A ‘Feast for All Senses’ – Laura Delli Colli, Italian Film Journalist Presents, “An Evening with Recipes ‘Stolen’ from the Screenâ€
Monday, April 11, 2011
Miami Beach Cinematheque
1130 Washington Avenue
Miami Beach, 33139
Anyone who loves Italian film and food should not miss out on a spectacular event taking place during the 6th annual Sicilian Film Festival! Famous, Italian film journalist, Laura Delli Colli will present, “An Evening With Recipes ‘Stolen’ From The Screen†on Monday, April 11, 2011 at the Miami Beach Cinematheque, 1130 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, 33139. The film ‘feast’ will begin at 7:00 p.m. with a screening of selected scenes from famous Italian films, followed by feature film presentation of “Baaria†by award-winning director Giuseppe Tornatore, and ending with a buffet dinner at Café Milano, 850 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach.
Film buffs will enjoy recalling scenes from Italian classics such as Federico Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita†Marco Ferreri’s “La Grande Bouffe,†and Luchino Visconti’s “The Leopard.†In Delli Colli’s book “The Taste in 100 Recipes of Italian Cinema†(available in English at Amazon.com), she provides a recipe, a short synopsis of a film, and describes the food motif. Recipe 18 ‘Timballo di Maccheroni/Macaroni Timbale†is inspired by a famous scene from “The Leopard.†Delli Colli writes: “Prince Salina resorts to food to pinpoint the differences in life styles. The food to be enjoyed or to be extolled becomes an orgy of voluptuousness involving all five senses.†The dish which is macaroni with a meat sauce made of pork, chicken, and beef, plus aubergines and mozzarella, covered with a pastry and topped with béchamel sauce is depicted in a scene described by Delli Colli, “when the knife slits the crust, a smoke filled with flavors spurts out first, and then…â€
In describing “La Grande Bouffe†with corresponding recipe ‘Rognoni trifolati/Fried Veal Kidneys’ Delli Colli writes: “the film is clearly a metaphor of squalor and an allegory of a society condemned to die of wealth. The gourmet menu is a real nightmare appeasing and killing at the same time the leading characters.†In the film the kidneys are prepared ‘Bordolese-style’ which is the French version of the Italian recipe provided in the book.
At the lecture, Delli Colli will also discuss Donatella Maiorca’s “The Sea Purple†to be screened at the SFF on Friday, April 8th and share recipes for Sicilian Swordfish, Sundried Tomatoes in Oil and Timbale Macaroni.
Following the lecture (at 7:45 p.m.) will be a screening of Giuseppe Tornatore’s “Baaria.†Tornatore became internationally famous after his “Cinema Paradiso†won Special Jury Prize at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival and an Academy Award for the Best Foreign Film the same year. “Baaria†was the opening film at the 66th Venice International Film Festival and received a Golden Globe nomination. Baaria (Sicilian slang for Bagheria where Tornatore was born) is an epic saga of life and death, love and hatred in a vibrant Sicilian town in the first half of the twentieth century.
Finally, after discussing and watching food in film, guests are welcome join the SFF President, Emanuele Viscuso, Artistic Director, Salvo Bitonti, and the SFF team at Café Milano, 850 Ocean Drive on South Beach for a buffet dinner (to begin at approximately 10:30 p.m.) Tickets are $50.00 per person and proceeds will benefit next year’s Sicilian Film Festival. For more information and reservations, call (305) 710-4593 or email SicilianFilmFestival@gmail.com.
Guests to this event are offered a special travel deal to experience first hand the ‘Taste of Sicily’ offered by SFF sponsor Mediterranean Concepts. They are offering a savings of up to 50% on select 2011 European cruises plus a $100.00 per cabin Visa Gift Card. This company customizes private journeys to Sicily and other Mediterranean gems plus offers private culinary adventures led by Nancy Harmon Jenkins, renowned Mediterranean cookbook author and culinary expert. Email info@mediterraneanconcepts.com or visit http://www.mediterraneanconcepts.com/.
