ANTONELLA CASTAGNINO
How did you end up in the Southern Lakes? I’m originally from Patagonia but have travelled around. I came to New Zealand because a friend recommended it. As I’m used to mountains and snow, my partner and I set up in Queenstown where we spend our winters snowboarding.
There’s a big community of Latin Americans here. I thought going to a salsa class would be where I’d find a bunch of Latinos, but there’s people from everywhere! That’s what’s so nice about music.
What’s been the best thing about 2021? Years ago, I used to be a big singer – it was one of my dreams when I was young – but I stopped when a past relationship went bad.
At the start of 2021, my partner and I said we wanted to do more of the things we love. So I started going to singing lessons and the teacher introduced me to a group that was looking for a singer. I joined ‘Corazon Latino’, a Latin jazz band, around August. We played our first gig in November, so it’s incredible what we’ve achieved in a short time.
What holiday traditions and foods do you partake in?
I’ve had five Christmases away from family, which has been tough.
Traditionally, we put up the Christmas tree on December 8 (Feast of the Immaculate Conception). I want to put ours up now!
It’s very common for Christians in Argentina to celebrate on the evening of the 24th. We open presents after Midnight Mass and then have a dessert of ice cream, strawberries and meringue.
Argentinians like to party so we sleep in before getting together for more food on Christmas Day. One of my favourite traditional dishes is vitello tonnato, a slowcooked veal steak that’s cut very thinly and served with a creamy anchovy and tuna sauce. I’m dying to try my grandma’s one again.
We do a pancake pyramid, called torre de panqueques, made of tortillas with savoury sauces and fillings in the middle.
As it’s summer there too, on the side we have salads like a Waldorf salad (even though walnuts are expensive), and potato salad is common as it goes well with barbecued meat.
My mum makes a traditional Italian festive recipe (my grandparents on my dad’s side come from there) with lots of cheese, ricotta and caramelised ham.
My family enjoys drinking limoncello. Last holidays, I made our own refreshing festive drink of lemon ice cream mixed with champagne – it was amazing, you should try it!
What do you think 2022 will hold?
Even though the situation in Argentina is a bit of a mess, we want to go back to spend some quality time with family.
I think 2022 will be another year of changes. Hopefully I will get more attached to the music, as it makes my soul so happy.