Italian Excellence Award: A Toast to Ricotta and Recognition

Welcome, dear readers! Buckle up for a delightful journey into the heart of Italian culture, where excellence isn’t just about good pasta but also about gathering some of the most distinguished individuals under one roof. Yes, it’s the elusive Italian Excellence Award, celebrated this time in the grand backdrop of Cafè Milano in Washington, D.C., or as I like to call it, the fourteenth circle of American culinary hell—still not quite as confusing as IKEA!

A Long Road to 11 Editions

As the wise President of the event, Massimo Lucidi, mentioned, “We have reached the eleventh edition!” It’s almost like that time you keep telling everyone you’ve been on a diet since January, yet here we are in October with a family-size lasagna in tow. But I digress! The Foundation E-Novation is making its mark with forced power—or as the rest of us call it, “using Italian charm to woo our American cousins.” After all, everyone knows that if you want people to listen, you either send the best of your tribe or ply them with wine and pasta. Or both!

What’s Italian Excellence Without a Little Networking?

Ah yes, the art of networking. Nothing screams “I’m important” more than pinning your hopes on a weekend gathering in D.C. within earshot of Congress, right? So, amidst the chatter about Columbus Day, those shiny new honors and “Networking” (if you squint hard enough, that almost reads ‘nurturing lifelines’), the event also tackles the age-old saga of Italianness—because who doesn’t love a bit of nostalgia while nibbling on bruschetta?

Meet Amy Riolo: The Unofficial Ambassador

In attendance, we have the charismatic Amy Riolo—a name that rolls off the tongue smoother than an Italian love song. Not just any writer or TV personality, mind you, but THE Ambassador of Italianity! Yes, that’s a real title, not just something you get for showing up with a tray of cannoli. Amy’s contribution, especially during the Covid years, ensured that Italian culture kept strutting its stuff while the rest of us were stuck at home counting the number of pasta shapes we have in the pantry. Quite a feat!

A Recipe for Success

The nifty wigglers of this event have found a way to ensure recognition of excellence without making anyone think they’re just handing out awards like participation trophies. We have workshops like “The importance of the Mediterranean diet for the American consumer.” Yes, because if we’re going to eat our weight in pasta, we might as well do it in a healthy way that makes us feel cultured at dinner parties.

Peeking at the Winners

Now, let’s spill the beans on the crème de la crème of 2024! We’ve got spectacular winners like Giuseppe Antoci, a real-life “mafia enemy” who probably has more dramatic stories than a high school drama club! And how about the notable Frank Caprio and his illustrious past? If anyone’s from Rhode Island and knows how to shake a fist at injustice while looking dapper, it’s our Frank!

And of course, let’s not forget…

• Michele Albanese: Declaring how every Italian must have “Banca BCC” embossed somewhere on their wallet.
• Chef Roberto Grazioli: Gracing D.C. with the culinary skills that make you question why you ever tried to make spaghetti at home.
• Don Luigi Portarulo:You know you’ve made it when the priest in Manhattan thinks you’re a saint for showing up!

Where to Next?

So, as the evening rolled to an end, Massimo was already packing his bags for a tour of Italian communities across Texas, Florida, and beyond—talk about strategizing your cheese platter! Next stop: a pizza in every state so that Americans can appreciate the true taste of Italian “excellence.” This journey doesn’t just stop here, people!

In conclusion, if you ever find yourself in a room with the crème de la crème of the Italian-American community, remember this: while it’s easy to get lost in the accolades, it’s the jokes about marinara stains and family gatherings that truly bring us together. Cheers to the Italian Excellence Award! May the wine flow freely, the pasta be al dente, and the recognition be ever robust!

The eleventh edition of the event took place in Washington Italian Excellence Award. The event was framed by the splendid Cafè Milano headquarters in Georgetown, where in 2014, thanks to the support of the patron Fralso Nuschese, the first edition was celebrated.

.“We have reached the eleventh edition of the Italian Excellence Award, organized by Foundation E-Novation – declares the President Massimo Lucidi – which in recent years has developed a series of collateral events between New York and Washington DC, which have become a formidable opportunity for ‘soft power’ for transatlantic relations”.

Italian Excellence Award

On the occasion of the Italian Excellence Award which is held in the US capital on a fixed date (on the weekend of the week starting on Monday in New York with the celebration of Columbus Day), the Foundation renews the entire sense of the Value of Italianness, offering meetings of Networking and Net-reputation to strengthen the already close relationships with the Italian-American communities and aim straight at the Italian Lovers, who love the Bel Paese (regardless of Legacy and Heritage), the Italian Life Style.

Italian Excellence and Amy Riolo

The annual event, now historic, takes place with the participation of Amy Rioloextraordinary writer, author and television personality, who has chosen to be an Ambassador of Italianity for numerous brands and products made in Italy, but also to spread Mediterranean cultures and habits in the adopted land of her family, originally from Crotone, Calabria.

Amy Riolo kept the Award alive during the Covid years, ensuring the participation of the American family in the Italian Excellences. The workshop “The importance of the Mediterranean diet for the American consumer” held at the “Marra Forni” company in the Washington DC area, Maryland, was very successful in the capital.

In reality, it is precisely these meetings aimed at underlining the Foundation’s commitment to building valuable content and relationships. Among the events, the event “International Freedom Days” should be highlighted, organized in collaboration with the Archdiocese of New York. Afterwards, after the Columbus Day rites, in the Parish House of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the president Massimo Lucidi and Don Luigi Portarulo met, among others, the general director of Assoimpredia Alberto Patrunothe President of Asmef Except Iavaronethe head of the Italian Excellence Delegation of the E-novation Foundation, Armando Lanzathe entrepreneur Adriana Sartorand some winners of the 2024 Prize, the banker Michele Albanese, the international consultant Giovanni Sabetti who heads the group of the same name with the anthropologist Karl Wolfsgruber.

A special recognition, “Presidio of Excellence and Sustainability”, was awarded to Don Luigi Portarulo Italian priest in New York. The title of the award given to the clergyman contains the guiding words for the Foundation’s action.

List of 2024 winners

Giuseppe Antoci “Enemy” of the mafia Honorary President of the Antonino Caponnetto Foundation, former President of the Nebrodi Park; Frank Caprio, former Judge and Chief Justice of Providence, Rhode Island – USA; Michele Albanese, General Manager of Banca BCC | Montepruno – Italy; Giovanni Sabetti, International Consultant | Entrepreneur; Claudio Pagliara, RAI journalist | New York Correspondent; Muller FabbriScientist | Professor George Washington University; Francesco JavaroneLuxottica manager; Karl Wolfsgruber, anthropologist; Francesca Casazzadirettrice Italian Cultural Society | Washington DC; Chef Roberto GrazioliVilla Firenze | Washington DC; Piero Graus, publisher; Francesca BallaliSenior Europlanner “My way” | Arlington, VA; Impero Winespizzeria and Italian restaurant in Washington DC ‘ Roberto D’Onofrio | Springfield – VA Italian wine importer; Don Luigi PortaruloItalian priest in Manhattan St. Patrick’s Cathedral | New York; Gianmarco ChiocciRAI journalist | Director of TG1; Gianluca Bartolini, founder and honorary President of ASSO.IMPRE.DI.A.; Pascal Vicedominijournalist, film producer; Maura Delpero, Italian director and screenwriter; Cinzia Tedesco, singer; Ferdinand Mastrovito, Lake Ranch | SD USA; Da Vinci Hall, singer | Actor.

At the end of the awards ceremony, Massimo Lucidi resumed his tour of the Italian communities. Next stops: Florida, Colorado, South Dakota, Texas, Illinois, Maine. Among the events, the presentation of the ‘Winner 2024’ plaque to Ferdinand Mastrovito a Hulett in Wyoming.