Breaking Bread in L’Aquila: Ceramic Plates

Breaking Bread in L'Aquila Plate I Breaking Bread in L'Aquila Plate II
Ciao a tutti!

It’s been a while since I last blogged. Forgive me …..

April 6, 2012 will mark the third anniversary of the L’Aquila Earthquake. I just returned from a visit to L’Aquila and was very sad to see that movement is still very slow!!

I’m organizing a few events in the next few months to help raise awareness and continue with fund raising!

I am working with a friend whom I met two years ago in Castelli (the finest ceramic designs in the world). I asked Antonio Simone, old school ceramic maker (inks are still made by hand), to design a plate from my book Breaking Bread in L’Aquila. When we met last week, he had me choose from a few designs and had a hard time picking one design. Instead, I picked two. This will be the first of my series and will add on: vases, larger platters, dinner plates, espresso cups (you get the picture)!

I have a limited supply of each of these designs available end of May. Unique, one of a kind, hand painted dish as part of my brand extension. You can hang it as a beautiful wall design or use the dish to serve my biscotti, amaretti, an antipasti or condorni. Then again, rule breaking Maria says “anything goes”!!

Each plate will be for sale on my website at www.foodandfate.com for $250.00. A portion of the net profits will be donated to an Art School in Castelli. I will post more about this soon.

A beautiful dish to add to your collection and the perfect way to help the children/youth in Abruzzo.

My goal is to present a check at Telos in Europe: The L’Aquila Conference
September 7–10, 2012, in L’Aquila, Italy

a presto,

Maria !

Playground in Rocca di Mezzo

Mayor+presenting+gift+to+Mary[1] playground part II playground

Thanks to everybody!! We did it!!

On June 9th Maria Filice, author and food stylist of Breaking Bread in L’Aquila, publisher, Food and Fate Publishing (imprint of Telos Press Publishing) made a donation towards the construction of a playground for primary and secondary school students in Rocca di Mezzo. Using the net profits from her cookbook, Filice donated $5,000. The playground is dedicated to the memory of Filice’s late husband, Paul Piccone.

The official ceremony for receipt of the donation took place at 11am in Viale Giovanne Minozzi, where Filice presented a check to Emilio Nusca, mayor of Rocca di Mezzo, Carlo Benedetti, President of Consiglio Comunale of the City of L’Aquila, and the school’s principal Claudia Scipioni. Mayor Nusca is also the coordinator among mayors in the L’Aquila region who are responsible for reconstruction after the earthquake.

For those who wish to visit, Rocca di Mezzo is a small town about 15 kilometers from Celano with approximately 2,000 inhabitants. During the height of the summer tourist season, this population swells to 10,000. The town is situated atop a beautiful plateau among the highest mountains of the Abruzzo and the Appennini, about 30 kilometers from L’Aquila. As a smaller town, somewhat removed from the main destruction the April 2009 earthquake in the Abruzzo, Rocca di Mezzo has not received much help with reconstruction. Though the Protezione Civile rebuilt the school that is home to the primary and secondary students of Rocca di Mezzo as well as the nearby villages of Ovindoli and Rocca di Cambio, the playground has not yet been restored. With the donation, Filice hopes to fill this vital need.

Back in Black: Breaking Bread in L’Aquila Aprons!

BBapron

BACK IN BLACK: Breaking Bread in L’Aquila Aprons will be available for the Holidays!
Pre-Order your aprons by 11/15 and save $5.00!

You can never have enough aprons in the kitchen! With holiday entertaining, this black classic features a double pocket and an adjustable neck strap. Now we’re cooking! Machine washable, 22″ x 30″ poly/cotton. This is the perfect hostess and holiday gift.

SALE! Pre-order your apron before November 15 and save $5 off of the regular price! Aprons will be shipped as soon as they become available.

In the spirit of gift giving, a portion of the net profits will be donated to the earthquake restoration of L’Aquila.

a presto,

maria

A Word on Stuff: Use your Stuff!

A quote from the late George Carlin, Comedy Rock Star ….

“A house is just a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get more stuff”.

I encourage you to use your stuff….
Dust off your stuff and use your plates, linen and crystal!
Don’t clutter your stuff in cabinets….use it!

In my book, Breaking Bread in L’Aquila, I used all of my stuff to food style. It’s important to set a nice table when you have prepared a simple meal! Food looks so much more appealing when it looks good on the plate (your stuff): Tasting with your eyes!

As we start thinking about the Holidays (just around the corner) – dust off your good dishes (stuff) and use them.

If you accidentally break some stuff ….just go out and buy more stuff! ps – you can’t take your stuff with you!

Don’t forget….The net proceeds of this book will be donated to the restoration efforts of the earthquake of L’Aquila. Great gift giving for the Holidays.

a presto,

maria