lived alone or in isolation. Invest in people and you'll get great ROI!
Car Maintenance
I don't believe in spending a ton of money on a new vehicle, but I do recommend buying a slightly used vehicle (about three years old) and maintaining the vehicle until it becomes to costly to own (usually after about 10 years.). You'll also want to figure out the right time to sell your vehicle private party so you can maximize your profit and fund your next used car purchase. Proper vehicle maintenance includes routine oil/filter changes, belts, filters, liquid monitoring (transmission/brake/anti-freeze/etc. fluid), brake pads, spark plugs, rotors, exhaust system, tires, car washes, etc.
Life Experiences
Do you have an adventurous soul but do not travel because you can't stand the thought of moving a few thousand dollars out of your bank account to fund your strip to southeast Asia? Do you dream of hitting the perfect backhand to win a match but get queasy about spending money on tennis lessons? Do you wish you read Aristotle as an undergraduate but can't stand the thought of spending money on a college course at your local university? If you answered yes to any of the questions above, you may be sacrificing life experiences for the sake of saving money (or better yet, not spending money). It's one thing if you don't have the resources to try new things (you do not want to incur debt to pay for lessons of any kind or take on debt to feel the rush of a finely tuned German vehicle), but if you've been wise with your money and can splurge on new experience then you should go for it!
-Paid Ad-
If you want more ways to save money you should open a savings account. When you do you should find the best savings account rates and then select the bank that fits your needs. There are also the occasional banking deals that offer you bonuses for opening new accounts. You should pay attention to any current bonuses being offered when looking for a savings account.
(All photos: I posted the three photos above/below for a reason; namely, to demonstrate that, from a US perspective, my family members had a pretty tough life in 1950's - 60's Calabria. However, if you look beyond the conditions in the photos and through the linen shirts that acted as work uniforms, you see happy people in tight knit groups that are stronger and better prepared for recession, depression, unemployment, or anything else that life was throwing at them. Why is it that the well-off cannot, at times, deal with bad times <as is the case in US currently>)?
For most Americans the recession seems to be, and to borrow a marketing term, top of mind. You hear stories of the successful, white collar, executive being downsized because his product is being eliminated from the US market or of the blue collar assembly line worker driving to work one day to spend 8 hours in a factory and the next day finding out his plant has closed. These stories are not just consequences of the "economic downturn" but real life horror stories affecting millions of families in the US. Can anything positive come out of the current negative shift in the economy?
The short answer is yes. Here are 4 good things to look for:
1. People Become More Compassionate and Realize What's Truly Important
Just like after or during a war (think World War II) or after a major crisis (think 9/11) people tend to think about things more deeply and in turn become a bit more humanistic. Strangers hold doors open, city dwellers don't run into each other on the streets, co-workers are thankful for their jobs, etc. Folks realize family, good health, food, and a roof over their head is pretty nice, afterall (in brief, they realize what they have and not what they want or lack).
3. Frugality and Living Below Your Means Makes a Comeback
If you consume media, then you see local news, the New York Time, and the Wall Street Journal blasting messages about dismal corporate earnings, job cuts, horrific stock market results, and housing foreclosures every day. If you're a sensible person, you begin to cut back on extras, save more money, scrutinizing your bills for savings, re-doing your household budget, etc. In short, you become frugal and maybe even a little bit like your dad!
4. You Find Yourself
Like death or any tragic event, there's great lessons to be learned when bad things happen. A layoff can lead to finding your true calling and not settling for the career you stumbled into after college. Or seeing a brother or a good friend struggle may bring out altruistic talents you thought you never had; that is, more involvement with neighbors, community and family. Bad times can be like seeing a therapist (but for free)!
How to Make Authentic Tomato Sauce
This is the authentic Scordo family recipe - straight from Calabria. You'll be amazed at how simple the recipe is to make [+]
Guide to Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil
My grandfather produced his own extra virgin olive oil in Italy and I've put together an olive oil buying guide just for you [+]
Guide to Making Espresso at Home
Making good espresso at home isn't easy but once you master a few easy tips you'll never settle for the junk served at most cafes in the US, including Starbucks [+]
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Note: The views expressed herein are solely my own and should not be attributed to my employer in any way. This site is not maintained utilizing my employer's resources or on company time.
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Italian
