Everyone is from Abruzzo for the day!…

Everyone is from Abruzzo for the day! The fifth annual Valle San Giovanni luncheon will take place at noon on Sunday, 5 October 2008 at DiPaolo’s Italian Ristorante in Penns Grove, NJ. Once again all “Vallaroli” (people from Valle San Giovanni), Vallarolli wannabe’s, guests and friends are welcome. Reservations appreciated but not mandatory. The price remains just $20 at the door for the best Italian meal and nicest people to be found this side of Italia. Buon appetito!

Tutti abruzzesi oggi! Siamo contentissimi informarvi che la festa annuale “pranzo vallarolo” abbia luogo domenica 5 ottobre 2008 al Ristorante Italiano Di Paolo, a Penns Grove, Nuova Jersey. Tutti gli abruzzesi, vallaroli del cuore, ospiti ed i loro amici sono invitati. Il dollaro va in giu, un biglietto quest’anno costa ancora solo 13 euro. Si mangia bene le pietanze autentiche italiane!

The ties between Penns Grove and Valle San Giovanni remain strong 106 years after the first Italian emigres came to southern New Jersey in search of a better life. Increasingly popular Italian and English language websites are being developed to support these links. One recent project highlights the relationship of the statue of the Madonna at the St. James RC Church in Penns Grove with a similar statue found in a church near Valle San Giovanni, Santuario della Madonna delle Grazie.

Nota bene: I legami fra Penns Grove in America e Valle San Giovanni in Italia rimangono strettissimi 106 anni dopo i vallaroli sono emigrati a Nuova Jersey da migliorare la vita quotidiana. Qualche sito web, entrambi italiano ed inglese, aiuta sostenere questi vincoli. Un sito nuovo sottolinea la connessione di una statua teramana al Santuario della Madonna delle Grazie ed una copia, fatto in Italia in 1925, trasportata in America, e messa nella Chiesa Saint James a Penns Grove, Nuova Jersey.

Everyone with pictures and stories of Penns Grove, Valle San Giovanni, and/or the statue of the Madonna that they are willing to share is encouraged to contact the respective webmasters to have them published for all to see. In this way others can share our experiences as they come to know these two wonderful communities divided by the Atlantic Ocean but firmly bound together in our hearts forever.

Le persone che hanno delle foto di Penns Grove, Valle San Giovanni e/o la statua della Madonna sono invitate a contattare i reddatori dei siti relativi. In questo modo tutti possono condividere la nostra conoscenza dei due bei paesi e la gioia che vive ancora nei nostri cuori.

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Casale Villa Rental

A Visit to Abruzzo

Go to any family restaurant with Italian dining in mind and you are likely to order chicken parmesan, pasta alfredo, spaghetti and meatballs, or maybe a pizza. It is easy to think that some pasta, some marinara sauce, a crust of Italian bread and a glass of wine is the beginning and end of Italian cuisine, especially if you grew up in the United States. There is much more than red sauce and starch on the agenda for most Italian regional cuisines, and with all of the various regions and cultures in the boot on the ocean, Italian regional cuisines have as much range as your average New York City block.

There is the tourist region of Tuscany, on the northwestern coast of Italy. Tuscany is sought out for its simple but delicious dishes, seasoned sparingly with basil, parsley, and thyme. Tuscan bread and a little bit of olive oil is a big part of the seafood dishes of the Tuscan region.

Abruzzo, a little known treasure in the middle eastern section of the boot mixes chili peppers into almost all of their dishes. Like many other regions in Italy, there is a mixture of mountain and seafood dishes. Pasta is very often a first course, instead of a part of a stew or entrée. Most of the chefs in the Abruzzo region are skilled at hand rolling their own stuffed pastas, and crepes are used in meat dishes, rolled in savory sauces or put in to broths. Polenta is enjoyed with hearty sausages and rich, meaty sauces.

Sardinia, an island off of the western coast of Italy is home to a rich fishing tradition as well as a beautiful mountainous inland landscape. This, in addition to a rich heritage of not only Italians, but also Arabs, French, Greeks, and Spaniards, has made the island home to a diverse culture of seafood and meat dishes spiced with fennel and saffron. Stews and rich, hearty pastas make up a large part of the local cuisine in Sardinia, as well as sheep milk’s cheese.

Emilia-Romagna is perhaps the most sought out region of Italy in terms of local cuisine. It is often called the market basket of Italy. Located in northern Italy, Emilia-Romagna is home to many of Italy’s most renowned dishes, like Prosciutto di Parma, Mortadella, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and balsamic vinegar. Chefs in the Emilia Romagna region have a penchant for gregarious presentation and rich spices.

Much like the American idea of Chinese food, the American idea of Italian food is only the tip of the iceberg. Italian regional cuisine is marked by the country’s locality to northern Africa and other Mediterranean countries, as well as a diverse local landscape, ranging from mountains to oceans. Sheppards, shopkeepers, farmers, and fisherman all contribute to one of the most diverse cultural cuisines in the world. Next time you are in the mood for Italian food, try something a little bit different than your usual spaghetti and meatballs, maybe a saffron seafood stew or a polenta. Rest assured, you won’t think of the words “Italian cuisine” the same again.

Villa in Abruzzo – to Rent by the Week or the Month

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Central Location
Located in a a small village 8 km from the regional capital Teramo, a major transportation hub. A great place to base your Abruzzo visit. Midway between the Adriatic Sea and the Gran Sasso.

Convenient
Fully furnished. Bus service to Teramo. Grocery, coffeebar, and market nearby. Close to restaurants and hiking trails.

Che Bella!
Terrace with panoramic view overlooking the ruins of an 11th century monastery.

Comfortable
Nearly new with modern amenities while maintaining the charm of ancient Italy.

Via del Casale

64040 Valle San Giovanni (Teramo) Italy

USA Phone: 301 571 8252

ulissi@hotmail.com