Italy from the Inside

Pandoro farcito con crema al mascarpone: a Christmas treat

A few days ago, I attended a Christmas potluck with some Italian friends and since I was in charge of bringing un dolce (Italian term to define a dessert) I decided to make the pandoro farcito con crema al mascarpone (pandoro cake with mascarpone cream). This is a very simple and yet delicious dessert that has become a classic in Italy during the Christmas holidays. If you decide to make it, this is what you need:

– 1 pandoro (I got mine at Marshall’s in Bellevue, WA, but you can find it also either at Ross Dress for Less, World Market or any Italian specialty food store)
– 2 egg yolks
– 4 tbsp sugar
– 3 tbsp mascarpone cream
– powdered sugar
– Gianduiotti chocolate (optional)

First beat the egg yolks with the sugar, then add the mascarpone cheese until you get a smooth cream. Set aside.

Cut the pandoro in 5 layers.

Spred the crema al mascarpone on each layer (the more liquid the better, it will make the cake softer).

Place each layer back, without matching the edges, in order to create a Christmas tree like shape.

I used Gianduiotti chocolate to decorate the cake, but you can use any other decoration, sometimes we even use small candles.

Finally, sprinkle the cake with powdered sugar and decorate the top with your favorite object (I “borrowed” baby Jesus from my kids’ Fisher-Price nativity).

Enjoy it, Buon Natale!

“A Natale puoi…”

There’s one thing Italians associate with Christmas every year and that’s the lavender box of the pandoro Bauli. The Bauli brand has been around since 1937, when Ruggero Bauli opened his workshop in Verona (AKA Romeo and Juliet’s town) where in 1950 he started producing pandoro, the traditional Veronese Christmas cake. However, besides producing very good Christmas cakes and sweets, the Bauli company has been producing also memorable commercials for its products, you know, in the Coca-Cola style, with songs that you still remember and sing after many years.

This commercial was running in the 80’s (when I was attending middle school and eating sweets with no guilt, just to give you an idea…).

Most recently, Bauli launched a new commercial which features, in my opinion, one of the best Italian Christmas songs  titled “A Natale puoi” (literally translated as “At Christmas time you can…”).

Oh, by the way, if you want to sing it AND taste the pandoro at the same time, just remember that you can find it on Amazon! Is there anything Amazon doesn’t sell?

Merry Christmas everyone!

The Under30 Pass for La Scala: a new Culture Initiative

The Teatro alla Scala of Milan – more commonly called La Scala – is universally known, even by those people who have never been there.

The so-called “Temple of Opera”, is located in Piazza della Scala, in the city center just behind the Gallery and the Duomo. The structure was built in 1778 by the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, after a fire had destroyed the Royal Ducal Theatre.

What does La Scala offer during its Theater Season? Opera, ballet and classical music concerts. A repertoire that mostly attracts people of a certain age who have a deep interest in this kind of performances and can also afford the prices of the tickets. This represents the typical reality of our time, which is characterized by such a varied music offer that classical music often remains isolated. You can hear about La Scala mainly for the traditional contestations happening during the première – approximately in the first week of December – rather than for its cultural offer.

For this very reason the initiative, supported by Milan Municipality, whose aim is to bring younger audiences to the theatre is remarkable. In Lascalaunder30.org website we can read:

“Between you and your search for strong feelings there are no obstacles anymore. Discover LaScalaUNDER30, the project dedicated to young audiences under 30. With the Under30 Pass you will be always up to date on news concerning La Scala. You will also become a member of our Community and will get access to many exclusive offers. It will be like being part of the theatre itself, by visiting it, watching the performances and approaching the artists…”

This is an intelligent way to approach the younger audiences by communicating that La Scala is not a museum but a place for cultural production: from the games on its website to the fascinating opportunity of freely watching the previews.

The Under30 pass – obviously for those people who are under 30, thirty-year-old persons included – costs just 10 Euros and give you many exclusive advantages, including promotions and visits to the Theatre, to the Theatre Museum and to Ansaldo Workshops. It also offers the opportunity of watching five ensemble opera and ballet rehearsals and a 50% price reduction on the entrance for the Theatre Museum. You will also obtain the Scala Shop Card for free. This is undoubtedly a worthwhile initiative and represents an important step towards a more affordable city. We hope that it will have a great success.

(This guest post has been contributed by Ileana Ongar of Viaggionelmondo.net)