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Pasadena Independent Oct 25, 2017
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VIP tables at center piazza. Photo by Giuseppe Mastrobuono
Taste of Italy celebrates Italian heritage in America
By Giuseppe Mastrobuono
Pasadena’s renowned Celestino Ristorante participated in the 9th annual Taste of Italy on Saturday Oct. 14 in the Old Italian section of downtown Los Angeles. Celestino Ristorante, which is located in the heart of downtown Pasadena’s business district at 141 S. Lake Ave., was one of 40+ local restaurants that participated in the event. Celestino cooks served an exquisite dish of “le conchiglie con salsa di sardine e finocchetti”. “Le conchiglie” are small pasta shaped like conch shells, and the sauce is a fine red sauce mixed with small pieces of fresh sardines and bites of fennel. This is a traditional Sicilian dish which is one of the many specialties served at Celestino Ristorante.
The event functioned as a fundraiser for the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles, located at 644 N. Main St., Los Angeles,CA, 90012, adjacent to Plaza Olvera. Tickets at the door were selling at $65 for general admission and $130 for premiere admission. Alongside Celestino Ristorante were many of the city’s finest Italian restaurants which included names such as Valentino, L’Opera Ristorante, Il Fornaio, Drago Centro, and Smeraldi Restaurant. Also being represented were vendors of 100 World class wines. Samples of each delicacy were purchased with small tickets at a price of $3 for beverages and $4 for food items.
The numerous booths were elegantly and beautifully decorated with colorful pictures of Italy, arrangements of foods and wines, pastries, cheeses, loaves of Italian artisan bread, and, of course, Italian gelato.
Creminelli Fine Meats, Di Stefano Cheese, DeSano Pizza Bakery, Dolce Nero Gelato, Birra Moretti, and San Antonio Winery were all part of the celebration, displaying and promoting their quality products.
Lago Restaurant serving pasta dish. – Photo by Giuseppe Mastrobuono
It was a perfect evening for the festival which attracted “appassionati” of Italian culture from all over the Southern California area. Live entertainment included performances by singer Elisabetta Russo of the Los Angeles opera and the band Canzoniere Grecanico, which traveled all the way from the Puglia region in southern Italy to perform their songs of ancient Italian music. Michela Musolino also sang traditional Sicilian folk music. The Italian lyrics and melodies emanated from the stage which was situated at the center of the square, or “piazza” as they say in Italian, enhancing and enriching the overall experience of Italian culture.
Hosting the event was IAMLA’s director Marianna Gatto. She is leading the project to build and expand the museum which was founded in 1908. After she was presented an achievement award from the city, she spoke to the audience emphasizing the important significance of the Italian American Museum to the preservation of Italian culture in Los Angeles. The museum collects, preserves, and displays artifacts which are of historical relevance to Italian culture and the city of Los Angeles. Currently on exhibit is a selection of the traditional Sicilian cart which will be showing through January of 2018.
Three-time Emmy award winning comedian Mark DeCarlo, the master of ceremonies for the evening, pointed out that most major cities in the U.S. have an Italian community and that Los Angeles sadly, does not. He announced that local real estate developers are planning to restore the San Pedro waterfront where they will build an Italian neighborhood.
Taste of Italy is a fun-filled evening and a great way for lovers of Italian cuisine to sample the latest creations of L.A.’s top restaurateurs and food/beverage merchants.
