“Whenever I do something good, I see my mother in it.”  A young man said these words to me in a very matter-of-fact way.  As Mother’s Day nears, I can’t help but think about all mothers and because I am so enamored with the Italian culture, Italian mothers. They are the pillar of the family and I’ve heard it said, the strongest Italian institution is Mamma.  Italian mothers have a way of giving selfless, warm, affectionate love with a passion that makes their kids feel like they are the most important thing in the world.

With the rebirth of spring, the ancient Romans paid tribute to their Gods of fertility.  Centuries ago, the festival, Matronalia, was dedicated to Juno, goddess of childbirth and motherhood.  Children gave gifts to their mothers on this day.  In 1957 the Italian Mother’s Day, La Festa della Mamma, was adopted and is celebrated on the second Sunday of May.  That said, it is part of Italian family life every day of the year and especially Sundays.  For generations, Italian mothers have handed down time-honored recipes made with love and passion.  Every Sunday, Italian mothers have warmly brought their families together for an abundant family-style meal.  Often times it is the Nonna (grandmother) who hosts the meal and all of the children and grandchildren are present.  There is never any question that everyone will be there.  This is a tradition in the Italian culture and one that is revered in honor of mamma.  At these family gatherings, food and family are the cornerstones.  An Italian friend once told me that the amount of love an Italian has for you is directly proportional to the amount of food they prepare and gently, or at times forcefully nudge you to consume!

Food can be utilized as an art form and Italian mothers exemplify this with the passion and love they put into their dishes.  I have heard it said from Italians that food made with love really tastes different.  Mothers in Italy annually can tomato sauce made at the peak tomato season to have on hand throughout the year.  My friend and colleague, Marinella, traditionally does this and every time she visits her daughter who is studying in Oxford, England, she takes a good supply and puts in her pantry.  Her daughter then enjoys mother’s “love in a jar” and tomato sauce that tastes different from any other.

“MAMMA MIA” – this is one of the most common and versatile expressions in the Italian language.  Among many others, it can mean “My God!”  “How great!!”  “Oh No!”  “Incredible!”  So many emotions can be and are conveyed in these two simple words and of course one of them is”Mamma.”

I want to wish a very happy Mother’s Day to all mothers and especially to my own mother and my daughter as she celebrates her first Mother’s Day.  I believe that much of the good in most human beings comes from the mother  - may we all strive to see our mothers whenever we do something good.  

Salute, Ann

Mother's Day is a very important holiday in Italy, as mothers are considered the epicenter of the Italian family. Even though the official holiday wasn't adopted until the 1950's, celebrations of motherhood date back to ancient Roman culture. An entire week in May was dedicated to honoring Juno, the goddess of marriage and motherhood. Many ancient weddings were planned in Juno's month (June), as it was believed to ensure a good marriage and fertility.

As in the United States, Mother's Day is now officially celebrated in Italy on the second Sunday in May, but is far less commercialized. It is a day when children of every age make their personal expressions of love and appreciation for their "momma". It is common for children to write poems rather than buy cards. Many of our U.S. traditions, however, are also traditions in Italy. Mommas are showered with love, attention, meals, gifts and for this day, no work or household chores.

So, celebrate your momma this Mother's Day!

Juno
 

From fashion to make-up, paint color to home decor - PLUM appears to be everywhere!

A hint of things to come from Arte Italica?

For years, February means a trip across the Atlantic to visit factories in Italy and Frankfurt for the Ambiente International Gift Fair.  This past February was eventful in that, in central Italy, there was more snow than there had been in years.  In Rome, where snow is a rarity, there was so much of it that the city came to a standstill.  One of our factory visits was in the amazing town of Gubbio in Umbria.  Gubbio is thought to be the most medieval town in Italy and it is as unique as it is beautiful.  Marinella, our wonderful Italian agent, and I embraced the snow and loved the fact that we had to leave our car at the bottom of Gubbio and be driven through the streets, slipping and sliding in our manufacturer’s jeep.  

I adore this manufacturer, largely because of the exquisite products they develop with Arte Italica but even more because of him and his lovely Italian family.  I have been doing business with them ever since I founded Arte Italica in 1997 and over the years they have become very dear to me.  During our short stay in cold, snowy Gubbio, this “extended family” invited us to an Italian family dinner in their home.  The most celebrated restaurant in Italy could not have offered us a better meal.  We walked in from the cold to a roaring fire and beautifully laid table and three smiling and welcoming children – Emanuele, Fillipo and Elena.  Mama Sara was in the kitchen dishing up the antipasti and beckoning us to take a place at the table and Papa Leonardo was opening Preseco.  The food was typically Umbrian and cooked in the most enticing way you can ever imagine.  While all of it was to die for, my favorite dish of the evening was the Lasagne Agli Aspargi (Lasagna with Asparagus).   It was truly  “melt in your mouth” and I was asking Sara for the recipe before we even left the table.  (Recipe follows).

One of the most interesting and heartwarming things of the evening was grounded in the Italian culture.  Long after the dinner was over, we sat at the table and talked about many adult things like the global economy, business and politics.  I noticed that the children stayed at the table, listening and making every attempt to be interested and even contribute to the conversation.  I have wonderful children but they would have bid their farewells much earlier and left to engage in something more stimulating to them.  These children learned early in life that the Italians value family and friends more than anything else and mealtimes are the perfect setting to enhance and strengthen relationships.  My relationship with this delightful family grew deeper during this delicious dinner and I left being fulfilled in many ways.

These are memories I will cherish, always!

Salute, Ann

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LASAGNE AGLI ASPARAGI
LASAGNA WITH ASPARAGUS

Serves 6 to 8 people

1 pound lasagna pasta
2 ¼ pounds fresh asparagus
1 chicken stock cube
4 cups bechamel sauce
Grated parmesan cheese
Salt

Bechamel Sauce
5 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 cups milk
2 teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

In a medium saucepan, heat the butter over medium-low heat until melted.  Add the flour and stir until smooth.  Over medium heat, cook until the mixture turns a light, golden color, about 6 to 7 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat the milk in a separate pan until just about to boil.  Add the hot milk to the butter mixture 1 cup at a time, whisking continuously until very smooth.  Bring to a boil.  Cook ten minutes, stirring constantly, then remove from heat.  Season with salt and nutmeg and set aside.

Wash the asparagus and put in pan covered with 1 inch of water.  Add the stock cube and salt.  Cook the asparagus until the stems become soft.  When ready, mash the asparagus using a blender.  Add to the béchamel sauce and stir.

Cook the lasagna in water, following the cooking time on the package.  Put a layer of lasagna in a rectangular casserole dish.  Follow with a layer of asparagus in béchamel sauce then a liberal sprinkling of parmesan cheese.  Repeat this layering 3 or 4 times.  

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.

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The beginning of this New Year has me reflecting on all the wonderful events of 2011. For us, two of the most amazing events in a parents’ life took place last year - a wedding and an announcement that our first grandchild was on the way.

Our daughter, Jennifer, was married on March 18, 2011 in New Orleans, LA.  She married a wonderful man, Zachary, who is all I could ever want in a son-in-law.  When Jennifer first told me that they had chosen New Orleans for their destination wedding, I thought, you’re kidding, really??  I had never been there, but after four days of fun, friends and festivities in the Big Easy, I absolutely understood their decision.  The 75º temperature in March allowed for a stunning indoor/outdoor wedding and reception. And (probably the most fun I’ve ever had!) a Second Line Dance, which is a New Orleans tradition, where the bride, groom and all the guests march through the streets behind a traditional New Orleans jazz band. Dozens of people cheered and waved from the iconic iron balconies, as we strutted through the French Quarter in all our glory! As you might expect, we brought in some of my favorite Arte Italica pieces for the reception tables. Giovanna Hurricanes and Cero centerpieces were on the tables holding candles and gorgeous bouquets of roses, peonies and orchids. To complete the dramatic, romantic ambiance, we scattered Vetro silver votives on the tabletops and around the wedding cake.  It was truly magical.

As if the wedding wasn’t enough, we are also expecting the birth of our first grandchild.  We are thrilled beyond words and the first thing this child will receive from me is…you guessed it…the Arte Italica pewter baby shoe.  Of course, I will engrave the baby’s name, weight, length and date of birth on the sole.  I am so happy that I can give the baby something meaningful to me that will be a keepsake throughout his/her life. I must admit, when introducing the adorable Cherubino collection last year – I had the hope of this future angel in mind!

Best wishes for a wonderful 2012,

 Ann

       Giovanna Hurricane                               Cero Hurricane                              Vetro voitves                                    Cherubino shoe