Searching for city’s best Kiwitalian
FISH out your finest suits, your designer dresses and your Italian phrasebook: La Bella Italia in Petone is ready to crown the city’s best ‘‘Kiwitalian’’.
On August 23, in a first for Wellington’s well-known purveyor of Italian goods, La Bella Italia will host a Kiwitalian Night, with a panel of Italian and Kiwi judges deciding who is the best Kiwitalian.
La Bella Italia owner and director Antonio Cacace says locals greet him every day by saying, ‘‘Buongiorno!’’ and appreciation of Italian culture is rampant in New Zealand, especially among the ‘‘more mature’’.
‘‘These people, they love the country and they love the lifestyle,’’ he says. ‘‘So why aren’t we rewarding these people?’’
A variety of Italian-inspired prizes are up for grabs including designer sunglasses, Italian leather shoes and an Alfa Romeo car for a weekend.
The dinner will comprise of a four-course degustation meal, prepared following Cacace’s father’s ‘‘no-menu’’ philosophy, meaning only the freshest ingredients are used.
‘‘The no-menu approach is a celebration of the finest New Zealand ingredients, but done in our way.’’
Cacace says he gets no greater pleasure than sharing the Italian culture with Wellingtonians. ‘‘Sharing all my passion for my land with New Zealanders is always a great satisfaction.’’
Acclaimed Kiwi actor, writer and director Paolo Rotondo, who moved from Italy when he was 10, will be on the judging panel with his wife, Renee Mark.
Rotondo says the competition is a great excuse to explore the crossovers between the two cultures and is looking for people who ‘‘interpret this collision of cultures together in an interesting and dynamic way’’.
‘‘That could be the way people dress, or their understanding of culture and song.’’
A sense of passion is important, although he says that could be more of an Italian characteristic.
‘‘Italians seem to wear their emotions on their sleeve a bit more!’’
Italian ambassador Carmelo Barbarello will be present on the Since taking up the position in August last year, he has been impressed with the Italian culture present in Wellington.
‘‘I expect that enjoying the exquisite Italian food prepared not only at La Bella Italia but also in other very good Italian restaurants in town, any Kiwi can come closer to the Italian lifestyle, social behaviour and culture.’’