Although I was born in Italy, 50 years went by before I made my first trip back to the land of my birth.
It all began on one of those evenings around a table with my friends Graziano, Oliver, Mario, and Gary, among others, enjoying a few glasses of wine and discussing various wine-food pairings we enjoy, when the idea of a gastronomic/wine vacation to Italy was proposed. I agreed to go immediately, not just for the food and wine, but because this presented an opportunity to return to Italy.
Italy was absolutely beautiful and the effect of my exposure to its vast culinary diversity cannot be explained in words. Since that first trip I have been fortunate to make several more return visits, and cannot get enough of Italy. Every town, big or small, always amazes me with the diversity of food and the local wines that always compliment it.
I became so fascinated by Italian food that, once I retired, I took over the family kitchen entirely. After more than 25 years doing the cooking, my wife didn’t offer a single word of argument.
When I proposed the idea of a regional cookbook to the Giovanni Caboto Club, their support was overwhelming. I have been fortunate to work with a fantastic group that have supported and assisted with this project and have made a dream we had come true.
Many thanks to all who assisted with Cooking with Giovanni Caboto. A special thank you goes to our Board of Directors, to Giuliano Lunardi (Chair of the Arts/Culture), and to our General Manager Ron Moro for his guidance throughout this project. Heartfelt thanks are also due Chef Steven Ward for bringing to life all of these wonderful flavours of Italy.
It goes without saying, Mauro, that I owe a deep debt of gratitude to you as well, both for your beautiful photographs and the friendship that we have gained in this process. —Gino.
Giacinto (Gino) Piazza was born in Montallegro, Agrigento, Sicily, Italy. His father waited in Canada for Gino’s arrival, and he emigrated there, along with his mother and two sisters, in 1954. He received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Windsor in 1984. He retired from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in 2000. Gino is married to Antonietta (Toni) and has two daughters, Jennifer and Deanna. He has been a member of the Giovanni Caboto Club since 2008.