Rare And Expensive Cars

Three Italian cars plus one (Bugatti) with Italian origins, make 'the most expensive cars in the world' list. Not surprisingly, three German, two British, one American and French - basically the great car manufacturing nations - cars make the cut. Britain's Aston Martin Lagonda have a few of its awesome cars designed by Zagato of Italy but the Vanguish I believe is British designed.

Love Aston Martin.

Nor is it much of a surprise, I reckon, three Italian cars are present. Many Italian luxury items would be found on such lists.

Image: Pagani Zonda.

Nuclear Energy Vote

Not the best timing given what's going on in Japan, but Italians are set to vote on whether to reinvest in nuclear energy.

Living not too far off the Vermont border, I see commercials from that state appealing to Vermonters to keep Yankee energy open.

To be honest, I'm not sure why there's even a debate. If we want cleaner energy and less dependency on oil, nuclear power is the way to go from what I've read and been told.

Solar energy, ethanol and all that seem so costly (to say nothing of unintended consequences) and impractical for now. It's good we explore but are these legitimate alternatives to nuclear energy?

Andsaldo: Engineering Roots

Giovanni Ansaldo established one of Italy's most important engineering firms in the 19th century. Over its illustrious history, Ansaldo was present first in the railway then shipbuilding; in the 20th century ironworks, and weapons, and was finally incorporated within Finmeccanica where the Ansaldo name is used in nuclear fusion and fuel cells technology.  The combined forces formed Italy's largest thermo-electric group.

Tracing the history of Italian companies is rarely straightforward!

Pic from Finmeccanica site. Ansaldo Energia gas turbines.

Italian Perspective On Perfection

The video from J.Crew in the link is something only a few people will ever get to witness first hand. This blog tries to stress the fact that Italy's methods of production is rooted in art and passion. In the video, you find out people have been making shoes handmade for 30 years in the same place. There's a sense of loyalty to their craft that sets Italy apart from many countries.

Personally, I've visited such places including pasta makers. People have no idea what goes into even making something as simple as ice-cream in Italy. Whether it's shoes, cars, bikes or food, they all posses the same characteristics. Things like attention to detail, no compromise on quality, patience, passion. In many ways, they respect the consumer's tastes and opinions.

Years ago my friend set out to buy a machine to cut metal tubings for his company. He found a machine that interested in Venice and flew out to see it. What impressed him most, among many things, is how clean the shop was. We don't see places in heavy industry as clean as your home he said to me.

I have many stories like this I've collected over the years through simple, casual conversations with people from all over. They all want to perfect their craft somewhere in the expressive peninsula the world calls Italy.

Hence, why "Made in Italy" holds a special branding power.

Sharp Saw Blades With A Latin Edge

Watching a carpenter change the blade on his saw, we struck a conversation about the cost of such blades.

I asked him if saw blades were still manufactured in the U.S. or Europe. "Italy in fact," he replied. I examined the blade made in Italy by a company called Freud.

The origins of the company are not disclosed on the site. I was curious to learn about the name.

No information either as to whether they were part of the Saw movies franchise.

Carrara Marble

The famous Carrara marble quarry - a place Michaelangelo got his marble.

Heartbeat Gene Discovered

Scientists locate hearbeat gene.

Collina: Best Referee Of The Last Quarter Century

Italian soccer prowess comes in many forms. Their league clubs have won more trophies (and finals appearances) than any league in Europe (no easy feat considering the excellence in England, Spain and Germany and combining five major tournaments - Champions League, UEFA/Europa, Cup Winners Cup, Intercontinental/World Club and Super Cup; not to mention Mitropa a precursor to all major tournaments and a prestigious one in the pre-war era), the Azzurri have won the World Cup four times and reached the finals on six occasions (second only to Brazil with five wins and Germany's seven finals appearances), its players head many all-time great lists from around the world and have won several awards and now its referees have also been recognized.

According to IFFHS, Dr. Pierluigi Collina heads the list of top referees of the last 25 years.

Italians lead all nations with 14 representatives out of 140 referees. England is next with 12.

I'm sure that boob Sepp Blatter is pleased. Inside quip for Azzurri fans.

One Day A Lancia Will Be Mine

I believe it's the 50th anniversary of the first Lancia Flavia - one of my all-time favorite cars.

Happy New Year To All

2010 was a comeback year of sorts (sory for the inactivity in December but I'm starting a business - now in its 10th month. Expected opening for my daycare is in late January) for this blog and the goal is to improve it in 2011.

Until then,

Buon Anno!

Manzano's Big Chair

Nice piece on how a town known for the manufacturing of chairs is facing the China competition.

Naples And Italian Global Competiveness

Naples, to me, is a symbol of Italy not maximizing its potential on the world stage. Flippant, corrupt (the mafia has a solid grip in Italy) and chaotic, the city has come to personify the inefficient attitudes that grips and grabs Italy by the wrists and throat. When I was in Naples in 1990, I saw a beautiful city in violent decay. It left us stunned to see it in such a state. It has no business being that way.

We basically saw a city tearing itself apart despite its culinary and artistic wonders; to say nothing of its tough-minded, passionate people. They reminded me of New Yorkers. If you've ever had an espresso in Naples with Mount Vesuvius ominously staring back at you you know what I mean.

Napoli is a city like no other. A gem in the middle of the Mediterranean built by the ancient Greeks.

How a city of such magnificence and historical importance can wallow in conditions unbecoming of a majestic city is beyond me to comprehend. It's almost as if Italians have no interest to the point of pure sadness in their cultural legacy. They spit in the face of their history. A history that has impacted world civilization on so many levels.

The problems facing Italy are big to be sure but even in areas that should be second-nature to Italy like tourism it laughably trails places like Germany, USA, Canada Spain and France by several measures. Indeed, by several global competitive reports, Italy simply lags and stagnates pretty much behind most of its Euro neighbours. Not that things are necessarily so much better elsewhere. Western culture as a whole is experiencing a serious downtrend. I'm not sure what these "trends" really mean.

Nonetheless, it baffles how Italians can accept this. Are they even attempting to tackles some of the problems they face?

This blog is about exploring Italian business and a face of the country oft overlook namely, in part, because of unfair stereotypes but mostly because Italians don't respect what they've got. They mostly have themselves to blame. So while we take pride in Italian made objects, we're not blind to its problems.

God bestowed upon them a jewel. A gem. And they act like they have nothing but a bunch of rocks and spray paint.

The contradiction of course is the "name" and "brand" Italy still possesses a powerful image that conjures up many thoughts and emotions for people.

I mentioned New York earlier. I've been visiting that city on and off for over 25 years. I saw it pre-Giuliani and post-Giuliani; pre 9/11 and post 9/11. If a city like that can rise again so too can Naples. If you're not convinced of this comparison, how about how Barcelona went from a backward town to a world metropolis?

And who knows? Maybe it can spark something inside the Italian soul and reinvigorate its commitment to preserving its national heritage.

Fiat Uno 2011 Around The Corner

The "next generation" Fiat Uno is an energy efficient green car expected to challenge the Mini and Smart cars.

More information here.

Italian Cuisine Remarkably Diverse

Every once in a while I stumble across discussions about food and cuisine on the internet. It's remarkable to read so many differing opinions about so many culinary societies.
I tend to steer clear of the "which are the best cuisines" debate since they're intensely personal. In any event, they rarely set a strict criteria to determine, if they must, what is the "best." I thoroughly enjoy Chinese and Lebanese food.

All I will say is when it comes to sheer breadth of products and ingredients Italy offers a staggering array.

I learned that by visiting a couple of SIAL's (international food exposition).

I attended my first SIAL in 2004 in Paris when I explored the possibilty of getting into food importing. My cousins own restaurants in France and visit the SIAL to see what's "out there" and got me a pass. Roaming around the corridors, what became immediately apprarent was, A) how many interesting products are out there - I spent quite a bit of time in the Turkish, Chinese and America's sections - and B) how Italy on its own was the single largest entity present. I'm talking massive.

Not even its main Latin rival France's exposition was as big.

That's why it always elicits a chuckle or two whenever I hear someone claim Italy's cuisine "begins and ends with tomato sauces." In particular in trying to distinguish it from French cuisine. Personally, it's a rather puerile position to present. Perhaps here in North America, thanks to the "Americanization" of food, we get that impression but the reality mocks this assertion.

Nothing can be further from the truth and quite frankly it baffles me; especially coming from people who claim to know food. The beauty of Italian food is rooted in its sophisticated simplicity. It's an exact science they've mastered over time and it includes quite a variety of food and recipes.

In fact, it's that similar reasoning that led me to starting this blog. I was a little tired of the perception that somehow Italy didn't possess a world class industrial, manufacturing and scientific base.

The other thing I've observed and was anectodaly confirmed in conversations with natives is that the French don't cook at home like the Italians do. There's still a very traditional and family oriented aspect to Italian culinary life.

It's much easier, to me anyway, to find a trattoria, gelatoria, or bar and be served memorable food in Italy.  Heck, you can drive into a small town, as we did in Lucca in 1990, and be served a charming and exquisite meal that remain with you for the rest of your life.

Finally, the other thing I learned was that Italy is the biggest producer of organic foods.

999 Kilogram Lamborghini