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ITALIAN THROUGH AND THROUGH
From Meatballs to Marinara

Roman Days and Italian Knights

DEE DEE: We honeymooned in Rome. It was perfetto! I could just feel the history. The Pantheon is one of my favorite buildings in that magnificent city. It has a magical energy that fills me with awe. I’ve read that when Michelangelo first saw the Pantheon, he said the building was of “angelic and not human design.” Originally a pagan temple that had been converted into a Christian church, the Pantheon was 1350 years old when Michelangelo made that observation. The Pantheon is as majestic today, more than 500 years later. Its giant dome, which has a hole on top—an eye, open to the sky—remains the largest in the world.

PAUL: Our honeymoon in Rome was an incredibly beautiful week. Walking the streets of Rome, we were surrounded by art. From masterwork sculptures and paintings in the churches to breathtaking fountains in the piazzas, from modern Italian design in fashion and furniture to stunning blown glass and ceramics, just about everywhere we looked we experienced beauty.

DEE DEE: Paul is at home in Italy, which feeds his aesthetic sense. His Italian heritage is at the root of who he is. He could easily live in Italy. He knows the customs and culinary traditions of every region of the country. The recipes in Pinot, Pasta, and Parties capture his deep appreciation of Italian cuisine.

PAUL: Though I was born in the United States, there is something about being Italian that resonates strongly with me. For my charitable work, I was made a Knight of the Great Cross in the Order of the Carinzia, founded by St. George for the protection of the Pope. When the Italians did a background check before making me “Sir Paul,” they discovered that my family was noble and had a very long history in and around the city of Naples. I knew my father had been born there, and Neapolitan was the dialect I heard most as a child. I discovered that my family has a coat of arms that dates back to 1150. Despite my aristocratic background in Italy, I still have to come up with cab fare when I’m in New York. So much for nobility!

I consider Italy the font of civilization as we know it today. The Italian Renaissance brought about a richness of intellectual and artistic contributions that have shaped our culture. Aside from art and music, Italians have affected people in more ways than can be measured. Alessandro Volta discovered the principle that powers the electric battery. Antonio Meucci, an Italian immigrant, invented the first working model of a telephone in 1849, but Alexander Graham Bell got the patent in 1876, although Meucci was there first. And let’s not forget Guglielmo Marconi, who developed and demonstrated the first successful long-distance wireless telegraph and broadcast the first transatlantic radio signal in 1901, winning a Nobel Prize in 1909 for his work. The parachute, the machine gun, and the helicopter were all invented by Italians. I am proud to be of Italian descent.

DEE DEE: Paul is saving the best for last—Italian food. To his way of thinking, Italian cuisine is the finest in the world, whether prepared in Italy or just in an Italian manner. Classic Italian cooking is simple and depends on the freshness of the ingredients.

I love to watch Paul work in the kitchen. He really can slice a clove of garlic with a razor blade like Big Paulie in Goodfellas! I have learned a lot from Paul about the Italian culture and love for food and drink.