Archive for the ‘uniquely italian’ Category
heeeey…brasilena!
A little while ago, Shelley wrote about gassosa, a rather unique carbonated beverage. I’d say it’s the Italian equivalent of 7-Up or Sprite, but that doesn’t really do it justice. From Shelley’s post and subsequent comments, it seems that each area of Italy has its favorite manufacturer, and down here in Calabria is no different.There’s ours on the left.
This is actually new packaging–see how they’re playing up the “national beverage” aspect of gassosa with “Bevanda Tipica Nazionale” in green, white, and red? Clever, eh?
As I mentioned in my comment to Shelley’s post, it’s common here to mix gassosa with beer (birra e gassosa), especially at midday. It’s similar to a French Panaché, and I thought it was kind of odd until I tried it; then it reminded me of putting a wedge of lime in a Corona–citrus and beer can be tasty together!
Shelley’s post also made me think of another special drink we have in these parts, one that is unique to Calabria, to the province of Catanzaro (Girifalco) in fact–the Brasilena, described on the packaging as a “bibita al caffè,” a coffee drink.
And it is. This is a cold, non-alcoholic, carbonated coffee drink, so you can just as easily slug this down for breakfast instead of a caffè freddo or my own invented morning brew.
Its website (yes, it’s *that* big time) says that the Brasilena has been produced for 60 years and is made with Calabrian sparkling mineral water and “the right dose of coffee,” which means that young people can drink it too. Other than in Calabria, you can find it in Puglia, Sicily, and Campania, and now it’s also entering the markets of Canada, United States, and Australia–and there are even requests from China.
I told you it was big time.
There is apparently also something called “Moka” produced in the neighboring province of Cosenza, but I’m not going to get involved in the apparent rivalry between the two. Those links are in Italian, but trust me, loyalties to one drink or the other run deep. I’ve never had a Moka, so I have no comment on this cosentina (from Cosenza) cousin.
Where does the name “Brasilena” come from? The website didn’t give any clues that I could find, but brasileña is the feminine adjective for something/someone from Brazil–in Spanish (not Italian). Perhaps the founder was Brazilian (or Spanish) or had ties to the South American country as many Calabrians emigrated there (or to Spain)? Or maybe the name is just a play on Brazil’s coffee bean production?
Or perhaps it all boils down to advertising, and an exotic name plus a cute Brazilian-ish girl adds up to sales. Cha-ching!
If anyone knows the real story, do share, but please don’t waste your hard-earned euros buying Brasilena on eBay from Italy or something–it’s good, but really not worth those shipping costs.
So, next time you’re in Calabria, the Brasilena is on me (if you’re wondering, it costs a euro a bottle at the bar), and I promise to try and refrain from singing its name to the tune of the Macarena when I order.
But be forewarned–I haven’t been successful so far.
Heeeey Brasilena!
*clap clap*
no parking (plus a poppy)
This is a sign in the corner of the small piazza near my house.
For those who don’t know, these two, taken together mean “No parking in the entire sqaure.”
There didn’t use to be the additional “per tutta la piazza” language below the main sign, but it was added because some crafty parkers argued that, well, they weren’t parked right below the sign, so they weren’t in violation of anything.
Glad we got that cleared up.
Bonus! Here’s a poppy just because.
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[tags]no parking, poppies, flowers[/tags]
sisterhood of the impossible-to-find pants
I find clothes shopping in Italy rough, and I know I’m not the only one.
It’s not just the sales clerks that either (a) won’t leave you alone to browse or (b) won’t wait on you even when you ask.
It’s more about finding the right clothes in the right style with the right fit at the right price.
Aw, I’m just going to say it: there isn’t a pair of pants in Italy that I like, that will fit me, and that will not cost more than a plot of farmable Calabrian land.
No, I haven’t scoured every store from the Alps to the Aspromonte, but I’ve been here almost four years, and I’ve never (that’s mai) bought a pair of pants here. I’ve been able to get along with my basic, if somewhat outdated, wardrobe up until now, but another complication has been added to the mix.
Over this time, I’ve lost somewhere around 35 pounds (16 kilos) in total. It’s been gradual because I haven’t actually been dieting, per se. Eating better? Absolutely. Moving more? For sure. And so as my lifestyle has changed, so has my pants size, and as I realized last week, the old ones just aren’t even passable anymore.
Isn’t this supposed to be the fun part of losing weight–when you get to go out and buy new clothes in a size you never thought you’d see?
Yeah well, it hasn’t been enjoyable for a variety of reasons, one being that I have no idea what size I actually am. Even in American sizes, I’m not sure, but at least I know what I’m not based on my current clothes.
Sure there are handy little online conversion charts to help, but you know what? Even when I try on pants of the European sizes I (allegedly) used to be (35 pounds/16 kilos ago), they don’t fit!
Whahuh?
I’ve concluded that it’s a problem of body type and shape rather than of size; for instance, if I find a pair of pants that fit my thighs and bum, the waist is enormous. Anything that would fit my waist requires squeezing my legs into them until my torso is held up by two salsiccie (sausages).
Not a good look on anyone, I don’t think.
Then there’s a little thing called “length” and Italians only believe in one, so it’s off to the tailor’s to spend more euros if you aren’t whatever that height is!
And don’t even get me started on the low-rise fad that won’t die.
On that subject, let’s talk a little more about la moda. Even if I could find a pair of pants that fit, finding them in a style I like would be quite difficult. Plain old jeans (oh, I don’t know, like from the Gap) are hard to find. Many have sequins or other stitching to liven them up.
Apparently I prefer my jeans rather deadened.
I’ve never been a big fan of bedazzled anything, but now, pushing 31, well, I find such jeans even less appropriate (although many of my Italian colleagues older than me don’t see a problem).
I haven’t mentioned the cost yet, but believe me, clothes are not cheap here (except for the staples like socks and underwear which you can get at the weekly market). I’m simply not willing to spend a small fortune on a pair of slutty-looking jeans (yeah, I said it) that make it difficult to breathe and sit at the same time, all while showing the crack o’ my bum to the world.
And so I’m stuck in pants limbo.
Ordering online is an option, but for how long it would take something to get here (if it arrives at all) coupled with how expensive it is to ship and, oh, have I mentioned that I have no idea what size I am? Probably not worth the hassle.
I think I just may have to spring for a cheap Ryan Air flight to London where it is rumoured (get it?) that women built like me exist.
Either that, or, fellow expat women, sisters if you will, it’s time to start an importing business.
Che ne pensate?
(What do you think?)
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[tags]shopping in italy, pants, trousers, jeans[/tags]
Top 5 Italian Words You Really Don’t Want to Mispronounce
Whether you’re coming to Italy for your first or twenty-first time, ready to meet your future in-laws, trying to impress your new Italian amore, or just in the mood to laugh *with* us as we maneuver our way through the beautiful Italian language, I have compiled for you:
The Top 5 Italian Words You Really Don’t Want to Mispronounce.
meme italiano: kinda like the mambo but not
As promised yesterday, here is my first Italian meme!
I’ve completed it in both Italian and English, and the only rule is “Don’t make fun of my Italian.” Avete capito?
Let’s continue then.
*****
Con piacere accetto l’invito di New Brigand a rispondere ad alcune domande sul rapporto che ho con il vino.
Sei più vino rosso, bianco o rosé?
Rosso, rosso, rosso! Non c’è dubbio. Non mi piace rosé per niente e bevo il bianco solo se non c’è nient’altro.
La tua prima volta?
Che domanda! E’ terribile che non mi ricordo?
La migliore associazione tra un vino e una portata?
Le fette delle pesche inzuppate del vino rosso (come ha fatta la nonna una volta).
La tua migliore degustazione?
Mi piacciono sempre i vini della Sicilia e anche quello del mio suocero. Che altro!
Chi sceglie il vino in casa tua e chi amministra la cantina?
P. E’ meglio così perché non so niente di vino.
Quanti vini hai in cantina?
Sinceramente solo uno—quello del mio suocero! Ma cuciniamo anche con un vino bianco di Cirò (Calabria).
Come inizieresti un giovane al vino?
Come ha detto New Brigand, con gli amici—come tutte le cose mi sembra.
Salute! Cent’anni!
*****
With pleasure, I accept the invitation of New Brigand to respond to some questions about my relationship with wine.
Are you more white, red, or rosé?
Red, red, red. Without a doubt. I don’t like rosé at all and I drink white only if there’s nothing else.
Your first time?
What a question! Is it terrible that I don’t remember?
The best pairing between a wine and dish?
Peaches soaked in red wine (like my grandmother used to do).
Your favorite?
I always like Sicilian wines but I also like my father-in-law’s wine too. Of course!
Who chooses the wine at your house or who manages your wine cellar?
P. It’s better this way because I don’t know anything about wine.
How many wines do you have in your wine cellar?
Honestly, just one—my father-in-law’s! But we also cook with a white wine from Cirò (Calabria).
How do you introduce a young person to wine?
As New Brigand said, with friends—like everything I think.
Cheers! A hundred years!
And now some photos of our cantina, or at least our soon to be cantina when we switch to the bigger house:
I won’t tag anyone, but if anyone would like to play in either English or Italian (or both!), please do and leave me a comment saying as much so we can find your answers.
And while we’re sort of on the subject (wine and food go hand in hand after all), I’m putting a call out to all my foodie friends.
If you like to cook, bake, or even just eat, you should check out what’s happening at Jenn’s Foodie Blogroll.
It’s a convenient way to keep track of all of your fellow food lovers, so why not join? Just click the above graphic, link, here, or the link on my sidebar. See how easy?
Then pour yourself a glass a wine and settle in for some great foodie recipes, tips, tales and such.
And we’re full circle.
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[tags]vino, wine, memes, cantina[/tags]
Michelle Kaminsky is an American attorney-turned-freelance writer who lived in her family's ancestral village in Calabria, Italy for 15 years. This blog is now archived.
Calabria Guidebook
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