ITALIAN SCOTLAND IS THE WEBSITE OF THE COCAIS & THE COMITES

NEWSLETTER

Welcome to the February edition of the ItalianScotland Newsletter

MILANCLUB SCOZIA

If you have a soft spot for AC Milan, then join the club …that is the

newly-formed Milan Club Scozia.

Their next event is scheduled for Wednesday February 18th as the Rossoneri

take on Werder Bremen in the UEFA Cup. A special serata has been arranged for

club members and those interested in joining at the

Butterfly & Pig Restaurant,153 Bath Street, Glasgow.

For £10, host, Cav. Michele Pagliocca will lay on food, a glass of wine and a big

screen showing live coverage of the match.

To find out more, or to book a place, please contact Club President,

Michael Lemetti on 07903133875 or email him on mikelemetti@yahoo.co.uk

To spread the word in Scotland, a new website has been launched.

Click here to visit it: www.milanclubscozia.com

There you can catch up on the fixture list and results, see what’s happening

for rossoneri fans in Scotland and get a sneak preview of the new AC Milan tartan!

Don’t miss it!

SCOTLAND V ITALY

In case you hadn’t noticed the big match between Scotland and Italy is just days away …

the big rugby match that is! Scotland Rugby Team will be playing Italy as part of their

RBS Six Nations campaign on the 28th of February at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh.

TASTE OF TUSCANY EVENING

Top tuscan chef, Dante Simoncini will be visiting Scotland this month.

The Lucchesi Nel Mondo have secured a special night to meet the great man and

hear some of his top tips about Italian Cuisine. Tickets cost only £10 and include a

hot and cold buffet and a glass of wine. All funds raised will be donated to the

Italian Cloister Fund Appeal. Places are limited, so please secure your places by contacting:

FESTA DELLA TERZA ETA’

This first event of its type to be organised by the CoCAIS has proved an enormous

success and has sold out a month ahead.  It is planned to stage further similar events

at regular intervals throughout the year aimed at the older age group.

A reminder for those who have booked places, the event will take place at Bacco Italia

Restaurant in Kilmarnock Road, Shawlands, Glasgow on March 1st from 2-6pm.

Watch this space for more details of the next event of its type.

ITALIAN CLOISTER GARDEN APPEAL

A major boost this month to the Italian Garden appeal came thanks to the hard work

and commitment of the Cecchini family in Troon. They organised a special fund

raising night in Ayr Town Hall with the Mayor of Barga, Umberto Sereni and

Archbishop Conti as guests.  The night raised almost £10,000 for the appeal –

the highest donation of its type so far including a £1500 donation from the

Scottish Italian Community Fund. Thanks are due to all who helped, those

who donated prizes, and who gave of their time and skills free of charge. 

At the event the Mayor was presented with the Archdiocesan Medal by

Archbishop Conti in recognition of his work to promote links with the Archdiocese. 

Presentations were also made to mark Sindaco Sereni’s tireless

work on behalf of the Lord Provost of Glasgow, the Consulate of Italy

and the First Minister, Alex Salmond MSP.

The appeal remains very much open. This month application has been made

to a bank foundation in Lucca which we hope will boost the fund considerably. 

To make a donation and, if you wish, to commemorate a loved one in the garden,

please contact Cav Ronnie Convery at ronnie.convery@rcag.org.uk

 or visit the website www.italiancloister.org.uk

ART OF ITALY EXHIBITION

Time is running short if you haven’t yet seen the masterpieces in the Art of Italy

Exhibition at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh. The drama of the Baroque comes north

in this show which focuses on the 17th century.  Among the masterpieces on show

are The Calling of Saints Peter and Andrew, recently revealed as an original work

by the Italian master Caravaggio. 

Other highlights include Carracci’s Allegory of Truth and Time, Gentileschi’s

Joseph and Potiphar’s wife, Allori’s Judith with the Head of Holofernes and

drawings by Guido Reni, Guercino and Bernini.

The exhibition runs until March 8th and The Queen's Gallery is open daily
09:30-16:30 (last admission 15:30).

ITALIAN CUISINE WEEK IN SCOTLAND

This special week dedicated to the delights of Italian food with the emphasis on

Piedmont is being run by the Italian Cultural Institute from February 2-7.

A great programme of events has been lined up … though the organisers take no

responsibility for extra inches added to waistlines as a result of attendance! 

The event takes place on Tuesday 3 February 2009 at 6.00pm at Italian Cultural Institue,

Edinburgh, 82 Nicolson Street.

The line up includes:  

Free event but booking essential: rsvp.iicedimburgo@esteri.it

Piedmont’s specialities will be served in restaurants in Scotland during the week:

Monday 2 February 2009 at 7.30pm
Giuliano’s on the Shore - 1 Commercial Street, Edinburgh
For prices, menu and bookings please call 0131 554 5272

Friday 6 February 2009 at 7.30pm
Pavarotti’s Restaurant - 27-29 Union Terrace, Aberdeen
For price, menu and bookings please call 01224 622 555

Thursday 5 February 2009 at 7.30pm
Peter's Yard, Quartermile 27 Simpson Loan, Edinburgh 
A Night of Organic Pizza + Great Music  with music by Lou Dalfin Group  
For price and bookings please call 0131-228 58 76

MORE FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD …

Still on a culinary theme, next month sees the visit to Scotland of another

celebrated Italian chef. On Sunday 1 March 2009 at Fratelli Sarti,  Wellington Street,

Dante Simoncini, proprietor of the Hotel Torretta in Montecatini www.hoteltorretta.it/en_benvenuti.html and his chef are preparing a typical meal from Montecatini.

Fratelli Sarti has a strong connection with the Hotel Torretta as they have used the hotel as

a base for several of their wine trips The price is £65.00 per head and includes wine

to accompany the meal, wine which will be selected by Dante to compliment his food.

This is sure to be a sellout evening so please book quickly by

calling Wellington Street on 0141 248 2228.

SCOTS ITALIAN TV DOCUMENTARY

Over the last year a film crew from BBC Scotland’s Gaelic department have been

filming the life of the Scots Italian community, culminating in the Scampagnata at Alva last June.

The final documentary will be shown on BBC Alba (satellite channel) on

Tuesday 3 March at 9 pm.  Be sure to tune in and see a few familiar faces!

MESSAGGERO DI SANT’ANTONIO

One of Italy’s best loved magazines is available in English and now also has a special

edition aimed at Italian speakers living outside Italy. 

Produced by the Franciscans in Padua, the magazine carries news of Italian communities

round the world and recently focused on Scotland. … “La Scozia si tinge di tricolore!”

The magazine can be sent (or perhaps a gift subscription for a relative purchased) for

£18 per year. For more information click on the following links – it would make the ideal

gift for someone who has everything, and all money raised goes to Franciscan charities.

For the English language edition: www.saintanthonyofpadua.net/portale/home.asp

For the Italiani all’Estero edition:

www.messaggerosantantonio.it/messaggero_emi/home.asp

INTERNET PILGRIMAGE

Still on the theme of St Anthony, it is now possible to leave your special intentions at the

tomb of the saint in Padua without leaving your own home. The Friars have created an

internet service which allows you to write your prayer request or special intention on a

form, email it to Italy, where it will then be printed and left at the saint’s shrine. 

For more information click:

www.carosantantonio.it/ing/home.asp

AUGURI LEANDRO!

The Comune of  Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Lucca  has honoured

Cavaliere Avv. Leandro Franchi with a special award in recognition of his business efforts

and talents abroad. This award was created in order to give recognition to the important

link which unites Castelnuovo with all their citizens who now live abroad. Every year a

person will be chosen from the AIRE (Anagrafe degli Italiani Residenti all‘Estero) database

who, in living abroad has promoted Castelnuovo.

Leandro is the first recipient of the new award which was made for his important role

as Honorary Italian Consul for Glasgow and surrounding areas, and for his dedication in

his profession as a solicitor in Glasgow. His efforts in strengthening the link between

Castelnuovo and the Italian/Scottish community were also recognised.

The presentation took place on 23rd December 2008 in the Sala Consiliare della

Rocca Ariostesca in Castelnuovo. All of Leandro’s family and many friends attended.

Many congratulations!

AUGURI PAUL!

Paul Verrico has been elected the new president of the CoCAIS – the federation of

Italian Associations in Scotland.  Paul previously serves as treasurer of the association and

takes over from Cav Irene Vannucci who we wish to thank for her years of service to the

Italo-Scots community.  Silvia Strommer remains in post as the Vice President,

Ronnie Convery as Secretary and the new treasurer is Angela Pieraccini.

SANREMO IS BACK!

If it’s February, it must be time for Sanremo! Italy’s favourite song festival takes to the stage and screen on Rai Uno (viewable in Scotland with a satellite dish) from

Tuesday February 17th to Saturday February 21st.

Once more this year many of the great names from Italian popular music will be battling it out. 

Here’s a preview of the runners and riders …

SCUOLA ITALIANA ANNUAL DINNER

The Annual Italian Buffet Dance for the Scuola Italiana (Paisley) Funds will be held at Hawkhead Bowling Club at Lanfine Rd. Paisley on Saturday 2 May 2009.

As the organisers are tied to 100 guests only, tickets will be at a premium, in fact

most tickets have already been snapped up. 

For final bookings please contact Luigi Pierotti  on  0141 561 7156

ETHICAL FASHION CONFERENCE

Milan, 7th – 8th May 2009, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

Ethical fashion is a growing phenomenon. An increasing number of consumers are very

sensitive to the ethical aspects of the clothes they wear, as they consider respect for

the environment and workers’ rights as imperative standards in their choices. In response

to this new climate the fashion industry has reacted by

proposing “ethical” clothes and accessories.

The conference is ken to hear from Scots as well as Italians and intends to offer a site

for debate on the often contradictory issues that characterize this new phenomenon.

Among the issues to be discussed are: environmental sustainability;

fashion and globalization; ethics as a new marketing tool; the communication

of ethical fashion and second-hand fashion.

For further information please contact: SEGRETERIA ORGANIZZATIVA

Centro per lo studio della moda e della produzione culturale

L.go Gemelli 1, Lotto 3, quarto piano, 20123, Milano

tel.:0039-2-7234.2505
fax:0039-2-7234.3665
e-mail: centro.modacult@unicatt.it

PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION

The Association "Orizzonte Cultura" in partnership with the Council of Quarrata and the Province of Pistoia is organising the third edition of the "Immagini" photography competition.

The special prizes "Tiziano Terzani" and "O.C. International" will be awarded respectively to the photograph which best expresses the concept of love for nature and to the
best foreign photographer. Deadline: 28th February 2009.
 You can check out previously exhibited images, videos of prize-giving receptions, winning photographs, competition rules and request form on this site: www.orizzontecultura.org

NEAPOLITAN SONGS

If you are a fan of the great Neapolitan musical tradition of O Sole Mio, Torna a Surriento,

Marechiare, Santa Lucia and all the rest, then read on.  The Archivio Storico della Canzone Napoletana is a project sponsored by Italian state broadcasters RAI, in collaboration with the Campania Region, the Province of Naples and the City of Naples, with the aim of collecting, documenting and digitalising all the available examples of Neapolitan musical repertoires

and putting them at the disposal of the public. From Enrico Caruso onwards why not dip

into an itinerary which includes Peppino Di Capri and Pino Daniele, Nino D'Angelo and

Gigi D'Alessio... But also Elvis Presley and Paul Mc Cartney, Mireille Mathieu and

Charles Aznavour, Frank Sinatra and Frank Zappa.

Check out the hidden treasures of this timeless music at: www.radio.rai.it/canzonenapoletana_eng/view_last.cfm?Q_PROG_ID=659&Q_TIP_ID=1050

ITALIANSCOTLAND WEBSITE

The site has had many thousands of visitors since its

launch last spring and for £50 annually, companies can sponsor an advert linking to their

own website.

Already many have made use of this option to put their company under the eye of Italian Scotland.

For more details contact the President of the CoCAIS Paul Verrico at paul.verrico@cosmoceramics.co.uk

ALLA PROSSIMA

That’s it for now. Do let us have details of eny events you are staging in and around

Italian Scotland or of any news that will be of interest to all who love Italy.

Items for inclusion should be sent to Ronnie.convery@rcag.org.uk

FESTA  ITALIANA

The most significant event so far in the fund raising campaign to build an Italian Garden next to

St Andrew’s Cathedral Glasgow, takes place on Sunday February 1 at Ayr Town Hall.  

The Family Festa Italiana is a great opportunity to enjoy a fine Italian meal courtesy of Aldo Cecchini

and family of Cecchini’s restaurants, listen and dance to the music of Angela and Paolo and win fantastic

prizes in the grand raffle and auction.  Tickets are just £15 per adult and £10 per child and tables can be

booked for family or friendship groups. The event runs from 4.30pm – 11pm and car parking is available at the venue.

The low ticket price is aimed at encouraging as many as possible to come along.

Archbishop Conti will speak on the night about plans for the Cathedral Italian Garden and the Mayor of Barga,

Umberto Sereni will be the guest of honour in his last visit to Scotland as mayor.  Tickets are going fast.

To secure your places contact Mary McMahon at the Archdiocese on 0141 226 5898 or staff

at Cecchinis on 01292 263607 or 01294 471700.

FESTA DELLA TERZA ETA'

The planned Festa della Terza Eta’ organised by the CoCAIS has proved highly successful.

Just a very small number of tickets remain. This will be the first of what we hope will be a series of

seasonal lunches hosted by different restaurants for the senior members of the community

(65 and over, though no-one will be checking the passports!) Sponsorship for this first event

brings the cost down to just £5 per head for a full three course Italian lunch. The first lunch will

be on Sunday March 1st 2-6pm at  Bacco Italia, Kilmarnock Road, Shawlands, Glasgow.

To inquire about last-minute bookings for the final remaining places contact Cav Adriano De Marco on 07860 415 943.

ITALIANSCOTLAND WEBSITE

Please bookmark this website to find out all the latest information on what is happening in Scotland of

interest to the Italian community and all lovers of Italy. There you can also upload your pictures, leave

announcements, get useful information, promote your event or advertise your business.  The cost of

sponsorship is a very reasonable £50 per year. Welcome this month to our newest site sponsors,

Cacao Chocolate, Bella Napoli Restaurant and Caledonian Lock and Safe Company.

ITALIAN LANGUAGE OPPORTUNITIES

Glasgow University’s Department of Adult and Continuing Education is starting new 10 week language courses this month.

Limited places are still available on the following courses: 

Italian Stage 1 twice/week, Thursdays and Mondays from 12th January  

Italian Stage 2 twice/week, Thursdays and Mondays from 12th January   

Telephone enrolments 0141 330 1860. Full course details at www.gla.ac.uk/adulteducation/languages 

After Easter 2009  there will also be a new programme of 6 week revision classes and 'tourist' classes.

Details will be available from late February.

ITALIAN LANGUAGE MEET-UPS

If you're looking to practise your language skills and meet up with others who have an interest in learning

and speaking Italian then there are a number of language meet-up groups in Glasgow - all free! Go to : 

http://italian.meetup.com/42/

BBC WEBSITE TEACHES ITALIAN

A fantastic new resource is now available from the BBC’s internet platform.  “Steps” is a 12 week teach-yourself

Italian course which can be accessed free at the time and level of your choosing.  You can check your level of

competence and start improving straight away – everything from 10 useful words of Italian to how to use the imperfect subjunctive (ouch!).

Find our more at http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/italian/

IPOD LEARNING

If you got a new iPod for Christmas why not put it to good use by downloading some podcasts and learning Italian while you walk to work!  Check out 'Radiolingua'   http://www.radiolingua.com  

for free podcasts in Italian as well as any number of other languages.

ITALIAN COOKERY COURSE

Itri Restaurant in Edinburgh is offering a unique and exciting opportunity to learn what it is that makes

Italian food so special and so popular. This course will give you the basic skills and knowledge needed

to master Italian cooking. You will learn how professional Italian chefs choose ingredients and how they

use those ingredients to prepare food considered the best in the world.

The course is based on five weekly lessons by Chef Antonio Soscia and two by Guest Chef Anna Fasanella.

Each lesson lasts for around three hours and revolves around a particular style of dish, with the first lesson

giving a broad overview of the skills needed throughout the course. Set in an informal and friendly atmosphere

in the restaurant kitchens, each lesson will provide plenty of opportunity for questions. And, of course,

each lesson ends with a session tasting the delicious food that you have made.

From Monday 12th January to Monday 23rd February 2009

Mondays: 5.30 pm – 8.30 pm. Total Price £100.

For further information and enrolment please contact:

ITRI RESTAURANT, 169-173 Gilmore Place, Edinburgh

Tel 0131 - 228 3115

or email:

info@itrirestaurant.co.uk

BURNS/PASCOLI NIGHT

If you fancy mixing the best of Italian and Scottish culture – this is an evening for you. Organised by the

Club CUORI Cardosini, the Burns Supper with a difference will take place on Saturday 24th January at

the  Barr Castle Social Club, Henrietta Street, Galston in Ayrshire.  7pm start for the four course meal,

dance and poetry readings – music provided by Paolo. 

For more information contact Cav Irene Vannucci at irene.vannucci@hotmail.com

CLUB CUORI ANNIVERSARY

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Club CUORI Cardosini. They would like to hold a photographic

exhibition of the members and functions over the years. If you can help please contact Irene Vannucci (details above). 

The Anniversary celebration will take place at the South Beach Hotel in Troon on March 20 2009. More details nearer the time.

"UNA GENERAZIONE IN FUGA" - SHORT FILM COMPETITION

The aim of the competition is to produce short films which will explain what it is that encourages young Italians

to go abroad, either for short working stays or permanently, and to explore the role Italy continues to play in their lives.

The competition is open to all young Italians (aged 30 and under) living outside Italy and is being supported by Italian

Cultural Institutes and universities worldwide.

The videos will be judged by a professional panel and will be shown publicly. Two prizes will be offered to the winners.

Closing date for entries is March 2nd.  For more info please visit the following site: http://iltamarindo.net

The Scottish Italian Golfers Society is hosting a dance on Wednesday 4th February 2009 at the

Crowne Plaza Hotel (the former Moat House on the banks of the Clyde)   The event kicks off at 7 for 7.30pm.

Tickets priced @ £45.00 each for a 4 course dinner and entertainment and dance are available from Eric Santi

on 07749 609 949 or santieric@yahoo.com or Marco Di Meo 07971 972220.

The entrance price includes raffle entry with prestigious prizes. Entertainment will be provided by the ever

popular Dean Park and a reduced room rate of £90 B&B per double room is available to patrons.

CARNEVALE

Christmas is just over and already Lent is on the horizon … but not before Carnevale! 

A couple of events are scheduled to allow Italian Scotland to breeze into the season of penance with a bit of fun.

First up is a Carnevale Buffet night organized by La Ciociara on Sunday 22nd February at Stirling County Rugby Club,

Bridgehaugh Park, Causewayhead Road , Stirling.

Live music supplied by Angela & Paolo. Tickets cost £20 per adults , £15 for under 12's. There will be a hot and cold

buffet and fancy dress is optional. Time: 7 for 7.30pm. 

For tickets call  01786 451552 or email tony.demarco@ntlworld.com, or call in person at La Ciociara, 41 Friars Street , Stirling.

SPECIAL CARNIVAL OFFER

On the last night of Carnevale – Shrove Tuesday 24th February – there is a special Carnival celebration

at Bacco Restaurant in Shawlands, Glasgow. For £16.95 diners can enjoy a special Carnival four course meal

… however readers of ItalianScotland and users of the ItalianScotland website

can take advantage of a special price of £12.95. 

Just contact the restaurant to make your booking and mention that you have want to take advantage of the ItalianScotland offer. 

Call 0845 2267031.

Bacco Italia can also be contacted through the link on our homepage www.italianscotland.com

NEW SCOTS-ITALIAN NOVEL

A new novel has just been published which is likely to be of great interest to Italian Scotland.

The novel by Glasgow/Filignano man Lino Coia is set in Scotland in the 1970s and is about a

young Italian immigrant who is educated and grows up in Edinburgh. He marries an Irish-English girl

and is pursued by his own ancestral background. Reading is intended to be fast, easy and enjoyable.

The book is entitled La Curva del Diavolo – the Devil’s Bend.

Readers of Italian Scotland can take advantage of a special offer price of £6.50 - plus P&P

(£1.50 in UK, £2 in Europe, £4 elsewhere).

Please contact Lino Coia, 10 Carment Drive, G41 3PP - Telephone 0141 632 6663 or lino.coia@yahoo.co.uk

GRAZE MILLE!

The inaugural CoCAIS Befana event was a soar away success – so much so that plans are already being made for next year’s event!

Almost 100 children pre-registered for the event at Scotland Street School Museum in Glasgow,

 met the Befana, received a gift bag with a gift appropriate to their age and gender, a selection box of sweets,

a Befana colouring book (produced by Silvia Strommer) and colouring pencils . While the children were

entertained by a DJ  and a clown, played party games and caught up with friends and relatives,

the adults enjoyed a brindisi and a splendid buffet.

We would like to thank Adriano De Marco, Paul Verrico, Ronnie Convery, Silvia Strommer and Sandro Sarti

of the CoCAIS committee for many hours of preparatory work and helping make it all happen on the day!

Thanks also to the COMITES and the CoCAIS for subsidising the cost of the event – keeping the cost down

to just £5 per child; to Italian Language schools - Luigi Pierotti, Evelina Renucci and Louise Biagini for their support and advice

Thanks to La Befana herself (also known as Fiona Macdonald!) to Shafer Entertainment for providing

the DJ  Willie  & Cheeko the Clown (Tommy Templeton); Fratelli Sarti for providing the buffet at a reduced cost;

Quattro Stagioni for providing the prosecco at a reduced rate; Cacao, Milngavie for providing  sweets for the children;

Caledonia Lock & Safe Co. Glasgow, for the loan of the bottle safe; Scotland St School & The Glasgow Girls

for their help on the day and the use of such a  wonderful venue; Fiona Stewart -Adriano De Marco`s secretary - for her invaluable

administration assistance; Zelinda &  Giulia De Marco for their assistance in selecting toys for the children;

Anthony Convery for his help on the day; all the children , mums, dads, Nonni and Nonne who made the day such a success.

Please check out the website www.italianscotland.com for photos of the event (leave messages and photos tab) 

Finally if you want to come next year  BOOK EARLY as places are limited !   Sunday 3rd January 2010 !

ALLA PROSSIMA

That’s it for now. If you have any news that ItalianScotland can help disseminate do let us know and we’ll line

it up for the February edition. Email your information to italianscotland@aol.com

___________________________________________________

Welcome to the Italian Scotland Christmas 2008 Newsletter...

Welcome to the bumper Christmas edition of Italian Scotland.  This newsletter is busier than ever,

as is our website www.italianscotland.com

So hopefully you will enjoy reading on!

BEFANA

With Christmas just around the corner, don’t forget the inaugural Grande Festa della Befana organised by the CoCAIS. 

The event will take place at Scotland Street Children’s Museum on Sunday January 4th from 2-5pm.  The aim is to encourage

the younger members and friends of the Italian community, to participate in a traditional moment of Italian culture.

The event is aimed at children aged 8 and under (however older children can be accommodated) If you have a child or

grandchild, nephew or niece who might like to come along, please visit the ItalianScotland website (www.Italianscotland.com )

click on 'events' and print off an application form. 

The form should be filled in and forwarded (together with payment) to Cav. Adriano De Marco, 58 Beardmore Way,

Clydebank Industrial Estate, Clydebank, Glasgow G81 4HT. 

Cost is subsidised by the CoCAIS and Comites so the charge per child is just £5 which includes a present and a

calza ripiena (stocking filled with sweets).  Accompanying adults can enjoy a glass of festive spumante and a slice

of panettone while the children eat, meet La Befana and enjoy meeting new friends. The whole event is in English

but is a great opportunity for the wee ones to enjoy Italian customs.

To avoid disappointment, please book early as places will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis.

 CLOSING DATE FOR BOOKINGS IS THURSDAY DECEMBER 11 2008.

For more information contact Cav. Adriano De Marco at ademarco@lineafabrications.co.uk

BEFANA OFFER

City centre restaurant La Vita is offering a special rate for those attending the Befana Party with children and grandchildren- a 2 course

pre-theatre for £10.95 or a 10% discount off food from a la carte menu. The restaurant will be open on the day (Sunday January 4th)

4pm-10pm. To book in advance call 0141 243 2162 .

FESTA DELLA TERZA ETA’

Another new initiative from the CoCAIS is the inaugural Festa della Terza Eta’. This will be the first of what we hope will be

a series of seasonal lunches hosted by different restaurants for the senior members of the community (65 and over, though

no-one will be checking the passports!) Once more sponsorship brings the cost down to just £5 per head for a full three course

Italian lunch. The first one will be on Sunday March 1st 2-6pm at  Bacco Italia, Kilmarnock Road, Shawlands, Glasgow.

To book please visit the website (www.italianscotland.com ) and there click on “events” and download the application form.

Send it with a cheque (payable to COCAIS) for £5 per person attending to Cav Adriano De Marco at the address above.

ITALIAN MONUMENT AND GARDEN

The efforts to create a new Italian garden and monument in the cloistered area beside St Andrew’s Cathedral continue.

Early in the new year it is expected that details will be announced of the level of grant-funding from the statutory authorities. 

Work is already underway to prepare the Piazza area around the Cathedral and garden. 

Fund raising is now essential. In a special message, Archbishop Conti writes:

“Already I have invited and received individual donations and support, while funding applications are presently lodged

with Historic Scotland and the Heritage Lottery Fund. In addition I have been to Italy to seek support from some of the institutions there.

“My thought now is to ask you, the various Italian Associations in Scotland to consider how, as a group you might assist the

effort to create this special monument and garden.  Could I ask that you consider at a forthcoming meeting whether you might

be able to arrange some fundraising activity? Perhaps a dance or a raffle, a sponsored event or a sporting event, whatever you

feel would be most appropriate to help raise funds for the project?

“I am asking each of the Associations in Scotland to play a part in making our dream a reality.

Please consider how you might assist in this effort.”

More information is available from Cav. Ronnie Convery,  on 0141 226 5898 or Ronnie.convery@rcag.org.uk

ITALIAN SUNDAY

To raise funds for the above project a large-scale event is planned for Troon Town Hall on Sunday February 1st.

Thanks to the collaboration of Aldo Cecchini of Ayr and Ardrossan, there will be places for 300 for an afternoon and

evening of food, music and dancing.  Music will be kindly supplied by the ever-popular Angela and Paolo and tickets

will cost just £15. They can be obtained throughout January from either of the Cecchini restaurants in Ayr or Ardrossan

www.cecchinis.com or from the Archdiocese of Glasgow www.rcag.org.uk

The low price is intended to allow family groups (adults and children) to come along and enjoy some traditional Italian food,

company and entertainment, and it is anticipated that the Mayor of Barga, Umberto Sereni will make his last visit as

mayor to the event and Archbishop Conti will also be a guest of honour. Venite numerosi!

ITALIANSCOTLAND WEBSITE

The importance of the ItalianScotland website is being ever-more acknowledged as a means of sharing news and

information among all who have an interest in Scotland and Italy.  Last month two new sponsors took up the offer of

space on the home page for the special rate of £50 per year, payable to “CoCAIS”

This initiative of the CoCAIS is designed to create a forum for news and views – visit it regularly to keep up to date.

If you would like to join the sponsors and benefit from the ever-increasing number of visitors,

contact CoCAIS treasurer Paul Verrico at paul.verrico@cosmoceramics.co.uk

YOUR STORY

An exciting new competition is launched this month aimed at people of Italian extraction living abroad. 

LE 1001 STORIE DEGLI ITALIANI NEL MONDO NARRATE DAGLI STESSI PROTAGONISTI is an initiative of

the Pragmata Cultural Association aiming to collect the stories of Italians who have made their life outside Italy over

the last 100 years. If you think your grandfather or uncle or nonna could fit the bill check out the website at http://www.pragmata.info/Le%201001%20storie.htm  The best stories will be published in a prestigious volume

to be launched at Rome’s Campidoglio and the contributors will be invited to Rome to receive a medal and hospitality

in autumn 2009 at the launch.

TEXT MESSAGE SERVICE FOR ITALIAN FOOD LOVERS

A novel approach to spreading the word about Italian food is launched this month. Fratelli Sarti are launching a new

text messaging service that will send you SMS text alerts on special offers and discounts direct to your mobile phone.

These special offers will only be available to text messaging subscribers, and our first text offer will be sent out this Thursday.

If you’d like to subscribe to these special Fratelli Sarti text offers, text SARTI REGISTER to 07797 801010.

BARGA BOOK HUNT

The following request for help was received at our email address (italianscotland@aol.com) Let’s hope someone can help

Nicola find the book she is trying to find …

“Hi. I am looking to buy a copy of 'They Took The Low Road' by Bruno Sereni. My sister in-law has wanted it for

ages and I would like to try and get her a copy for her Christmas. I have searched the net but can't find anything.

I would be extremely grateful if you could help me in this matter.”
 
Thanks
Nicola

nicola.hendry@hotmail.co.uk

AUGURI

Auguri indeed to two Scots Italian restaurants which have picked up industry accolades at one of the top culinary competitions

in the UK. The Pizza & Pasta Association, UK held its annual awards event at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, Central London, last month.

Domenico Crolla, of Bella Napoli Restaurant in Shawlands, Glasgow picked up no less than five awards, an industry first! Gold award

for best pizzeria UK; Gold award for best Italian restaurant UK; 1st place for Pizza Designer of the year and two 1st place sponsor’s

category awards. Another big winner was Tony Crolla’s La Favorita Restaurant in Edinburgh which picked up the Gold award for

Pizza Restaurant of the Year and the top prize as Independent Pizza Delivery Operator of the Year.  To both - Congratulations!

CIAO ITALIA

Scots Italian culinary art is further showcased this month with the launch of the new Ciao Italia Scozia website

at www.ciaoitaliascozia.com  Ciao Italia Scozia and Northern Ireland – under the presidency of Comm. Gianni Donfrancesco -

is part of the worldwide Ciao Italia family of restaurants guaranteeing quality and authenticity in Italian cuisine.

It is a non-profit making organisation which has been uniting Italian Restaurateurs around the world. Italian restaurants

are, as many Presidents of the Republic of Italy have said, "the true Italian Ambassadors", providing traditional warm hospitality, f

ine food and wine using quality authentic products.

The growth in popularity of Italian restaurants over the last 50 years in Scotland and Northern Ireland has been truly extraordinary.

The new website will be a valuable tool in uniting and promoting that culinary tradition. 

Most recently Ciao Italia and the Laziali in Scozia held a joint night at Giuliano’s on the Shore in Leith. Thanks to the celebrated

Maestro Roberto Enzo, the dynamic Giuliano Binanti and the ever welcoming restaurant manager Daniele the event was a great success – sold out!

COMITES

The Comites – or Comitato degli Italiani all’Estero – is an officially established democratically elected committee which

works to identify and support the needs of the Italian community in Scotland and Northern Ireland. To make better known

the great work of this committee and to encourage wider participation, a new website has been created – www.comites.org.uk

There you can read about the activities of the committee, its membership, elections and minutes of recent meetings. 

Once more the internet is providing a new way of spreading news, and promoting Italy in Scotland.

CINEMANGIARE

Once more this month there is a chance to combine a film and a meal at some of Scotland’s top Italian restaurants at a

special price. On offer for December is the acclaimed 2006 drama La Terra.

Luigi is a philosophy lecturer in Milan, where he moved as a teenager, who finds himself back in his native Puglia

embroiled in a family conflict between his three brothers: Michele, Mario and Aldo. Soon the family’s dark past is

dragged into the harsh light of the present in director Sergio Rubini’s simmering family drama.

Glasgow offer – on the evening of the film, Wednesday 10 December these restaurants are offering a discount of 20% on

food on presentation of your La Terra cinema ticket: Fratelli Sarti city centre restaurants, Butterfly and Pig in Bath Street,

Bella Napoli in Shawlands and Roma Mia, Darnley Street.

Edinburgh offer – on the evening of the Monday 15 December, these restaurants are offering a discount of 20% on food

on presentation of your La Terra cinema ticket:
Ciao Italia Ristorante 100 Lothian Road; Giuliano’s Ristorante 19, Union Street; Zucca Restaurant 15, Grindlay Street;

Lazio Ristorante 95 Lothian Road; Giuliano’s on the Shore, Leith and La Piazza Ristorante 79/99 Shandwick Place.

EDINBURGH AND DUNDEE LAZIALI RETURN TO TERRACINA

Thanks to Comm Gianni Donfrancesco for this report on the recent trip of Scots Laziali to their native region.

Anche quest’anno, grazie alla lungimiranza delle Autorità regionali, noi laziali residenti all’estero ci ritroviamo a

Terracina, che già dimostrò la sua efficienza organizzativa.

Ma quest’anno il comune, con illuminata iniziativa dell’Assessorato al Turismo, ha deciso di conferire al soggiorno un

carattere anche culturale. La chiave di lettura di questo incontro, che interessa ben 400 emigranti, è la “ricerca delle radici”.

Si è giustamente pensato che la lunga permanenza lontano dai luoghi d’origine e l’esigenza di integrarsi nei nuovi paesi,

sparsi in quest’occasione in 4 continenti, abbia comportato un affievolimento delle conoscenze, con conseguente esigenza

di rinsaldare i legami con le proprie origini, anche con approccio culturale.

Naturalmente l’aspetto logistico ha sempre un’importanza determinante nella riuscita di una manifestazione di così notevole

complessità. Qui l’appossionata opera dell’Associazione degli Albergatori “Ass. Juppiter” nella persona del Presidente

Jahangir Karimpuor che ha coordinato la partecipazione di ben 4 strutture Alberghiere e.g: Hotel Blue River, Albergo Mediterraneo,

Grand Hotel L’Approdo, Torre del Sole di cui si sono distinti, per la parte che riguarda il gruppo degli Scozzesi di adozione,

il vulcanico Direttore dell’Hotel Blue River Maurizio Di Meo, che non ci ha fatto rimpiangere l’ottimo Angelo Marazzi dell’Albergo

Mediterraneo che ci ospitò qualche anno fà e con cui sono rimasti rapporti di cordiale amicizia; che però quest’anno dovrà

vedersela con gli amici Australiani.

Decisamente notevole e, forse eccessiva per la “linea”, è stata la cura dell’aspetto gastronomico “sempre di qualità!”,

affidato alle cure della Catering Manageress, Aliana Costache. Una doverosa menzione alla cortese accoglienza e al

sorriso dei gentili ed efficienti receptionists: Ingrid, Sofia e Emanuele, la cui assidua cura dei più minimi particolari,

hanno reso il nostro soggiorno piacevole e confortevole. 

Ricordare le mete delle escursioni consente di cogliere la varietà delle mete scelte: dalla natura del Parco Nazionale del Circeo,

all’arte nelle splendide Abbazie di Casamari e Montecassino, alla mistica Subiaco, alla raffinatezza del giardino di Sermoneta,

nonché le Città Medioevali della Ciociaria.

Un Ringraziamento sentito - e non certamente formale - a tutti

Gianni Donfrancesco

ALLA PROSSIMA

And that’s it for now … do keep us posted with news of your local events and we can let everyone know. Send items for inclusion to Ronnie.convery@rcag.org.uk

Ci vediamo l’anno prossimo!  Buon natale a tutti!

Cav. Ronnie Convery, Secretary, CoCAIS, December 4 2008

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