Some of the finest Italian restaurants of Los Angeles gathered together on Saturday, October 12 to showcase and celebrate the culinary tradition of a Country whose millenary taste for good food and wine is world-renowned and appreciated.
The 2013 edition of the “Taste of Italy” took place in the very heart of Downtown, between the Pico House and the Los Angeles Plaza Park, which are among the historical and most evocative venues in the City.
The event – organized during the Italian Heritage Month – was aimed not only at promoting Italian cuisine with some of its most talented representatives, but also at benefitting the restoration and re-opening in 2014 of the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles (IAMLA) in the historic site of the Italian Hall. As Executive Director and historian Marianna Gatto underlined in her speech, the IAMLA will be a modern and interactive museum paying tribute to all the different communities that live in Los Angeles and have significantly contributed to the development of the City as well as of Southern California throughout the history.
The 5th “Taste of Italy” was attended by dignitaries of local and Italian institutions, including members of the Los Angeles City Council, the Consulate General of Italy, the Italian Cultural Institute, the Italian Trade Commission, the Italian American Chamber of Commerce West, and many other associations like the Historic Italian Hall Foundation committed to promote our rich heritage and culture in the United States.
In his introductory remarks, Senator of Southern California Kevin de León expressed his gratitude to the local Italian American community for the crucial role it played in building the whole Country, and he reaffirmed the strong and long standing relationship between Italy and the U.S.
Members of the Los Angeles City Council Tom LaBonge and John Buscaino – who is native of Sicily – were also in attendance to acknowledge the tremendous work of the festival’s organizers and the IAMLA Board of Directors, starting from the President Paul Pagnone. In particular, Councilman John Buscaino from the 15thDistrict – which includes the area of San Pedro, boasting one of the largest concentrations of Italian Americans in California – reminded us of the importance of preserving the Italian Hall as a monument and a symbol of our history to pass on to future generations.
Among the special guests who participated in the event were also actor Luis Lombardi (The Usual Suspects) presenting his new gourmet food line, former LA RAMS football player Vince Ferragamo promoting his family-run winery, and Italian goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini who plays for Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy.
Authentic Italian food, wine, and dessert tastings were accompanied throughout the evening by live entertainment provided by “Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino”, soprano Elisabetta Russo, La Dolce Vita singers, USC “SoCal Vocal” a cappella group, and other artists performing famous Italian songs. Furthermore, two Turkish airlines tickets to Italy were raffled off.
Thanks to the support of the institutions, the prestigious sponsors, and all the guests of “Taste of Italy”, the IAMLA will soon represent an additional and powerful instrument to pursue the common goal of proudly protecting and honoring the Italian history, cultural legacy, and original traditions within the multicultural American society.
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