An Elegant Dinner Idea That Is Italy Friendly

It has been awhile since I have posted recipe ideas. When living in Italy many think that our lives revolve around food. Well this is one assumption that isn’t too far off the mark. Average conversations between Italians tend to involve questions such as: “what do you think you will eat for lunch today?”, “Will you eat pasta for lunch or dinner?”, or my own personal favorite “Will we be able to eat a three course lunch during our two hour lunch break?”. Not only is the love of food the common denominator of all conversations, it is the very glue that binds this country. Italians are very proud of their culinary heritage, and though the cuisine changes from region to region, Italians still prepare their fare using the same ingredients they have used for centuries. That being said, it is fairly difficult to find exotic non-Italian ingredients in the average supermarket. Ergo, all recipes I use for dinner ideas must be “Italy Friendly”.

First up is the appetizer: Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms courtesy of Allrecipes.com

This recipe almost 100% Italy Friendly.  The only difficult ingredient may be the sour cream, which I have been able to find in Tuscan supermarkets called Esselunga, albeit it sports a German label.  I suggest a Greek plain white yogurt in case sour cream is unattainable.  Not only is this recipe super delicious, but is also time conservative.  The only culinary skills needed to execute this appetizer are chopping and mixing.  Filling the mushroom tops could be tricky, and potentially messy.  Avoid this dilemma by using a plastic sandwich bag.  Fill the bag with the mixture leaving one bottom corner empty.  Cut out the corner to create a hole about the size of a US dime.  This will allow you to pipe the mixture into the mushroom tops in an easy and efficient manner.

The entrée is a Basil-Garlic Pork Chop also courtesy of Allrecipes.com.  This recipe may not be friendly to the non-pork eating cultures of the world, but anyone who has been in Italy knows that pork is the main staple in meat products, from cold cuts to main dishes!  Therefore finding a decent cut of pork is fairly easy in just about any Macelleria (butcher shop).  Basil and Garlic are used as the base of the marinade with a dash of lime juice and oil. What could be more Italian?  This quick main dish has a total start to finish time of about 1 hour, and is greatly complemented with a grilled zucchini side dish which you can prep while your chops are marinating!  Grill them together for less hassle!

This light flavorful dinner deserves a light flavorful dessert, so no heavy chocolate cakes here!  This easy Allrecipes  way to whip up some Baklava really breaks the myth that Baklava is hard to make.  Phyllo dough is extremely easy to find in just about any supermarket in Italy.  I suggest using Pistacchio and Hazlenut (commonly known as nocciola) for your pound of chopped nuts.  Vanilla extract could be a bit problematic, so use an actual vanilla bean which seem to be easier to find.  The prep and baking time of this dessert correlates fairly well with the appetizer and entrée.  This light dessert will definitely keep the Mediterranean spirit of your dinner alive without weighing you down!

Enjoy!

Nomination: What’s New and Popular

Unbeknown to most of our western visitors Pierotucci has a jewelry section that boasts some of Italy’s finest products such as: Shell carved cameos, 18k gold and silver filigree jewelry, as well as mosaics. We also firmly believe in supporting other Italian businesses that demonstrate a level of craftsmanship and world awareness. The charm company Nomination is one such company here in Florence. We regularly order Nomination pieces to not only promote the company, but also be able to offer our clientèle a more fun and affordable option.

Recently we have received a new collection by Nomination which includes earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. Much of this new collection uses brightly colored crystals, leather or metal banding/chains, with a fantasy themed centerpiece.

Many pieces like the Butterfly charm necklace are extremely popular with our Japanese clientèle, who gravitate toward light and playful nomination creations. Many Westerners, and mainly Americans, focus more on the classic Nomination charms, link bracelets, and edelweiss stud earrings. In accordance to these preferences we order many varieties of playful, somber, and classic styles from Nomination’s headquarters here in Florence.

We also stock many link charms that are signature to the Nomination line, though we are not able to display them on our online store. So, should you be vacationing soon in Italy, please email us to ask for our assistance to make sure you have our emporium on your itinerary enabling you to see our great selection of jewelry and charms.

Perks To Beating The Heat When Traveling

Most travelers flood Italy during the scalding hot days of summer.  This is understandable considering most like to take their yearly holidays when it hot and sunny.  Who likes to stay inside and work when summer is upon us right?  I would advise however, a change in season should your yearly vacation be focus on the Italian peninsula.  Enjoy your weekends off in nearby areas and save that precious paid vaca time for the fall.  What exactly are the benefits of postponing your trip?  Well there are a few..

First and most importantly Italy is hot hot hot during the summer months.  It is also crowded to the gills with tourists from all reaches of the earth.  You will have to wait in never ending lines under a relentless sun with vendors possibility trying to sell you overpriced bottles of water.  Fortunately the city of Florence has installed a few pure water stations so tourists and freely fill their bottles up.  If the heat, crowds, and astronomical prices don’t scare you then maybe the lack of entertainment will be enough to tip the scale.  The Italian summer, August in particular, becomes rather devoid of life, unless you are at a popular beach town.  Italians vacate their beautiful cities and piazzas to escape to the mountains or the coast, meaning that almost all sagras, festas, and fairs happen at later dates.

Fall in Italy is not only just as beautiful as summer, but pleasantly warm enough to take a stroll with a light jacket.  September and October are also the season for almost all food and wine festivals throughout Italy, and I believe this to be enough of a motivating factor considering all Italian based vacations also center partly around food.  Lines for all museums and attractions also tend to be drastically shorter!  I remember Piazza Santa Croce in Florence tends to put on quite an international food festival around the beginning of October which precedes a satisfying artisan beer fest.  Please follow the links below for specific festivals and the regions in which they are held for the months of September and October.

About.com’s rather comprehensive guide to Italian fall festivals and goings on for September and October

Ferragosto: A Seemingly Frivolous National Holiday With Deep Seated Meaning

Many of our clients who have recently placed orders for production necessary items have become aware that almost nothing, including our company, functions normally during the month of August.  In fact any expat or tourist visiting during the month of August in Italy can tell you that small towns and whole parts of cities for all intensive purposes shut down.  On my bus ride this morning I did a kind of inventory count of how many stores and coffee shops have close their doors and stuck up a “on holiday” signs.  An American on average has vastly less vacation time than the regular Italian, and might be wondering how it is possible that companies and employees alike manage to take 3 weeks to a month of holiday time during this humid sticky month.

As with so many things in Italian culture the event of the “August Holiday” goes back centuries to the time of the Romans.  August 15th is believed to be pagan holiday celebrating the end to summer planting and rejoicing in the fertility of the land.  Pagan goddesses like Diana were particularly worships for their images of fecundity and nurturing.  The tradition of taking the whole month to celebrate this holiday began with the reign of Roman Emperor Augustus.  The time of the festivities were given the name “feriae augusti” in honor of the emperor.  The Roman Catholic Church also celebrates August 15th as the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, also a figure of nurturing and fertility.  So Italian Catholics with pride in their heritage, which makes up a large portion of the population, take this a sacred month as their traditional vacation.  What does that leave in terms of operating procedure for small shop and stores that make up Italy’s every day commerce?  Next to nill!

Word to the travel wise: if you are coming to Italy be prepared to walk a little further to find an open corner store, be aware that many places will be understaffed, and that service in general might seem a bit under par.  All those who normally aid you on your vacation will also be enjoying the fruits and beauty of their own country either in mountain resorts or seaside villas.  This also applies to any new expat as well.  Recharging you mobile, going to state run offices, and overall public transport will not be running at normal capacity.  Not to worry though, a lot of patience and a cool bottle of water will see you through it!

Italian Cameos: The Difference in Color, Shape, and Design Unravelled

The Italian cameo is a longstanding member in the world of fine jewelry. The detail, rare materials, and elegance have made it a sought after item by centuries of royalty and nobility alike. Though the world of fashion has changed significantly since those times cameos still emanate a sense of luxury, and are a must for any fine jewelry collector. Cameos come in three different types of raw materials, and each material speaks about how the cameo was made, where it was made, and how valuable it is. Below is a description of the three main different kinds of cameos for the jewelry collector wanting a bit more info, or for the novice interested learning the basics. Cameos naturally are made out of many types of materials, though the three we have listed tend to be the most prevalent in the market.

Sardonyx Shell Cameos are the most rare and valuable of the three. This is for multiple reasons, however the most prevalent reason is that sardonyx shells grow at a very slow rate, and therefore the are not harvested in abundance. A limited number of sardonyx shell cameos are produced every year.

Sardonyx shells are also desirable due to their color pigmentation. Sardonyx has a pure white mid layer and a beautiful deep red to chocolate brown interior. This provides each cameo with striking color contrast, adding to its elegance. Both types of shell cameos are hand carved by artisans who have been specifically trained in one area of detail. This means that one artist has spent their working life trained to carve noses or hair while another is trained to carve flowers. Only a master carver has the experience and know how to carve a cameo in its entirety, therefore the majority of cameos on the market have gone threw an assembly line type process where multiple carvers add their expertise to every piece.

Cornelian Shell Cameos are more common as this type of shell grows much more rapidly, and is harvested on a regular basis. The majority of shell cameos are made using Cornelian shell. This shell coloring is different than Sardonyx. Cornelian shells tend to range from orange to pink hues, detracting from the amount of color contrast between the base colored part of the cameo to the carved out profile. Cornelian shells also have less white coloring between the layers, meaning that the profile or object being carved will not be a pure white like on Sardonyx shells. The object being carved will have a tinge of the orange or pink of the base of the shell. These two reasons are why Cornelian shell cameos are more widely seen and purchased.

Cornelian shell cameos are also created in the same way of Sardonxy shell cameos. The assembly line of artisans carve their expertise into every shell. There is however one major difference in the process that is attributed to Cornelian shell cameos that Sardonxy lack. The amount of layering in the carving of Cornelian shells cameos can include the top outside layer of the shell, mid layer for the profile, and the bottom base layer adding a level of complexity and hue to the overall beauty of the cameo.

Another determining factor in Cornelian cameo creation is the actual decision of while type of design is put on which piece of shell. Sardonyx shells are more uniform in nature, and therefore do not have as many natural rises and falls like a Cornelian shell. The layout of the shell becomes critical to which design in carved into it. For example, a shell with a large bump will tend to have a flower motif carved into the raised area instead of a profile. Profiles need to have a somewhat flat surface in order to be carved properly.

There are also many types of non shell cameos in the modern market. Many cameos can now be produced using semi-precious stones instead of fragile shells. Agate is one such stone that is commonly used in modern cameo production. This specific stone was selected for use due to its high white mineral content, allowing the profile and motifs to still have a white coloring. Agate can also come in a variety of different colors, allowing for a wider selection in color contrast.

The majority of all Agate is quarried in Northern Europe, and therefore differs from the shell versions which are harvested in the Caribbean and Mediterranean seas respectively. Also agate cameos cannot be carved by hand due to the hard nature of the stone. Agate stone cameos are cut using modern laser technology. This has both positive and negative repercussions for cameo enthusiasts. Negatively the agate cameo is not technically an artisan item, as it is made by machines, however this does allow a cameo to be exactly reproduced. The ability to perfectly reproduce popular designs gives consumers an increased availability of exactly what they want.

Another defining difference between stone cameos and shell cameos is the actual shape of the cameo. Shell cameos are convex in shape, allowing the design to protrude from the metal setting. Stone cameos being more uniform in nature are not convex but flat on the underside. They also lay flat within their settings.

New Ladies Leather Jackets Now Online at Pierotucci.com!

Every early spring Pierotucci releases new styles and colors for the upcoming year.  Many of our ladies jackets are designed and tailored for the beautiful transitional seasons of spring and autumn, and are also a great go to for those rare blustery summer days when the sun takes its leave of absence.  The jackets we are debuting this year cover the age and style spectrum from mature cuts and colors to fun and sprightly patterns.  All of our new jackets are produced with the highest quality lambskin.

Lastly is our two-toned basic zip-up collared Ladies Leather Jacket.  The clean simple lines of this jacket allows the wearer to pair it with many different types of outfit styles without having to worrying about overdoing it.  The simplistic yet fitted silhouette accent the natural contours of the female shape.

 

 

 

The classic finish to the lambskin gives the jacket a nice sheen, while protecting it from water spotting.  We have added a pop of color to the collar for those in love with color contrast, however the electric blue collar is removable for those subdued sort of days.

 

 

 

This jacket style also comes in an ivory/powder pink contrast combo for all those looking for softer colors.

New Ladies Leather Jackets Now Online at Pierotucci.com!

Every early spring Pierotucci releases new styles and colors for the upcoming year.  Many of our ladies jackets are designed and tailored for the beautiful transitional seasons of spring and autumn, and are also a great go to for those rare blustery summer days when the sun takes its leave of absence.  The jackets we are debuting this year cover the age and style spectrum from mature cuts and colors to fun and sprightly patterns.  All of our new jackets are produced with the highest quality lambskin.

Next up is our ladies bomber jacket stylishly cut and dyed in three different colors. This jacket has less of a matte finish which aids to its edgier look.  This bomber jacket is not for the attention shy, or those hoping to sport a sweater underneath.

 

 

 

 

 

The waistband with snap closure fits snug around the mid drift adding an amazing sliming effect. The pockets have a convenient zip enclosure, which matches the zip feature on the sleeves allowing for greater range of movement.  The collar also boasts a snap closure that is cozy around the neck to protect from cool breezes.

 

 

 

Naturally a bomber jacket needs to come in classic black, but we also have produced it in a deep rich red and a light forest green.  Both breast pockets are functional.

New Ladies Leather Jackets Now Online at Pierotucci.com!

Every early spring Pierotucci releases new styles and colors for the upcoming year.  Many of our ladies jackets are designed and tailored for the beautiful transitional seasons of spring and autumn, and are also a great go to for those rare blustery summer days when the sun takes its leave of absence.  The jackets we are debuting this year cover the age and style spectrum from mature cuts and colors to fun and sprightly patterns.  All of our new jackets are produced with the highest quality lambskin.

Our new ultra fun ultra chic cropped stonewashed leather jacket has a new element of design that all others lack.  Frilled peplum added to the waist and sleeves of this jacket add a definite air of femininity.

The zip-up front has been designed to be cut at and angle to allow for an overlapping closure with differing lapel shapes to enhance the trendy fun feel of the jacket.  The angled zip also looks great fully closed whether you choose to pop your collar or no!  Cut short with a  great fitted shape this is definitely the ideal ladies seasonal jacket.

The stonewashed leather has been beautifully dyed in Lilac, Bright Red, and Classic Black.

New Ladies Leather Jackets Now Online at Pierotucci.com!

Every early spring Pierotucci releases new styles and colors for the upcoming year. Many of our ladies jackets are designed and tailored for the beautiful transition seasons of spring and autumn, and are also a great go to for those rare blustery summer days when the sun takes its leave of absence. The jackets we are debuting this year cover the age and style spectrum from mature cuts and colors to fun and sprightly patterns. All of our new jackets are produced with the highest quality lambskin.

We have taken the classic button-up blazer and revamped it with innovative stitching patterns, cuts, and cuffs.  This blazer is one of the softest and sharpest jackets in our line at the moment.  Its smooth glossy finish and buttery soft lambskin makes it an elegant addition to any wardrobe.

The stitching pattern is one of the most unique in the leather jacket market, with front and back stitching originating from the sleeve and curving in to fit the shape of the body while the back of the jacket has a braod leather band to exentuate the waist.  Both collar and cuffs are great folded or unfolded depending on the style you are wanting to achieve.

This delicately treated buttery soft lambskin blazer comes in classic black and a dark purple eggplant color.

Limited Edition Japanese Tsunami Aid Fortunata Design

March 2011 the northeastern coast of Japan was devastated by a Tsunami created by an underground earthquake near the shoreline. The world watched in horror as the death toll and missing rose from the catastrophic event. The shock at the seriousness of the disaster and resulting destruction of coastal towns became almost inconceivable. Now 4 months later the Japanese people face the challenge of cleaning up the destruction to make way for rebuilding and renewed life. This effort however will not be the sole the responsibility of the Japanese government. Many organizations world wide have sent aid workers and monetary donations to show their support to the beleaguered nation. We at Pierotucci would also like to show our support, and have designed a Limited Edition Fortunata bag where proceeds of each sale will be donated to the Japan Red Cross in an effort to aid the clean up and rebuilding.

The idea to create a Japanese Tsunami LE Fortunata stems from the unwavering loyalty and appreciation Pierotucci has received throughout the years from Japanese clientèle. From its humble beginning in 1972 Piero focused the majority of his attention to the Japanese market, aware of their high regard for quality craftsmanship items. Piero’s designs made with Italian leather have continued to be a hit in the Japanese market for decades. Pierotucci S.r.l. would not be what it is today without their continuing support. We acknowledge that support by using the rapidly growing popularity of our newest design Fortunata for a Limited Edition bag that demonstrates not only our appreciation but the Japanese spirit.

The Japanese Tsunami LE Fortunata is made from two types of materials: canvas and leather. The base of the bag is done in canvas allowing us to highlight both Japanese and Italian flags which are made in leather. Both flags are represented in alternate top and bottom corners. The versatility of the bag’s layout lets the wearer display both flags using the Fortunata in a long style tote, or to choose between flags when folding over. The Italian flag has a superimposed phrase “Noi…con Voi” which literally translates to “Us…with You”. The Japanese flag was creatively designed by incorporating the ending of one of the red top handles, transforming it into the Japanese red sun on a background of white leather.

We are only producing 80 of the Japanese Tsunami LE Fortunata bags, with each bag being numbered with the same tic-tac-toe pattern as the regular Fortunatas. This is the first and only time we will go into production with these bags, so once they are gone, they are gone for good. The bags are being sold in our emporium in Florence as well as online through our website.