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Noteworthy Notizie – July 31

Aperol Spritz with Rosemary

As we bid the month of July farewell, we can’t help get a little excited yet nervous with the prospect of August arriving tomorrow. This summer is flying by!  Here is what we have been reading this week:

 

1,000 Italians play one Foo Fighters song in an attempt to lure them to play a concert in Italy, The synchronicity in the video is quite amazing. Who knew Italians love the Foo Fighters?

 

Southern Italy is, er, not having the best time economically.

 

Italian cowboys, in the American tradition, are beginning to form (could a spaghetti western be on the horizon?)

 

The LA Times lauds porchetta. We’ve been saying it all along!

 

Elisabeth Minchilli has released an Eat Umbria app, in a follow up to her other popular Eat apps! We would highly recommend it, and are so excited it is on the market!

 

We hope this weekend brings you the joy of the last summer month!

 

Ci Vediamo!

Via Umbria

As we bid the month of July farewell, we can't help get a little excited yet nervous with the prospect of August ...

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Noteworthy Notizie – July 23rd

Via Umbria Aperol Spritz

This week we have been prepping to scoop everything on the container bound for the United States. But we still had time to do a little reading in between. Check it out:

 

Romans have little faith in their mayor, according to this article from the New York Times. But when have Italians ever had faith in their government?

 

This article on cooking in Ischia had us dreaming our our sailing adventure there last year. You can read all about it here, here, and here. If there is interest, we could begin planning a trip for next summer. Anyone in? Email suzy@viaumbria.com.

 

The migration from Africa continues, as detailed with this article from the Economist.

 

The Washington Post gets all science-y with this interesting article on the chemistry of good or bad wine. We love learning about it!

 

Stop. It’s aperitivo time. Have a drink, eat an appetizer, and go enjoy your weekend.

 

Ci Vediamo!

 

Via Umbria

 

 

This week we have been prepping to scoop everything on the container bound for the United States. But we still had time ...

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Noteworthy Notizie – July 10th

Umbria Jazz

Hello Dolce Vita lovers! This week we are wishing we could be at Umbria Jazz, which kicks off today. Instead, we will just have to turn up the Tony Bennett and pour ourselves a glass of Montefalco wine, and enjoy it outside in the beautiful weather we are having in DC. We will be following the lineup on their website, and hearing stories from our friends who are in Italy to keep us satiated. With the Jazz tunes cranked, here is what we have been looking at on the Italian Media this week:

 

A rare tornado occurs in Dolo, Italy, between Venice and Padua, and was caught on film. Yikes!

 

The Financial Times writes an excellent overview of the school reform in Italy, one of Renzi’s first pushes. This reform has wide consequences for Italy’s youth, and Italian society, and will be interesting to watch play out in the coming years. Through making a more meritocratic system, Renzi hopes to build an Italian society that is interested in competing on a European level.

 

And something a little lighter – Italian Grandmas eat Olive Garden for the first time in this hilarious Buzzed video. They probably are longing for something actually authentic from Emporio after that film!

 

The Times writes about Italian ghost hunters, and “…according to a study by Italian magazine Focus, 76% of Italians believe in ghosts, and half of them claim to have seen spirits of the deceased with their own eyes.” Wow. Spooky.

 

11 Motivational Wine Posters (that we want to make screen savers), for the wine lover in all of us.

 

Here’s an issue we hadn’t thought about – what does one do with seized mafia assets? Italian governments are totally overrun with dealing with Mafia assets once they are confiscated. The article features some pretty funny seized material, and the stories of what the police jump through!

 

We hope you have a lovely weekend, wherever you are.

Ci Vediamo!

— Via Umbria

Hello Dolce Vita lovers! This week we are wishing we could be at Umbria Jazz, which kicks off today. Instead, we will ...

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Noteworthy Notizie: June 26

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It’s Friday! Time to pour a beer (our pick is Birra Peruga’s Calibro7 American Pale Ale), and eat a pizza. The internet is a big place – here’s what caught our attention this week.

 

Here in Washington, it has been very hot. Sicilians know how to beat the heat, with lemon ice (sometimes eaten for breakfast). This recipe for lemon granita from Food52, which will keep us cool, if for a moment.

 

Matteo Renzi, the Prime Minister of Italy, is on a mission to renew the boot. The New Yorker gives him a lengthy profile in this weeks magazine.

 

Do you find yourself asking – “When should I go to Italy?” Besides the obvious answer “now,” take a look at the temperament of Italy, month by month. Then book with us when you’ve found your ideal time!

 

The Festival of Two Worlds launches in the Umbrian town of Spoleto today. It is an artistic celebration, which this year is getting a boost from Botero, who this year lent 48 plaster sculptures from his personal collection this year.

 

Friday summer reading recommendation:

Joseph Luzzi recently gave a wonderful talk at Politics and Prose on his new book In a Dark Wood: What Dante Taught Me About Grief, Healing, and the Mysteries of Love. In this article from the Huffington Post, he challenges us to read Dante over the summer. Challenge accepted?

 

Let us know how you are spending your summer weekends by talking to us on Instagram @viaumbria and Twitter @viaumbiradc. And we’ll see you this week at the Sagra Della Porchetta!

 

— Via Umbria

  It's Friday! Time to pour a beer (our pick is Birra Peruga's Calibro7 American Pale Ale), and eat a pizza. The internet ...

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Noteworthy Notizie: June 19

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This week, we cooked some pasta, re-organized the warehouse, and got to spend some time with our new Via Umbria mascot. We will be updating the Galleria page with images from our progress. Feel free to take a peek as we move forward this summer! It’s been a nice week, here’s what we’ve been loving from around the web:

 

An Italian teacher, in a made-for-social-media moment, makes a list of the things kids should really be doing for their summer assignments. This makes us want to have a true summer vacation again! If this list makes you long for la dolce vita, we still have two weeks open in July during Umbria Jazz where you can live out this list…

 

Via Umbria is having an epic beer tasting, pork roasting, and Italian product sampling at i Ricchi Restaurant on July 2nd! Check it out on Facebook and then grab your tickets on Eventbrite. Yes, this is Noteworthy News. There will be all-you-can-eat porchetta.

 

Open container laws are getting a revision in Rome. Unfortunately, it seems this ban may be more of an effort to curb tourist drinking that has gotten out of hand, than local sipping.

 

Food and Wine, talks to Nancy Harmon Jenkins in A Crash Course in Olive Oil Politics. She mentions our Olio Verde as her favorite in the article!  Shop it on Emporio now, we only have a few precious bottles from the new 2014 harvest left.

 

Cruise ships coming into Venice provoke a lot of opinion. Recently, “a businessman and staunch supporter of the cruise ship industry has won the mayoral election in Venice, dealing a significant blow to efforts by environmental activists to keep the big ships out of the city.” And surprise, surprise, there are accusations of corruption in the election…The Guardian reports. 

 

We hope you have a lovely weekend!

 

Ci Vediamo!

–Via Umbria

This week, we cooked some pasta, re-organized the warehouse, and got to spend some time with our new Via Umbria mascot. We ...

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Noteworthy Notizie – May 20th

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We had a lovely Umbrian food and wine tasting last night with Chef Simone (pictured), and are looking forward to a few more days of wining and dining. So our weekend won’t exactly be relaxing, but it will be full of good smells!

 

Our June Book Club, which is fast approaching, gets a lovely review in the Wall Street Journal.

 

The Vatican is not happy about gay marriage in Ireland, but it is opening a productive dialogue about what the church stands for and how it will evolve as time progresses. This article from the Guardian delves into the complexities surrounding this issue. Italy is now the only nation in Western Europe that doesn’t recognize either same-sex marriages or civil unions, and is perhaps influenced by the Vatican’s prevailing shadow in this stance.

 

Car lovers – Lamborghini will produce its much-anticipated sport utility vehicles, to enter the market in 2018!

 

Beyonce eats at our staffer Elsa Bruno’s favorite pizzeria in Florence! Elsa and Beyonce know the good stuff.

 

The Creative Review takes a peek at the best Italian post-war design in print. Refreshing and delightful, these posters and advertisements take us to a golden age of Italian marketing.

 

We hope you user in the new month with a smile.

Ci Vediamo!

Via Umbria

We had a lovely Umbrian food and wine tasting last night with Chef Simone (pictured), and are looking forward to a few ...

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Noteworthy Notizie – May 15th

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We hope you had a wonderful week!  This weekend, we are definitely craving something sweet. This photo is from our wine dinner last week, and the Washington Post shared the recipe today! Here is what we have found in our browser history for this week in Italian news:

 

A visually stunning interview, splotched with philosophy references, with Bruno Cucinelli from Perugia. We love his cashmere, and are very inspired by his business philosophy.

 

Dailymail goes for a clickbait headline with photos from the most haunted town in Italy. 

 

This Saveur article delves into the delights along the roads at Italy’s autogrills. An honest and tasty picture of a lifestyle where every bite matters, even at roadside pit-stops. And it makes us miss those coffee-filled chocolates!

 

An Italian Trio Compete at Cannes, for the first time in a long while.  We can’t wait to see their films!

 

The New York Times does a full fledged article on the diseased olive oil trees in Lecce. 

 

The top five most essential Italian cookbooks are profiled by Serious Eats. We stock a lot of them in store – come check them out!  And look for our posts on Our Italian Library for an up-to-date list of which books we have in stock, and why we love them.

 

In other news, the Ceramics section of our website will be officially live any minute now…stay tuned!

Ci Vediamo!

 

–Via Umbria

It's half way through May already! Read more

We hope you had a wonderful week!  This weekend, we are definitely craving something sweet. This photo is from our wine dinner ...

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Noteworthy Notizie – May 8th

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This week was also about wine for us here at Via Umbria. For the visit of Liu and Iacapo we hosted a wine tasting here at the store, and then a dinner later that night in their honor. The weather turned out for us, and a beautiful and sizzling evening under the stars was had by all. This morning we are back in the store, reminiscing about last night and planning to bring more bottles home this weekend to recreate the magic. We hope you do the same!

 

Last week we wrote about the backlash against the McDonalds ad suggesting Italian children prefer Happy Meals over pizza. But the plot thickens, as threats to sue, mini pizzas meant to appeal to children, and a video made by pranksters pile up. The Washington Post takes a bite. 

 

There was a fire at the Rome airport, but don’t let that get in the way of your travels. See last weeks news, when it was listed as one of the cheapest airports to fly into from America this summer.

 

A major cocaine trading ring run out of Queens by the ‘ndrangheta was busted yesterday. Apparently the pizzeria was very popular, and had very good food, according to Yelp. In any case, 15 people were arrested after a major FBI investigation. 

 

Italy has a carpooling app for Vespa riders, Scooterino, which follows the Uber model!

 

A few towns in Italy have been crumbling, and are now becoming ghost towns. Dailymail gives us a glimpse into the ruins of villages (some of which are for sale).

 

 

In other more mundane news, the “Subscribe” button on the blog finally seems to be working!  Thank you to our loyal readers, and we hope you have a lovely weekend.

 

Ci Vediamo!

Via Umbria

This week was also about wine for us here at Via Umbria. For the visit of Liu and Iacapo we hosted a ...

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Noteworthy Notizie – May 1

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It’s finally MAY! Beginning this month feels bizarre – we can’t believe we are almost halfway through the year. Here is a look at what we have been reading this week:

 

The Milan Expo 2015 kicks off this week!  The theme is “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life,” which we love.  ABC gives a good general outline on the logistics and focus of this particular Expo. The mission statement, from the website, says that “more than 140 participating countries will show the best of their technology that offers a concrete answer to a vital need: being able to guarantee healthy, safe and sufficient food for everyone, while respecting the Planet and its equilibrium.” Watch this space for the most delightful, innovative, and wacky products and ideas in the coming weeks!

 

The Economist chronicles divorce in Italy (legal since 1970) and the changing laws that are paving the way for an easier divorce today, in their article Arrivederci, darling.

 

The Huffington Post has compiled a list of the 5 cheapest Italian airports to fly into from the USA. Why not make this summer the one you experience all Italy has to offer…

 

The EU calls for olive trees infected by bacteria in Lecce to be cut down. Obviously this has elicited a tumultuous reaction, because destroying the trees has a huge economic (and historical) impact, but hesitation in doing so could result in an even greater blight. So far none of the bacteria has been detected in Umbria.

However, the swarm of flies caused by rising temperatures could return to our olive oil producers again this upcoming year. We are stoking up on oil for now. But if you are feeling a bit more proactive, why not adopt an olive tree for Mother’s Day? 

 

And we will leave you with some news from our home turf. Our monthly book club will meet on Tuesday at 7PM, for the classic The Name of the Rose. Please join us!

And later next week, we are delighted to host Liu Pambufetti for a free tasting of four Scacciadiavoli wines, and small bites of Umbrian cuisine, on Thursday, May 7 from 6:00 – 7:30pm. Learn more on our Facebook, and RSVP to elsa@viaumbria.com.

 

Ci Vediamo!

– Via Umbria

It’s finally MAY! Beginning this month feels bizarre - we can’t believe we are almost halfway through the year. Here is a ...

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Noteworthy Notizie – April 24

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It’s been another eventful week. With the tragedy in the waters around Italy swirling all over the media, we choose to stay well-informed on the situation while also feeding you some lighter reading. We hope you are grateful for your week and excited to charge up over the weekend!

 

We have been posting articles about the migration in the waters around Italy for weeks now. Matteo Renzi writes and op-ed for the New York Times on how the European Union needs to step up and support Italy’s efforts in patrolling these waters to ensure everyone’s security. This is a news piece that we have been following consistently, and this week it exploded as the death toll ran past the thousands.

 

The Shroud of Turin is back in action for the first time since 2010. If you’re looking to know a bit more about this holy cloth, read up on their official website.

 

A new exhibition in Milan is exhibiting photographs of Italy like you have never seen it before. “’Italy Inside Out’ offers a chance to examine the people, events and off-the-beaten-path locations that make up Italy.” To us, they also look like some beautiful screen savers.

 

Did you hear we received an order of a dozen more types of artisanal pasta this week? So we went to Food 52, for 10 easy springtime pastas to make now to celebrate new, fresh, vibrant produce!

 

This weekend we will be out on the sidewalk at the Georgetown French Market! Some Geribi is going on sale for 40% off, and our Biagioli Ceramics will be 90% off! If you’re looking for a good food deal, we will have all of our Sorelle Nurzia Biscotti for $4, 40% off our gnocchi, gold oil, and select chocolates (plus some surprise items!). Come stop by and say hello!

 

We hope this weekend your plans involve visiting us!

Ci Vediamo!

– Via Umbria

It's been another eventful week. With the tragedy in the waters around Italy swirling all over the media, we choose to stay ...

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Noteworthy Notizie – April 17th

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This week found us with a new shipment of food (the porcini mushrooms are back!), some new artwork in our Galleria, and some newly flowering trees on our back area. We are looking forward to slowing down a little bit this weekend, and our round up of news from this week will provide some excellent conversation for your moments spend savoring life this weekend.

 

Italian Espresso gets sent into space, as a special treat for an Italian astronaut at the International Space Station. For a treat a little closer to home, we always go with Cafe del Doge.

 

The Today Show did a segment on “longevity soup.” Those who eat this soup in the South of Italy live longer than most…and this fountain of youth is only chickpeas, borlotti (cranberry) beans and the fregola (Italian couscous, which can be hard to find), as well as a giant can of tomatoes! Our own Deborah made it for friends to celebrate her birthday (may she live as long as the Sardinians!), and it was a big hit.

 

The migration struggle from Lybia to Italy is getting insreasingly complicated. This article from CNN does a just recap.

 

The New York Times covers an quirky story about how a quest to fix broken toilet for a would be trattoria owner ends in a huge archeological discovery. Oh Italy, you’ve done it again.

 

McDonalds made an add earlier this week suggesting that Italian children would rather have a Happy Meal than pizza. Neapolitan pizza makers retaliate against the MacDonalds add with their own hilarious and cute video. We’ll have the pizza too!

 

We hope you find the time to sink your teeth into an excellent pizza yourself this weekend.  We will be open for an extra hour tonight for the Book Hill Gallery Night, come say hello!

 

Ci Vediamo!

–Via Umbria

This week found us with a new shipment of food (the porcini mushrooms are back!), some new artwork in our Galleria, and ...

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Noteworthy Notizie – April 10th

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Hello Italiophiles, and welcome to the weekend! You know the routine – grab a glass of the good wine and sip away as we take you through what we have been reading this week in Italian news.

 

A miracle of nature! A lot of flamingos land in Lake Trasimeno, in Umbria. Exciting stuff.

 

Some sad news regarding small business in DC – our city outpaces the nation in the disappearance of mom and pop stores. This is a subject we deeply care about, we greatly appreciate those who shop at friendly neighborhood stores that are the character and faces of their neighborhoods.

 

However, there is some good news for buoyancy in small business. This New York Times story from northern Italy takes a look at how small artisans pulling together in the face of a recession continue their craft.

 

Elizabeth Minchilli’s new book, Eating Rome, was just published a few days ago. Longtime fans of her blog, we are making this book our June book club selection!

 

The oldest samples of Neanderthal DNA have been extracted from remains embedded in a cave in southern Italy, confirming that the so-called Altamura Man was a Neanderthal who lived around 150,000 years ago. The photo is creepy but the news is cool.

 

We hope this weekend involves good wine and good food. We are planning on cooking up the rest of the season’s asparagus, artichokes, and peas and pairing it with some good Tabbarini Bianco dell’Umbira (pictured is the owner of the vineyard during our Vinopalooza tour). Spring is in the air!

— Via Umbria

Hello Italiophiles, and welcome to the weekend! You know the routine - grab a glass of the good wine and sip away ...