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

In Hot Pursuit With Style

What do cops in Italy use as chase cars?

Try this baby. A Lamborghini Gallardo.

Interview With VisLab's Professor Alberto Broggi

Since I posted a couple of times about a driverless van making a 13 000km trek to China, I decided to go to the source and interview the man (and his team) behind VisLab and the mystery machine as it were.

I contacted Professor Broggi and he was kind enough to take a few moments to answer some questions if anything to bring a human face to a technological project. Sadly, this story did not seem to get too much attention in Italy itself.

Born in Parma in Northern Italy, Alberto Broggi is professor of Computer engineering at the University of Parma. In 1998, he began to explore Artificial Intelligence at the University of Pavia as an associate professor. Professor Broggi currently resides in Parma with his wife and two daughters. You can view more about his life and accomplishments here.

For our readers, how did VisLab come to be, what has it accomplished and where is it heading?

It's a spinoff company of the University of Parma working on  driver assistance systems. We have been working in this field for over 15 years and have accomplished some results that are considered milestones in the history of our research field.

What are the implications for science and society in general for artificial vision and is Italy a leader in the field?

Artificial vision can solve a number of problems, and now it's even more common since cameras and PCs have a very low cost. Artificial vision is an international science and is common everywhere!

What do you hope to achieve with Vislab?

We'd like to transfer our technology to the vehicular market. We've already set up some cooperations with established car manufacturers, automotive suppliers, and big-vehicle manufacturers like Caterpillar.

Briefly walk us through VIAC'S remarkable 13 000km journey to China. What were the challenges, the emotions felt by your team?

Well, too wide to answer this here so I invite readers to read about your question here.

I couldn't help but think of Marco Polo (I alluded to it in a past post) when I read about VIAC, did you think of this historical angle?

Yes, if you search on google, you'll find someone defined it as a new marco-polo trip. And someone even suggested calling the vehicles Marco-Robot.

Which companies and in what industries have your products and research been requested and used?


Well, we have a number of companies that we work with: for example, Caterpillar as mentioned earlier, Rockwell Collins and Topcorn.

See full list here.

Thank you, Professor Broggi and VisLab!

Electronica Sounds

Let's kick Novembre off with a couple of Italian electronica, lounge, cool contemporary acts.

S.Tone Inc.,Bandarbardo (with an acoustic performance) and Daniele Di Silvestri with a stylish video.

Self-Driving Van Makes It To China

I posted about the four electric vans that split for China a couple of months ago. Well, 8 000 miles later, the ghost-drvien machines reached its destination. It went through several countries and the rough terrain Asia has to offer including the Gobi desert, busy motorways, blizzards and rain.

The van is on display at the Shanghai 2010 Auto Expo.

Excerpt from the article:

Using a system called the Generic Obstacle and Lane Detector, or GOLD, these two vans were able to pretty much guide themselves across the two continents.

The vehicles were equipped with four solar-powered laser scanners and seven video cameras that work together to detect and avoid obstacles, are part of an experiment aimed at improving road safety and advancing automotive technology.

Space Projects Still Get Go Ahead

Even though Italy's space budget stayed flat for 2010.

A Risorgimento Of Sorts

Italy experienced an "economic miracle" of its own (much like Germany and Japan. And thanks in part to the Marshall Plan) during the post WWII era spurred on by a reinvigorated entrepreneurial class as well as the steel industry and technological advances (hydrocarbons found in the Po Valley) centered around the Genoa-Turin-Milan triangle. Growth rates hovered around 6% for a few years.

It is here names like Olivetti and Lamborghini founds its stride with it Italy became an industrialized powerhouse.

You can a full detail here.

Comments Update

Trying to get to the bottom of why you have to hover to leave a comment.

Euro Bike

A nice collection of Italian bikes from Euro Bike 2009.

Notice the triangle gear on the Wilier.

More here at Flickr.

Image is a shot of cyclist Alessandro Ballan's Wilier bike.

Helicopter In The Sky

Augusta-Westland were in Boeing bid this past summer for presidential helicopter contract.

Double Hand Transplant

The world's first double-hand transplant took place at San Gerardo Hospital in Monza.

I italicize 'double' because it wasn't the first hand transplant. That took place in Lyon, France in 1998. However, the hand was removed after being rejected by the patient's body.

Meningitis Vaccine Discovered And Approved

Given how much press meningitis receives, it's odd that the discovery of a vaccine in Italy wasn't reported here in Canada as far as I know.

Excerpt:

An all-Italian team of researchers has produced the first combined vaccine to protect against four of the five most dangerous strains of meningitis, the serogroups A, C, W135 and Y, reports Corriere della Sera.


The Swiss vaccine company Novartis, which also has a branch in Siena and produced a vaccine against meningitis C in 2008, has been given the green light to supply the new vaccine to pharmacies in Italy. It will be available to children over the age of eleven whose parents are in possession of a prescription from a paediatrician. Novartis coordinator Rino Rappuoli has explained that the vaccine contains a protein carrier which increases the body’s defences against the disease.

The vaccine was given a green light from U.S. and European agencies. Not sure about Canada.

Welcome

I recently added a "Follow" feature on this blog. I appreciate people who take the time to join.

Welcome, Lakeviewer.

Italy Has Work To Do On The Economic Freedom Front

While this blog explores one side of the Italian economic universe, one in which essentially captures its greatest creative qualities, it's not oblivious to its problems in a larger context. It's not all 'dolce vita" you know.

For example, Heritage Foundation published its annual Economic Freedom Index. Canada and the U.S. rank 7th and 8th respectively, but Italy (a member of the G8) is way down in 74th spot; tied with Greece. Leaving Russia aside for obvious reasons (I'm not so sure it even belongs in the G7), Italy is the lowest ranked G7 country.

I would think this is something the Italians will make a priority to rectify.

Not sure how realistic this objective is though.