VIDEO lezione numero nove

For the complete video click here.

For the whole lecture, recipes and exercises check the posts on April 20th and 23rd.

VIDEO lezione numero sette

For the complete video click here.

For the whole lecture, recipes and exercises check the posts on March 24 and 26.

Lezione numero dodici: andare a fare la spesa

For the complete video click here!


Benissimo! By now you can cook a full Italian meal...but how about grocery shopping?
Andare a fare la spesa lit means "to go to do the shopping".
Let's conjugate the indicative present of the  irr. verb andare:

(io) vado

(tu) vai

(lui/lei) va

(noi) andiamo

(voi) andate

(loro) vanno

So, quando andate a fare la spesa in Italia, you have many choices: you can go al supermercato or to

a mercato or a small alimentari or specialty store.

In any case you should keep in mind that i negozi chiudono presto (the stores close early, usually by 8 pm or earlier) e molti negozi sono chiusi (are closed) la domenica. The smaller stores have shorter opening times,  and they may be closed for a few hours il pomeriggio. It is better to check!

Se vai al supermercato (= grocery store) there are a couple of things to keep in mind:

1) Hai bisogno di uno o due euro per prendere (= to take) il carrello (=the cart)

2) Non toccare (= do not touch) la frutta e la verdura, they provide disposable plastic gloves

3) Devi pesare (=[you] must weight) la frutta e la verdura con la bilancia

4) Devi mettere (=to put) la spesa nel sacchetto (or borsina = plastic bag) da sola/o (on your own) e devi pagare (=to pay) per i sacchetti (pochi centesimi)

Al supermercato ci sono molti reparti (sectors): panificio (=bakery), reparto formaggi e salumeria (cheese and cold cuts area), macelleria (butcher's shop), pescheria (fish shop),...

If you ask for 100 g of something, you may say 1 etto (short for ettogrammo) instead. 

100 grammi = 1 etto 

E.g. Quanto costa un etto di prosciutto? (=how much does one etto of prosciutto cost?)

1 chilogrammo = 1 chilo  

E.g. Vorrei un chilo di mele, per favore. Quanto costano?

If you prefer to try the smaller shops, you will need to go from the alimentari (small grocery shop, usually more expensive) to il panificio, il macellaio, il fruttivendolo (fruit shop), la pescheria.

It can be fun to find some local products.

Ma se vai a fare la spesa in Italia, do no miss il mercato del paese o del quartiere (the open air

 market of the town or of the neighborhood): it is usually once per settimana, in the morning and it is a full immersion in smells, noises and flavors. Remember: you can always ask to try/taste  (= provare) something before you buy it and do not hesitate to haggle for everything. Buon divertimento!

Lezione numero undici: fare una prenotazione al telefono

For the complete video click here.


La scorsa settimana (last week you can also say la settimana passata), while our cantucci were baking and bis-baking ;-), we learned how to make a reservation at a restaurant.
Practice reading ad alta voce! Can you understand everything? The vocabulary below may help.



Ristoratore1: Pronto! Ristorante Da Nonna Pia. Buonasera!


Tu: Buonasera! Vorrei prenotare un tavolo per domani sera.


R: Benissimo, a/per che ora?


T: Alle otto e mezza. Vorremmo sederci fuori.


R: Quanti siete?


T: Quindici.


R: Non c'è posto per quindici fuori, mi dispiace. Può andare bene dentro, vicino alla finestra?


T: Va bene. C'è una bella vista?


R: Sì.


T: Allora va bene.


R: A che nome?


T: Veneziani.


R: Bene, grazie. A domani!


T: Arrivederci


The day after, when you arrive, puoi (you can) say:


Ho una prenotazione per quindici a nome Veneziani.


Vocabulary and grammar


Pronto= ready, this is what we usually say when we pick up the phone (il telefono)
Vorrei = (I) would like to (present conditional, 1st pers. sing. of the irr. verb volere)
Prenotare= to reserve
Tavolo = table
A/per che ora= at/for what time
Otto e mezza = eight and  a half, you can also say alle venti e trenta (20:30), but
 since you already asked for a table for the evening, otto e mezza will be clear enough
Vorremmo = (we) would like to (present conditional, 1st pers. plur. of the irr. verb volere)
Sederci= sedere+ ci (us) = sit ourselves, meaning sit
Fuori= outside
Dentro = inside
Posto = place, locality. In this context seat
Mi dispiace = dispiace a me = it displeases me -> I am sorry
Può = can (3rd pers. sing. indicative pres. of the irr verb potere)
Vicino alla finestra = close to the window (alla=a+la)
Vista = view, it also means eyesight
Allora = then
A domani = to tomorrow -> see you tomorrow

Esercizi: 

1) Optional : record yourself as you read the dialogue. You can use the free on-line recorder http://vocaroo.com/. I will post the best audio! Ask me if you are in doubt about la pronuncia. You can do this as group problem.

2)  Write sentences including the 6 sets of words listed below:

             a) amico/a

               nonna

               

            b) cucchiaio

               mescolare 

               

            c)  sete

                palestra

               

            d) potere (puoi/può)

                lavare

                coltello

                tagliare

               

             e) cotti

                 le piacciono 

            f) prenotare

                pranzo  

3) Solve:

   http://www.education.vic.gov.au/languagesonline/italian/sect34/no_01/no_01.htm

and

   http://www.education.vic.gov.au/languagesonline/italian/sect34/no_04/no_04.htm

Hints: fries in italian is translated as little potatoes, while croissant as cute little horns

(horn=corno).

Lezione numero dieci: erbettina e pomodorinaccio

For the complete video click here.

L'altro ieri (lit. the other yesterday, meaning the day before yesterday) era (it was) mercoledì venticinque Aprile. Il 25 Aprile in Italia è festa, la festa della liberazione. È il giorno che rappresenta la fine dell'occupazione nazifascista e la fine della seconda guerra (war) mondiale (25 Aprile millenovecento quarantacinque).
È una festa nazionale: in molte città sono organizzati cortei (parades) e commemorazioni (memorials).

Yesterday in class we baked la torta sbrisolona. 
In Italian a noun or adjective can be modified by taking the root and adding a suffix to express a particular quality.
The suffix -ona/one (f/m) is used when something is big, or a lot. La sbrisolona, can be translated into
 something like "the very crumbly thing"...but I will tell you more about it in a separate post.
Let's look at the most common examples of  modifying suffixes (in reality there are a lot more --- see e.g. http://italian.about.com/od/grammar/a/aa061108a.htm). Try to read them ad alta voce!!!!
Post a comment if you would like to hear the recorded audio. Ciao!


Diminutivo (it conveys smallness)


cucchiaio-> cucchiaino
pomodori-> pomodorini
piccolo-> piccolino
polpetta-> polpettina


Accrescitivo (bigness/largeness)


libro-> librone
Paolo-> Paolone
goloso (= glutton)-> golosone
naso (= nose)-> nasone


Vezzeggiativo (small+endearing) 


Paola-> Paoletta
casa-> casetta
erba -> erbetta
zii (uncles) -> zietti


Peggiorativo (ugliness/badness/dirt)


pizza-> pizzaccia
coltelli->coltellacci
parola (word) -> parolaccia (a bad word)
fratello (brother)-> fratellaccio



We use these suffixes a lot, sometimes even combined (colloquially, not in written):
che bella macchinettina! La mamma ha fatto una tortonaona (or tortonona) per il mio compleanno.
Mi piace cucinare con l'erbettina del mio orto (= kitchen garden). Che pomodorinaccio, è amarissimo (very amaro=bitter).

Esercizi: 

1) Translate into article+noun or just noun, using the right suffix:

- A small salad 

- A nasty herb (e.g. a weed)

- A big bed

- Stinky shoe (shoe = scarpa)

- A small pan

- Small breads (plural!)

- My dear aunts  (plural!)

- Big hands (plural!)

- A cute little girl

- A very nasty person (nasty= antipatico, opposite of simpatico)

- Nice little notebooks (plural!)

2- Describe in a few sentences a real or imaginary person or animal or location. Try to use at least two modifying suffixes.

Possible guidelines/keywords.


Persona:


Chi è, come si chiama, l'età (the age),
la statura/altezza (basso=short, alto=tall, di media statura = of average heigt), 
la corporatura (grasso = fat, magro = thin, normale), 
i capelli (plural!!!!) = hair (lunghi = long, corti= short, lisci = lit. smooth, straight, ricci = curl, neri = black , castani = brown, for hair and eyes, biondi = blond, rossi, bianchi, brizzolati = salt and pepper, grigi = gray, pelato/calvo = bald),
gli occhi (grandi, piccoli, a mandorla = like almonds, neri, castani, verdi= green, azzurri = light blue, grigi), 
il naso (a patata =), all'insù = pointing up, like tiramisù, piccolo, grande), 
ha la barba (beard), i baffi (moustache) porta gli occhiali (glasses),
ha le orecchie a sventola (protruding ears),..
come si veste (vestirsi= to dress)
il carattere: qualità e difetti
il comportamento (come è con le altre persone, come parla, come si muove), cosa gli piace, abitudini, feelings he/she inspires... 


Animale:


Che animale è, come si chiama, dove vive, caratteristiche fisiche, verso (the characteristic call/sounds produced), il comportamento, le abitudini, cosa gli piace
il rapporto che ha con te, feelings it inspires...


Località:


Nome, descrizione visiva (visual description --- colors, size),  suoni e rumori (sounds and noises), odori e profumi (smells and perfumes), temperatura, feelings it inspires,...

Lezione numero nove: un caffè per favore

 A famous song about coffee. Lo Zecchino d'oro is a popular children's song festival.
I bet you can understand most of the words  =)

Last week we had un ospite speciale: Fiorenzo Omenetto, Professore di Ingegneria Biomedica a Tufts. He did not join us to talk about his wondrous research (if you are curious you can learn about it here!), but to make tiramisù and chat about the italian coffee, il caffè italiano.

For the videos of this class click here.

Let's refresh some vocabolario!

- il bar in Italia is not a place where they serve just alcoholic drinks, but it refers also to a coffee house. People drink coffee al bar all the time, mostly standing at the counter (italian coffee is so small that you do not need to sit or carry it with you to drink it)

- caffè really refers to espresso, and it is served in a tazzina (una tazza piccola= a small cup)

- there is no small, medium, large: you either simply ask for un caffè (regular size), or

caffè doppio/caffè lungo (double/long: it has a little more water) or

caffè ristretto (lit. shrinked ->more concentrated, with less water)

- caffè macchiato caldo, "stained" with a tiny bit of warm frothed milk

macchia=spot, stain macchiare= to stain, caldo =hot

- caffè macchiato freddo, served with a tiny bit of cold (freddo) milk on the side, in a small jug

- cappuccino, served in a cup, it needs no explanation...but if you order cappuccino in the city of Trieste you may be disappointed, as they would serve you a miniature cappuccino, similar to a macchiato caldo. Trieste has its own coffee vocabulary that you may want to check before a trip. =)

- marocchino (lit. from Morocco): espresso, frothed milk, cocoa powder, served in una tazzina

- caffè corretto espresso "corrected" with a shot of liquor, typically grappa or sambuca

- caffè d'orzo, espresso made from barley, it is decaf and the taste is different, worth trying. It can be ordered in all the variations, just like a normal caffè.

- caffè decaffeinato or caffè HAG (from the name of a common brand)

- d'estate (di estate, during the summer) you can find caffè freddo

- caffelatte (or caffè latte) is the american latte; we make it mostly at home for colazione, it is very rare to hear anyone ordering un caffelatte al bar

- a casa, everyone makes caffè by using... the italian coffee maker, called caffettiera (also called moka, or Bialetti, from the name of the original brand).

La caffettiera - la moka - la Bialetti

Some other famous songs about caffè: 

Fabrizio De Andre’ --- Don Raffae’ (in dialect)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVxcBsMqMVw

Zecchino d’oro --- Ninna del chicco del caffe’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot1Myb-kCq0&feature=related

Esercizi

If you are not sure about the pronunciation of any of the words, write a comment below and I will post the audio. Try first on your own!

1) Leggi ad alta voce e traduci (=translate), then repeat without reading. This is the most common conversation al bar

Cameriere: Buongiorno!

Cliente: Buongiorno! Un caffè per favore

Cameriere: Prego

Cliente: Grazie, quant'è?

Cameriere: Novanta centesimi [cheaper than Starbucks ;)]

Cliente: Ecco qua!

Cameriere: Ecco lo scontrino, arrivederci

2) Completa le frasi (follow the hints, although some blanks have no hint!), leggi ad alta voce e traduci.

Andrea (in italian it is a male name): Ciao, ---- -----[how are you]?

Giacomo: Ciao, -----! --- ---[and you]?

A: Bene, ---- [can I] offrirti -- caffè?

G: Volentieri. Oh! Cosa ---- fatto alla mano?

A: Mi sono ------- mentre preparavo le melanzane

G: Mi dispiace

A: Non fa -----[nothing]. ---- melanzane alla parmigiana sono il mio ----- preferito

G: mmm, anche a me ------ molto.

A: Due caffè,-----!

G: Uno macchiato, per favore.

Cameriere: ----- [here it is]

A: Grazie

G: Grazie. -------[what do you do this weekend]?

A: ---[I have] una dozzina di compiti da correggere

G: ----[I understand]. Ma poi? Fa caldo, ----[we go] al mare con Giovanni, Sara e i suoi cugini,

vieni anche tu!

A: -----[good] idea. ---- lavoro come va?

G: Bene, ---[tomorrow I have] un colloquio per una promozione...

A: In bocca --- ----!

G: Crepi, grazie, spero di ---[to be] all'altezza

A: ------[I do not have] dubbi

G: ------- ---- ------[thank you, and thank you for the coffee]

A: Di ------. Ci vediamo. Ciao!

G: Ciao, --- ---- ---- [I call you when] decidiamo ---- -----[where to go]

A: Ok, benissimo

Il tiramisù

For the videos of this class click here.

 Tiramisù means pick me up (tira= 2nd person singular of the verb tirare, to pull or to throw -- mi = me -- su, without accent = up). It is such a popular dessert that it needs no introduction =)
The opposite of su is giù.

Ingredienti:

- 6 uova (eggs) a temperatura ambiente (lit. at environment temperature -> room temperature)
- 750 g mascarpone (about 26.5 ounces, at Shaw's you can find the brand Belgioioso)
- 8-10 cucchiai di zucchero (spoons of sugar)
- (a drop of marsala or rhum or another liquor)
- 2-3 packages of ladyfingers (savoiardi, you can find them in the Italian sector at any grocery store)
- a tablet of dark chocolate (cioccolato fondente, altough fondente does not mean dark,
but melting) or cocoa powder (cacao in polvere)
- caffè (coffee) as much as needed (1 or 2 cups are usually sufficient)

Procedimento:

1- in a ciotola (bowl) mescola (mix) the egg yolks (i tuorli or rossi d'uovo= lit. the reds of the egg) with the mascarpone [and the marsala]
2- in another ciotola whisk the whites (monta gli albumi or i bianchi) with the sugar (you can whisk by hand with a fork or a hand whisk, or by using an electric beater).
Then mix the two creams gently: you want to avoid the egg whites foam to collapse
3- in the meantime prepare your favorite coffee (I use espresso, I will write more about caffè in the next days), let it cool down and put it in a shallow dish
4- dip the ladyfingers in the coffee and make a layer on a rectangular pyrex/ceramic pan. Then put a layer of cream. Then another layer of soaked ladyfingers...
5- make in total 2-3 layers of ladyfingers, end with a thin layer of cream and sprinkle with shaved dark chocolate (you can shave the chocolate with a cheese grater) or cocoa powder
6- put in the fridge, if you have enough patience wait (aspetta, from aspettare) a few hours and enjoy. If you wait one day it tastes even better. Serve chill!

Variations: if you prepare tiramisù for kids, you can substitute the caffè with a mix of milk and decaf.

Lezione numero otto: la dieta mediterranea

Giovedì scorso (last Thursday) we had un'ospite speciale (a special guest): Anna Jasonides R.D., L.D., nutritionist from MIT medical. She made a great presentation about la dieta mediterranea: what it is, what are its benefits, and examples from the Greek cuisine.

The noun ospite can be used for a masculine or feminine guest, but you would use a different (indeterminative) article. una ospite -> un'ospite (f) vs un ospite (m, without apostrophe).

Anyway, here is her presentation (grazie mille!). For the videos of this class click here.

Esercizi (review):

1- http://www.italica.rai.it/corso.php
Click English, choose a style, choose the curriculum "by linguistic functions" and ascolta the dialogue "Parliamo di lavoro". Translate it.
Hints: guadagnare = to earn, ditta = azienda = company

2- Read and solve the activities of the section "Espressioni con avere"

http://web.uvic.ca/hispanital/italian/italian100/verbi/index.htm


There is a small error in the text: Italians would say "Ha sempre fretta" not "Sempre ha fretta".

After you solve the crossword, ascolta e ripeti

Espressioni con avere

3- Listen, read, repeat and answer the question after the first slide:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/italian/lj/ingredients/slideshow/index_mac.shtml

Lezione numero sette (2/2): la canzone della cucina

For the videos of this class click here.

During the last class we repeated the vocabulary by singing a modified version of the canzone (song) "Old MacDonald had a farm" (in Italian: Nella vecchia fattoria = in the old farm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35ts0avRmT4).

Try to sing along! You have to decide when to use c`è (=there is) or ci sono (= there are).

Nella nuova gran cucina

Nella nuova gran cucina
ia ia oh
c`è un sacco di farina
ia ia oh

ci sono le uo-va, uo-va, uo uo uova
c`è la fa-ri-na, fa-ri-na, fa fa farina

il lat-te
il bur-ro
il sa-le

Nella nuova ...

il for-mag-gio
gli spi-na-ci
le spe-zie
la bi-lan-cia

Nella nuova ..

la cio-to-la (bowl)
le po-sa-te (flatware)
il me-sto-lo (wooden spoon, ladle)
la te-glia (baking pan)

Nella nuova ..

Glossary:

nuova= new (f,s)
gran= poetic for grande = big
un sacco= a sac -> a lot

Lezione numero sette (1/2): cosa fai?

For the videos of this class click here.


Come va? Oggi è sabato 24 marzo duemiladodici. La prossima (=next) settimana non c`è (there is not) lezione perchè è vacanza. Spring break (lit. la pausa di primavera -> le vacanze di primavera) does not exist in Italy. There is, however, a short vacation for Easter.
In the following dialogue we review how to introduce yourself and talk about your profession/studies. Ascolta e ripeti. Then leggi, ascolta e ripeti again.

Cosa fai?

M: Ciao Beatrice, come stai?
B: Bene e tu?
M: Bene, grazie.
B: Questa è mia cugina.

M: Ciao, come ti chiami?
J: Mi chiamo Jane, e tu?
M: Mi chiamo Matteo.
J: Piacere.
M: Il piacere è mio. Da dove vieni?
J: Sono Americana.

B: Jane viene da Boston, in Massachusetts.
M: Cosa fai a Boston?
J: Studio.
M: Cosa studi?
J: Biologia.
M: Cosa vuoi fare quando ti laurei?
J: Vorrei diventare una biologa marina.

M: Interessante. Tu Beatrice cosa fai adesso?
B: Sto cercando lavoro.
M: Bene. In bocca al lupo! Hai studiato Ingegneria...
B: Sì, sono un Ingegnere meccanico. E tu che fai?
M: Lavoro in un'azienda di programmazione.

J: Allora, ci sediamo?
B: Certo. Prendiamo un aperitivo e dopo andiamo a cena.
J: Benissimo!Chi cucina?
B: Cuciniamo tutti insieme.
J: Evviva!


mia = my (f,s)
cugina= cousin (f,s)
fai = indicative pres. 2nd person sing. of the irr. verb fare= to do/make
vuoi = want, indicative pres. 2nd person sing. of the irr. verb volere=to want
ti laurei = (you) graduate, indicative pres. 2nd person sing. of the irr. reflexive verb laurearsi= to graduate (oneself)
vorrei= (I) would like to, pres. conditional 1st person sing. of the irr. verb volere=to want
adesso = now
cercare = to look for, to search for
lavoro (noun) = job, work
lavoro (verb) = indicative pres. 1st person sing. of the verb lavorare = to work
in bocca al lupo= lit. in (the) mouth of the wolf -> good luck! (If someone wishes you in bocca al lupo, you usually answer crepi= let it (the wolf) die)
Ingegneria = engineering
un'azienda = una azienda = a company
allora = so
ci sediamo = do we sit (ourselves), ind. pres. 1st person plur. of the reflexive verb sedersi= to sit (oneself)
dopo = after, afterwards, later
tutti = all
insieme = together

Lezione numero sei (part 2/2): a Roma

For the videos of this class click here.

(Click on the image to enlarge---map taken from http://www.informagiovani-italia.com/mappa_roma_cartina.htm)

Ascolta e ripeti

Mi scusi, dov'è la Fontana di Trevi?

Come?

Dov'è la Fontana di Trevi, per favore?

Siamo in piazza dei Cinquecento. Prenda la bla bla bla...

Mi scusi non capisco. Può parlare più lentamente per favore?

Certo.
Siamo in piazza dei Cinquecento.
Prenda la prima a sinistra,
poi deve girare a destra in via Depretis.
Da qui vada sempre dritto:
via Depretis diventa via Quattro Fontane; deve passare molti incroci.
Giri a sinistra in via del Tritone.
Dopo circa 300 metri prenda la via a sinistra ed è arrivato/a.

È lontana?

No, è vicina, circa 20 minuti a piedi.

Grazie mille.

Di niente, arrivederci!


Non capisco = I do not understand
Può = can (you) - formal
Più = more
Lentamente = slowly
Certo = of course
Piazza= place
Prenda= take (2 person singular, formal)
A sinistra = on the left
A destra = on the right
Deve = (you) have to (formal)
Girare = to turn
Via = street
Da = from
Qui = here (qui or qua are both correct)
Vada = go (2 person singular, formal- verb to go=andare)
Sempre dritto =lit. always straight -> straight ahead
Diventare = to become
Incrocio = crossing (m) -- passare or better attraversare un incrocio = cross a crossing
Molti = many (masc. plur, referred to incroci)
Dopo = after
Ed=e, and
È arrivato/a = you arrived lit. have arrived
Lontano/a = far (adj.)
Vicino/a = near (adj.)
A piedi = on foot (piede=foot)

Esercizio:

1- http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/italian/lj/directions/speak_write/

Lezione numero sei (part 1/2): in cucina

For the videos of this class click here. 


Oggi è domenica diciotto marzo duemiladodici (18/03/2012).
Domani, lunedì diciannove marzo, è la festa del papà. Il 19/3 è il giorno di San Giuseppe (Saint Joseph' day), that's why we celebrate father's day on this specific day.
Mio nonno (my grandpa) si chiama Giuseppe: il diciannove marzo è anche (also) il suo onomastico (name's day). Auguri doppi (double felicitations)!

Giovedì scorso (last Thursday) we tried to speak only Italian during class.
This is a list of useful sentences: leggi, ascolta e ripeti.

Scusa, mi puoi passare la cipolla per favore?
Lit. Excuse (me), to me can (you) pass the onion please?

Ecco qui!
Lit. here here->here it is.

Grazie (mille).
Thank you (a thousand)

Prego - lit. I prey-> you welcome
or Di niente - lit. of nothing-> for nothing


Posso usare il coltello?
Can I use the knife?

Prego.
In this context it means "please do".

Scusa, non ho capito. Puoi ripetere per favore?
Sorry, I did not understand. Can you (lit. to) repeat please?

In cucina

Scusa stands for "tu scusami=scusa me"= 2nd person singular exhortative present of the reg. verb scusare, to excuse, forgive=> excuse me. Scusa also means sorry (e.g.-- you accidentally bump into someone-to get someone's attention- if you didn't hear what someone said-you said something inappropriate)
Mi scusi (=lei mi scusi formal for scusa, excuse me)

Posso= 1st person singular present of the irr. verb potere (can)
Puoi= 2nd person singular present of the irr. verb potere (can)

Mi= me/ to me

Ho capito = 1st person singular passato prossimo (present perfect) of the irr. verb capire (to understand)

Esercizi:

1- Listen and repeat

Vocabolario in cucina

Pentola= pot (f)
Padella= pan (f)
Cucchiaio= spoon (m)
Coltello= knife (m)
Forchetta= fork (f)
Piatto= dish/plate (m)

Lavare= to wash
Passare = to pass
Tagliare = to cut/slice
Mescolare =to mix
Versare = to pour
Preparare= to prepare
Usare=to use

Aggiungere = to add (irr., but indicative present is regular)
Cuocere = to cook (irr.)
Cucinare means to prepare a meal or to cook, cuocere means to
cook when you are using il forno or i fornelli/when something is in the process of cooking.
E.g. Cucino la pasta = cuocio la pasta = (I) cook (the) pasta
La pasta sta cuocendo (pasta is cooking) not sta cucinando.
Prendere=to take (irr., but indicative present is regular)

Bisogna= one needs, it’s necessary
It is a remnant of the verb bisognare which is no longer used except in its impersonal form.
Bisogna is followed by an infinitive. E.g. Bisogna mescolare
Avere bisogno di= lit. to have need (of)
Dovere= must/have to (irr.)
Devi= 2nd person singular indicative present of the irr. verb dovere
Dovete= 2nd person plural indicative present of the irr. verb dovere

Mentre=while

Devi tagliare le melanzane
Dovete tagliare le melanzane
Bisogna tagliare le melanzane
Ho bisogno delle melanzane tagliate
Mentre un gruppo taglia le melanzane, l'altro gruppo prepara la salsa di pomodoro.

2- You are cooking your favorite dish with friends : write 5 sentences that you may want to say in the kitchen (in cucina).
If you need help to conjugate some verbs, check
http://www.wordreference.com/conj/ITverbs.aspx

Spezzatino in bianco

For the videos of this class click here. 


Spezzatino means "little broken thing"->stew. In bianco refers to the fact that we are not using tomatoes. This is my mom's recipe! If you serve it with polenta, then I suggest to make it without potatoes.

Ingredienti per 4 persone:

- 1 kg (about 2.2 lb) of beef (manzo) for stew
- 1/2 cipolla (onion)
- 1 spicchio d'aglio (garlic clove)
- 1 carota (carrot)
- 1 stalk of sedano (celery)
- 2 patate (potatoes)
- 1 twig of rosmarino (rosemary)
- a couple of leaves of alloro (bay leaves)
- 1 dado (bouillon cube)
- olio d’oliva
- sale
- Optional: 2 pomodori (tomatoes) or passata di pomodoro (e.g. Pomì)

Procedimento:1- chop the carrot, onion, celery and garlic
2- put in a pressure cooker with a little olive oil over low flame to make a sweat (soffritto). Then add the meat and the bouillon cube
3 -when the meat outside is brown (extra step: in a few years->add a glass of wine and let it evaporate) cover with water and add the [whole] rosemary twig, bay leaves and if you want other spices
4- close the pressure cooker and pressurize (i.e. until the pressure cooker begins to whistle), cook for about 10-15 minutes
5- depressurize, add the potatoes (washed and cut in big chunks) and cook again under pressure for another 10-15 minutes
If you use a regular pot or a slow cooker, cook at low heat for 2-3 hours, covered, mixing from time to time.While it cooks you can do your Physics homework ;)
If most of the water has evaporated, simply add water (you can make the stew more or less thick based on your taste)
6-when it is ready (be sure that both meat and potatoes are cooked and so soft that you can cut them with a fork) add salt if needed
7- you can make the sauce more creamy by mixing a spoon of sifted flour

Buon appetito!

Melanzane alla parmigiana

For the videos of this class click here.

This is a light version; in the classic recipe the eggplants are deep fried (alone or dipped in egg and covered with bread crumbs).

Ingredienti per 4-6 persone

-2 large melanzane (eggplants)
-1 spicchio d'aglio (garlic clove)
-1 L di passata di pomodoro (plain strain tomatoes, we used 1.5 box of Pomì)
-parmigiano grattuggiato (grated, about 100 g, but decide by eye and taste)
-mozzarella grattuggiato (grated) or a fette (in slices), about 1 cup
-basilico fresco (fresh basil, a few leaves)
- sale
- zucchero (sugar)
- spices of your choice (e.g. red crushed pepper, nutmeg)

Procedimento

- wash the eggplants and cut them max 1 centimeter thick.
- let the the eggplant slices sit in a colander covered with abundant coarse salt. You can make many layers of eggplant and salt: this procedure remove the bitterness from the melanzane.
- after 30 minutes drain, rinse very well and pat try with paper towel
- grill the eggplant slices at 400 F for about 10 minutes (or more, based on the thickness). Alternatively, grill them in a non stick pan without oil on the stove or on the bbq.
- in the meantime prepare a tomato sauce with a soffritto of garlic (read the post on February 11th for directions)
- cover the bottom of a baking dish with the tomato sauce
- place a layer of eggplant over the sauce
- sprinkle with grated mozzarella, grated parmisan and basil leaves (as a whole or minced, as you wish)
- repeat to make 3-4 layers ending with sauce
- top with the remaining mozzarella and parmigiano
- bake at 400 F for about 30 minutes.

Le melanzane alle parmigiana are delicious eaten immediately and the day after are even meglio (better). Prova (try!)

Bruschette - antipasto

For the videos of this class click here.

 Pronunciation

Remember: che in Italian reads keh in English. Pronounce brus-keh-te.

La bruschetta/le bruschette

Ingredienti

- 1 baguette or better some pugliese or toscano bread (one large crusty loaf)
- 2 pomodori (tomatoes) or a large handful of pomodorini (cherry tomatoes)
- 1 spicchio d'aglio (garlic clove)
- Basilico fresco (fresh basil, a few leaves)
- Sale
- Olio extravergine d'oliva (extravirgin olive oil)

Preparazione

- chop the tomatoes and mix in a bowl with salt, olive oil and basil (you can use the whole leaves or mince them, as you prefer).
- cut the bread in disks and toast in the oven for about 5 min (400 F). During the summer you can grill the bread on the bbq.
- Option 1: rub the garlic on the toasted bread
- Option 2: add the garlic (as a whole or minced) to the tomato mix. Leave in the fridge for at least a few hours.
- You can either put the chopped tomatoes on the bread yourself, or for a big group you can serve the bowl on one side, the bread on another, and let everyone help themselves.

Buon appetito!

Lezione numero cinque (part 2/2): la mia giornata tipica

For the videos of this class click here.

Oggi in class we talked about our typical day (giornata tipica). Why giornata and not giorno? They are both ok, but we use giornata mostly to emphasize the day as a long event: e.g. buongiorno! (->formal hello, in the morning/afternoon) buona giornata (->have a good day!). The same is true for sera and serata: buonasera (->good evening), buona serata (->enjoy the rest of the evening).

Com'è la tua (= your) giornata tipica?

These are some of the answers we came out with durante la lezione (during (the) class):

Mi sveglio (lit. I wake (myself) up-- mi sveglio is the 1st person sing. of the reflexive verb svegliarsi)
(Mi) faccio la doccia (lit. I do (myself) the shower--faccio is the 1st person sing. of the irr. verb fare)
Faccio colazione (->I have breakfast)
Vado al lavoro (I go to work- vado is the 1st person sing. of the irr. verb andare= to go)
Vado a scuola (I go to school- in Italy we say I go to school to refer to elementary, middle and highschool. If you are going to college you would say...)Vado all'università

Come vai al lavoro?(lit. how do you go to the work? Vai is the 2nd person sing. of the irr. verb andare)
Vado a piedi (=on foot)/in bicicletta/in auto or in macchina (=by car)/in bus
Pranzo (1st person sing. of pranzare= to have lunch)
Dopo avere mangiato bevo il caffè (bevo= 1st person sing. of the irr. verb bere)

Faccio i compiti (lit. I do the assignments)
Vado in palestra (I go to the gym)
Cucino e mangio la cena (cena=dinner)
Mi lavo i denti (lit. I wash myself the teeth-> I brush my teeth)
Dormo

Durante il fine settimana (=the weekend)
dormo tanto (I sleep a lot)
leggo (I read)
ascolto musica
faccio la lavatrice (lit. I do the washing machine-> I make a laundry)
esco con gli amici (esco, 1st person singular of the irr. verb uscire, to go out)

Listen to the dialogue (between me and me with my voice transformed in Garage band):

La giornata tipica

Food plays a central role in the italian culture: ci (= a noi) piace mangiare (to eat), cucinare e parlare (to talk) di cibo (about food) all the time.
The daily activities are all organized around meals, when you take a break, meet with friends/family and eat.
This is a list of the main meals

La colazione ((the) breakfast)
Il pranzo ((the) lunch)
La merenda ((the) mid-afternoon snack)
L’aperitivo ((the) aperitiv)
La cena ((the) dinner)

Ascolta e ripeti

If you are invited for a meal by an Italian family, beware. Leave space in your belly for all the courses!
Il pranzo e la cena tradizionali hanno many courses (molte portate), but nowadays many families prepare un piatto unico per pasto (one single dish per meal).
The traditional meal is composed by:

L’antipasto (the starter)
Il primo (the first course: pasta, rice, soups)
Il secondo (the second course: meat, fish, eggs,..)
Il contorno (the side dish: lots of veggies, cheese)
Il dolce (lit. the sweet - the dessert)

Ascolta e ripeti

Esercizi:

1- Listen and repeat - for a video showing these words/ingredients click here.

Ascolta e ripeti

la car-ne di man-zo ma-ci-na-ta
Il ma-ci-na-to
la sal-sic-cia
ci-pol-la
a-glio
il par-mi-gia-no
il prez-ze-mo-lo
l'uo-vo
il pan-grat-ta-to
l'er-ba ci-pol-li-na
il ton-no in sca-to-la
la ri-cot-ta (lit. cooked twice – it is a light cheese – most recipes in which you use cream cheese you can use ricotta instead and it is much lighter)
la no-ce mo-sca-ta (nutmeg)
la lat-tu-ga
l'in-sa-la-ta ro-ma-na
il po-mo-do-ri-no
l'a-ce-to bal-sa-mi-co

2- Solve and print: http://www.education.vic.gov.au/languagesonline/italian/sect27/no_04/no_04.htm

3- Record yourself talking about your giornata tipica.

Lezione numero cinque (part 1/2): la festa della donna

For the videos of this class click here.

Oggi è giovedì otto marzo duemiladodici (8/3/2012). È un giorno importante, è la festa della donna!!!! (lit. woman’celebration ->International Women’s Day). L'otto marzo è (is) a day to honor all the women and to remind ourselves of the continued awareness and action required to ensure equality in every aspect in life. La festa della donna is recognized in many countries (more details here), including the US, but it is not very popular here; I find it ironic. Living in Cambridge, I had the opportunity to appreciate how much more fair the working conditions are here than in Italy. Moreover, all the institutions in the US are discussing and working actively to reach a more complete and real equality. Yet in this same country nobody today told me Auguri! (=lit. wishes! -> Felicitations!). Buona festa della donna!!! (lit. good celebration of the woman ->Happy women’s day). Buffo, funny.

Anyway, at school in Italy we learn that the origin of this day is rooted in two events that happened outside Italy:

1- L’8 marzo 1857 (milleottocentocinquantasette) uno sciopero (a strike, very important word if you travel in Italia!!) by garment workers in NY lead to the formation of the first women’s union in the US. Some historians say that this sciopero never happened! What is true? Non lo so.

2- L’8 marzo 1917 - millenovecentodiciassette (il 23 febbraio according to the Julian calendar) Russian women started a sciopero in St Petersburg, per il pane e per la pace (for bread and peace).

L’8 marzo was declared woman’s day in Italy in 1945 and on this day men and women bring to women in their lives a traditional gift: a small branch of mimosa (acacia dealbata – native to Australia). The mimosa is a reminder of the constant struggle for equality, justice, peace and development. On a more trivial level, the bright yellow and the sweet smell of mimosas are telling us that spring arrived. Ah! Mi mancano le mimose (lit. mimosas are missing to me-> I miss mimosas).


Esercizio: read (leggi) listen (ascolta) and repeat (e ripeti)

Ascolta e ripeti

Oggi è giovedì otto marzo duemiladodici

Oggi è un giorno importante, è la festa della donna!!!!

Auguri! (=lit. wishes! -> Felicitations!We use it in every happy occasion/celebration)

Buona festa della donna!!! (lit. good celebration of the woman ->Happy women’s day)

1857 (milleottocentocinquantasette)

1917 ( millenovecentodiciassette)

il 23 febbraio

Mi mancano le mimose (lit. mimosas are missing to me-> I miss mimosas).

Mi manca il cappuccino (lit. cappuccino is missing to me-> I miss cappuccino).

Now you can relax and listen to a couple of popular Italian songs about women!


Donne, di (lit. of->by) Zucchero Fornaciari (Festival di San Remo 1985)



Una donna per amico (=a woman as a friend), di Lucio Battisti (1978):