Angela Rapino is a 36 years old Italian food blogger, from Abruzzo, Giorgio’s mum, with a degree in Psychology, founder of @lavaligiastellestrisce and @DestinationAbruzzo
Here is our interview:
HI ANGELA! HOW WAS YOUR BLOG LAVALIGIASTELLESTRISCE BORN?
Eight years ago, I packed a bag to chase the American dream. Now that same bag has become my everyday life thanks to my social pages born 4 years ago as soon as I became Giorgio’s mum. The star-spangled bag to me is a case where I can talk about my life, now naturalized, in the U.S., between tips and suggestions to better live the experience in the States. I do a lot of things: I write for LA CUCINA ITALIANA and I took part in a TV Show on Channel NOVE: Little Big Italy.
LIKE ALL ITALIANS, YOU’RE PASSIONATE ABOUT COOKING. WHAT DO YOU MISS THE MOST OF ITALIAN CUISINE?
I miss flavours, primary ingredients, from milk to oil, which here in the U.S. are always tasteless, but being passionate about cooking and most of all a good fork, I defend myself by cooking dishes following authentic recipes handed down by my grandmothers.
HOW IS ITALIAN CUISINE PERCEIVED IN THE U.S.A.?
In the USA Italian cuisine is top of the charts! Italians are well regarded and when I’m asked “Where are you from?” and I answer “I am from Italy” I’m sure to them I am not Angela anymore but I turn into a pizza or a tasty pasta dish. This is how they see us… And I’m proud of that!
WHAT IS THE MOST POPULAR ITALIAN DISH IN THE USA?
Rather than pizza, which can be found of different types, even if there are a few pizze veraci, I think homemade pasta, egg pasta is more popular. A good pasta dish for an American is like reaching Heaven.
WHICH ARE THE PRODUCTS AND DISHES YOU LIKE THE MOST OF THE AMERICAN CUISINE AND YOU WOULD SUGGEST ITALIANS TO TRY?
I must admit the meat here is superlative, indeed; American steaks are “juicy”- as they say-, delicious, and when Italians come to visit me I always suggest them to try steaks, besides hamburgers (not the ones from well-known chains, of course)
WHAT IS THE DISH FROM ITALIAN TRADITION YOU’RE MOST ATTACHED TO?
Being I from Abruzzo, I love pasta alla chitarra, arrosticini and together with my husband I make homemade loin every year… Do you what loin is?
ARE THERE NEW PROJECTS FOR YOUR BLOG?
The project I’m working hard on every day is called “Destination Abruzzo”, which aims to promote fully my region, Abruzzo, from tourism to food. As soon as it will be possible, together with our staff of touristic operators we will take Americans to Italy and to Abruzzo to discover the place where I am from, which is still unknown to many Americans.
WHAT’S YOUR SECRET DREAM?
I hope to realize “Destination Abruzzo”, which is my biggest dream, in order to help small businesses, run by artisans and local producers spread their products also here, in the Star-Spangled Land.
