Tags
AICW, Culinary Culture, Food writing, Gastronomic history, Grano Arso, Italian Canadian Literature, Italocanadese life
The Italian Cultural Institute of Montreal and the Association of Italian Canadian Writers (AICW), as part of a webinar series dedicated to writing, an experience animated by Italian-Canadian authors, translators, journalists, publishers and bloggers, are pleased to present “Can you smell the garlic? Writing About Italian-Canadian Food Culture”
Tuesday, September 8, 2020 – 5:00 pm EST
Nonna stirs tomato sauce bubbling in a cauldron in the garage, papà proudly pours a glass of his homemade wine, zie gather to make taralli and biscotti in the basement kitchen…
These culinary traditions are a treasure trove of material for the Italian-Canadian writer. How does nostalgia affect the relationship to food and writing about food? Push past the clichés, what complicates the rosy images? Is it more difficult to write in a critical or unsentimental mode about food and Italian-Canadian identity?
Domenico Capilongo, Monica Meneghetti, Cristina Pepe and Jim Zucchero will read mouth-watering prose and poetry and talk about the connections between food and their writing. The webinar will be moderated by former restaurant critic, Francesca M. LoDico. The series is hosted by the Secretary of the AICW Executive, Giulia Verticchio.
Event details & bios: https://iicmontreal.esteri.it/iic_montreal/en/gli_eventi/calendario/2020/09/senti-l-aglio-scrivere-sulla-cultura.html
I will be reading about Grano Arso. The webinar will be available to view later on the Istituto Italiano di Cultura-Montreal’s website and Facebook page.
Un po' di pepe 
Hello Cristina, I think there is a primacy and personal identification with the integrity and quality of ingredients made in Italy that is remarkable. I also think Italian food is more familial and less hierarchical in its presentation than others.
Oh yes, it tastes really good!!!
How to unsentimentalize personal identifications and familial threads?
Very best of luck at your conference!
Ciao!!
Ciao Xxalkos….well in my opinion, personal identifications and familial threads are the most important characteristics-and of course the taste too! Ciao, Cristina
Sounds like a great event! Brava!
Grazie Marianna! I will try to imagine everyone in their underwear! Ciao, Cristina
Ha, ha, they probably will be! Congratulations!
È vero Karen 😂😂😂 🩲
Sorry to have missed this. Must have been a fascinating discussion! I would have been interested to see what differences there might be with Italian-American culture.
Ciao Frank. That topic didn’t come up but it was an interesting discussion. It can be viewed on the Facebook of the istituto italiano di cultura-Montreal if you are interested. Buona Domenica, Cristina
The opening comments about garage and basement cooking of the italian Canadian community could easily have been written about the Italo-Australiani here in Melbourne. Trying to remove that nostalgia and rose coloured glasses from the story is an important goal. For years, the depiction of tomato passata making day by the mainstream media, bloggers and writers has becone stereotyped, bordering on the comedic. Here, the cooking of nonna or zio have been mythologized.
I’d like to hear more about that topic. The words ‘traditional ‘ and ‘ authentic’ have been the advertisers weapons to exploit and commercialise Italian food of the migrants.
Glad you were able to see it. They are talking about doing another session. Will keep you posted. Ciao, Cristina
This event sounds really interesting. Definitely share when it’s available to view online!
Ciao Lulu. The recording is on the IIC Montreal Facebook page. I just shared it on my page Un po’ di pepe to make it easier to find. Ciao, Cristina