tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-342929042011-10-17T22:19:19.958+02:00The nostalgic and sentimental journal of Barbara Summa, Italian writer living in Amsterdam.Mammamsterdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081264728752700578noreply@blogger.comBlogger311100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34292904.post-79078578450015088142010-06-02T11:37:00.004+02:002010-06-02T11:44:24.415+02:00

Just a few images of spring: above a stazzo, this is to say a stone wall to keep the sheep inside at night blossoming in full glory. Wild flowers at Campo Imperatore.back side at Castelnuovo last June.The future frogs nursery.

Mammamsterdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081264728752700578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34292904.post-78059714912805525962010-04-06T16:23:00.002+02:002010-04-06T16:27:53.728+02:00

From the day the earthquake destroyed the city of L'Aquila and the daily lives of my friends.A prayer for those who left us, a wish of getting back in track to the surviving.A curse to those who made a mess out of the aftermath just to get richer. To those who sold lies. To their accomplices. There is a human justice for this, it took long to get proof of their crimes, but it will all get out.

Mammamsterdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081264728752700578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34292904.post-50348354723351521472009-12-02T09:07:00.005+01:002009-12-02T09:46:08.901+01:00

This is my home made cheese. Looks a lot like those made in abruzzo by handy housewives with a farming background, but it is absolutely different. It is no ricotta, as it may seem, but labna. Tastes lots like a stracchino made from yogurth. The following recipies are as strange to Abruzzo as you can imagine, but it is my village youth in Ofena and Tortoreto, I believe, to get me the feeling for

Mammamsterdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081264728752700578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34292904.post-79632913103335158282009-06-26T22:36:00.002+02:002009-06-26T22:40:42.470+02:00

If you are around Abruzzo in August, don't miss the Folk Festival at Civitella Alfedena (AQ), organised by Associazione Mantice LatinaI have no time to translate it completely but I trust you can follow quite well the artist's names and the dates. For info on the workshops you can contact the addrees at the bottom. PerformancesDomenica 23 Agosto ore 21,30 Abies alba - Musiche e canti dal

Mammamsterdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081264728752700578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34292904.post-91074227561265553822009-04-27T18:47:00.003+02:002009-04-27T19:02:44.517+02:00

Last Thursday, 23rd April, we held in Amsterdam a charity evening for the victims of the earthquake in Abruzzo. The University of Amsterdam (UvA) participated in this event in order to collect funds to help the academic life in L'Aquila to start again.We could use their beautiful Aula Magna, located in the Old Lutheran Church in the centre of Amsterdam, and the president of the University, dr.

Mammamsterdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081264728752700578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34292904.post-59340906403854807062009-04-22T22:18:00.002+02:002009-04-22T22:22:46.936+02:00

Provincia dell'Aquila: Acciano, Barete, Barisciano, Castel del Monte, Campotosto, Capestrano, Caporciano, Carapelle Calvisio, Castel di Ieri, Castelvecchio Calvisio, Castelvecchio Subequeo, Cocullo, Collarmele, Fagnano Alto, Fossa, Gagliano Aterno, Goriano Sicoli, L'Aquila, Lucoli, Navelli, Ocre, Ofena, Ovindoli, Pizzoli, Poggio Picenze, Prata D'Ansidonia, Rocca di Cambio, Rocca di Mezzo, San

Mammamsterdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081264728752700578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34292904.post-60561222832275833112009-04-17T08:49:00.004+02:002009-04-17T09:06:21.926+02:00

I was reading the online papers this morning. First baby to be christened after the earthquake today in one of the camps around L'Aquila. One to come to light any moment. All good news, because children and new life can give a perspective of future even in the darkest moments.Insurance companies are sending inspectors and detectives to collect cement samples and information on the collapsed

Mammamsterdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081264728752700578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34292904.post-73708262907095703032009-04-16T08:30:00.003+02:002009-04-16T08:36:43.231+02:00

I will start, now and the coming days, to publish a few pictures of Ofena and Abruzzo in general, made by Antonio Di Maggio a couple of years ago for a guide of the region with recipes and local stories I am working at.Antonio is one of the best photographers I know and he is particularly gifted with portraits. This time it's mostly landscapes, but you will notice his eyes for the details and his

Mammamsterdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081264728752700578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34292904.post-70042302034222310992009-04-10T08:08:00.000+02:002009-04-10T08:17:18.209+02:00

Here a picture made in L'Aquila by Marianna Sansone, who now is in Pescara and does all she can to help the escaped friends from L'Aquila who lost everything.I recognize this urge of doing things, now. I feel exactly the same. Doing, just to avoid any too negative, alas realistic, thinking. But it's not about that.What I invite you o consider is how new houses may be damaged. Modern building

Mammamsterdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081264728752700578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34292904.post-9611125519634070142009-04-09T21:29:00.000+02:002009-04-09T21:30:45.253+02:00

Tomorrow the funerals in L'Aquila. All the dead have been brought at the caserma della guardia di Finanza. May their souls rest in peace.

Mammamsterdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081264728752700578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34292904.post-31927103337292104092009-04-09T19:15:00.000+02:002009-04-09T19:16:47.796+02:00

God bless corporate communication! TNT is taking initatives to help the victims of the earthquake, and since I commend any initiative in this sense, I am publishing this:

Mammamsterdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081264728752700578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34292904.post-21770916664589853182009-04-09T09:29:00.000+02:002009-04-09T09:43:07.184+02:00

Here is a picture of zia Vittoria my cousin Dan Emanuele send me. It is so very much her, with the typical Silvestroni features (yes, that's where my nose comes from). And typical her in her terrace, bursting of pots, plants and flowers (remember the picture of her house in the previous post? In the broken down part you see her big agaves's).Today I decided to get into some healthy action. All

Mammamsterdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081264728752700578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34292904.post-42066813434969145582009-04-08T15:38:00.000+02:002009-04-08T15:39:29.675+02:00

A provisional list of the victims of the earthquake si to be found here: http://ilcentro.gelocal.it/dettaglio/articolo/1615339Except from my auntie Vittoria Silvestrone, no other known names. But I read it very fast.

Mammamsterdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081264728752700578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34292904.post-71450420290880150632009-04-08T10:30:00.000+02:002009-04-08T11:05:44.506+02:00

The earthquake in Abruzzo has kept all of us busy the last three days. But I knew from my friends in L'Aquila that already for a couple of months they felt weekly some small shocks. Point is, nobody ever talked about this. In Italy people are discovering only now how bad the situation is.You get an idea from the picture above, it is the helft of the house of my aunt Vittoria. She slept in the

Mammamsterdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081264728752700578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34292904.post-25639557175550722232009-02-14T21:26:00.000+01:002009-02-14T22:20:01.562+01:00

You always wanted to learn how to cook yourself a real italian meal Dont'cry, it is much easier than you think. No matter how many different recipes go under the label "true Italian cuisine", there is a basic philosophy all Italians follow when cooking.It is calling something Italian that causes the main problem. You should know that in Italy only there are at least 22 recognised

Mammamsterdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081264728752700578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34292904.post-5088777770694682122009-02-12T21:49:00.000+01:002009-02-12T21:51:06.007+01:00

Tomorrow I am living. I am going to introduce my children to Italian Carnival, to have them experience an Italian school (hoping it will be good for their language skills) and, of course, report on everything.So, stay connected.

Mammamsterdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081264728752700578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34292904.post-21294258666772426042009-01-28T12:09:00.000+01:002009-01-28T12:16:02.044+01:00

Italian vinaigrette might be the title of this picture. Finally Silvia send me the pictures of the Olive-oil tasting we held for a bunch of Dutch heiresses last June. The ladies were delighted, the sun shone in an almost Italian way and we had lots of fun.Here the most simple and delicious of dressings: your best olive-oil from Southern Italy, which is the oil from Ofena as far as I am concerned

Mammamsterdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081264728752700578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34292904.post-52169467390466133012009-01-22T13:59:00.000+01:002009-01-23T14:56:19.318+01:00

Yes, my cooking courses in Abruzzo start again coming summer. The last one was in 2006, and now the house in Ofena is renovated and the kids are old enough to entertain themselves (i.e.: they don't need constant supervision anymore) I can start again. Next to it, since I am officially a sommelier at AIS (Italia sommeliers society) I can integrate this competences in the cooking courses I give.But

Mammamsterdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081264728752700578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34292904.post-23142712751597376652008-11-19T09:40:00.000+01:002008-11-19T09:43:38.518+01:00

Looking for a restaurant? Try this one: L’Angolo d’Abruzzo, in Carsoli, 0863.997429.Chef Valerio Centofanti is concurring in San Sebastian (Spain) as lo Mejor de la gastronomia, an international award for recipes using oil as a main ingredient, not as a dressing. And send us your feedback, if you happen to eat there.

Mammamsterdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081264728752700578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34292904.post-67946943722917428162008-09-03T11:09:00.000+02:002008-09-03T11:32:27.162+02:00

I love maritozzi. And this summer, because I went to Pescara, I managed to go back in the temple of maritozzi con la panna, sweet bread-rolls with raisins, filled with whipped cream. And I am talking here of Cremeria Bresciana.If you have half-an-hour to spare, walk from central station to the sea, and just before piazza Salotto, take the last alley right, turn right again so that you end up on

Mammamsterdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081264728752700578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34292904.post-13189448163799141612008-08-01T15:18:00.000+02:002008-12-10T20:31:38.274+01:00

Dance on the beach! One of the misteres of life is: why Italians like so much group-dances? Just these formal, boring, social-control freaks, can get all loose and shake their bellies in swimmers en plein air on the beach, without a thought on what people may think of them.In the picture you see the regular program of dances on the beach at our favourite hotel. Kids love it, grandma's too (you

Mammamsterdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081264728752700578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34292904.post-81511685332963194982008-07-31T08:18:00.000+02:002008-12-10T20:31:38.675+01:00

You love Italian design? Here something new from Abruzzo. Creakit is a brand new company founded by two architects and their first product are these lovely baby-shoes everybody (even I) can make by itself with the kit they sell. Roberta is a passionate DIY creature, and at a certain point her husband suggested she put her professional experience into creating a DIY-kit for the shoes she made for

Mammamsterdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081264728752700578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34292904.post-44617649860271619292008-06-26T16:02:00.000+02:002008-12-10T20:31:38.782+01:00

Water has many faces. So you will find everywhere the so called mascheroni di fontana, fountains in the shape of a face.Sometimes you don't even need to bother to build such a mask. You just need to look carefully.Credits picture: Antonio Di Maggio

Mammamsterdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081264728752700578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34292904.post-54948069097134121752008-06-26T12:03:00.000+02:002008-12-10T20:31:40.380+01:00

Iconicelle (which means as much as small, lovely icons) are en expression of simple popular faith. You see them all over the place in old Italian towns, and sometimes I wonder if there are also modern versions of it. They are holy images and symbols placed in all places visited by many people: usually at crossroads, under arches. The idea used to be that people, on their way to work, could say a

Mammamsterdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081264728752700578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34292904.post-48984831809724834062008-06-26T06:40:00.000+02:002008-12-10T20:31:40.532+01:00

One misty, moisty morning,when cloudy was the weather...that was May last year, when I went to Abruzzo with photographer Antonio Di Maggio and his wife and my good friend Daniela Tasca. The weather was back then as awful as you will see in the next posts and pictures, but there is this stubborn, shy grace in the mountain landscape rounf Ofena in the mist: just as a toddler who refuses to give a

Mammamsterdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081264728752700578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34292904.post-84062002017608923272007-12-11T14:55:00.000+01:002008-12-10T20:31:40.788+01:00

Abruzzo, land of olives, saffron, wines, candied almonds, what more? You won't believe it, but try and add beer to it.I just discovered that next to the production of industrial beers as the Peroni brand, Abruzzo is home of an interesting brewery in Spoltore, just above Pescara: Almond bier. http://www.birraalmond.com/ The reason of their name is that they started up in the premises of a former

Mammamsterdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081264728752700578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34292904.post-4491176922976390402007-12-04T22:06:00.000+01:002008-03-25T09:33:54.587+01:00

Home-made olive oil from Abruzzo is what made me a big, healthy girl. Good, cooking with your own family-produced olive oil is the way most Italians of my generation and younger were raised. This has marked our taste-buds forever (must be the stuff they call imprinting). Problem is, everybody else knows only supermaket oils, so their taste standards are based on the wrong things. But there is

Mammamsterdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081264728752700578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34292904.post-16170140435848780932007-09-02T21:58:00.000+02:002008-12-10T20:31:41.205+01:00

A hot summer in Abruzzo, the one we just had, and not just because of the weather. Actually, we were soooo lucky with the weather. OK, one week average 44 degrees hot, but we were staying with my brother at the seaside, and hot weather is just more bearable on a beach. If it gets too much, I can always decide to stay in the water till my neck, and this is exactly what I did. What the heck, that's

Mammamsterdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081264728752700578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34292904.post-1162499834534664632006-11-02T21:12:00.000+01:002008-12-10T20:31:41.386+01:00

It's time for a good bite of Torrone Fratelli Nurzia. Because it's winter in Holland. Days are darkening, the weather is unspeakable, rain and strong wind keep inside the lucky ones who can choose to, and I feel like a serious craving for a bar of Torrone dei Fratelli Nurzia. A 500 grams bar, not the small ones. Which means I am ready for that Christmas feeling, two months in advance. Boy, that's

Mammamsterdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081264728752700578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34292904.post-1158611176080972742006-09-18T22:05:00.000+02:002006-09-18T23:03:50.730+02:00

Maybe it sounds a bit corny all that nostalgic stuff about my mountains in my last post. But today I was looking through last summer pictures Menno needed for his website on my next cooking course in Abruzzo (he wanted personal, authentic stuff, and boy, he got it) and I was just noticing how much happier Cinzia and I look there. Of course it was Summer. Of course, we were on holiday (and take my

Mammamsterdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081264728752700578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34292904.post-1158088878619519622006-09-12T20:59:00.001+02:002006-09-12T21:33:55.756+02:00

I did it again: on a dark and cloudy day in Amsterdam, I foul myself thinking that the big blue cloud behind Central Station is one of my mountains in Abruzzo. The landscape gets suddenly more texture, more movement, it is so much more beautiful. Pity they never thought of making a couple of serious mountains in Holland. You may believe they can make everything here, when it comes to redesigning

Mammamsterdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081264728752700578noreply@blogger.com0