See More Worlds: wine

Showing posts with label wine. Show all posts

Saturday, 29 December 2018

Wine in China, Sex Toys, and TV!!

So.............
on television in Italy last night I turned on a program about wine in China.

I am always interested in programs regarding CHINA after many trips there and family who are connected to that country for work.

Two elegant sommelier (a lovely Chinese woman, and an Italian man) were tasting and discussing what kinds of wine sold well in China.

The SURPRISE came (shall I say SHOCK) when they ran a short video of a very wealthy businessman in China who bragged about how much he paid for various bottles of prized wine. One of his bottles is worth 50,000 dollars (!)

After showing this man surrounded by bottles, there was another surprise ...a machine transporting what I first believed to be bottles (??....they were awfully thin for bottles, they were a bit curved to be bottles....)

His statement:

"I make SEX TOYS" "I used to like sex....

but now I like wine, one changes."

NOW................RAI UNO,
Are you trying to tell me that you didn't know what was on that film?
Is money more important than a bit of class? (stupid question)

And....Mr. Wealthy Chinese Businessman....are pictures of your sex toys on an elegant film about wine, especially for Italy, supposed to help sales? (I would imagine so...otherwise, what was he trying to show that he is culturally an "all-around success in all fields"?)

The HILARIOUS thing was that immediately

after this film, the people in the studio

(the show host and his two guests)

just casually continued talking

ONLY ABOUT WINE....

and not a word about SEX!

I took this short video while watching the program....not having the faintest idea of what the ending was going to present. Here goes.......................CLICK ON THIS TITLE FOR A SHORT VIDEO

China, Wine, Sex Toys

Thursday, 18 August 2016

i Vinarelli at Torgiano, Italy where artists paint with watercolours and WINE

Each year in the beautiful town of Torgiano, not far from Perugia, Italy, there is a great event where painters paint with WINE!
It's called i Vinarelli, because in Italian watercolours is called acquarelli (done with acqua, water) but here they paint with vino so....Vinarelli!

It is great fun, lots of artists sit at a long table, actually several tables, have dinner and then paint. Any subject matter is fine. The public has fun walking around and watching, taking pictures and lots of wine is drunk that night. But mostly a lot of it is used to paint with.
Here are some photos from the evening:

My first watercolor painting with wine

and watercolours

My second piece, where grapes are escaping the group

Friend Moreno Chiacchera, well-known illustrator and cartoonist

Silvie Bèal, May of Culture of Torgiano

Thursday, 23 August 2012

Dietro le quinte (behind the scenes) at i Vinarelli

A couple of lovely women met during this year's i Vinarelli, helping to make this a very successful event at Torgiano.

Here is Sylvie Béal, the Mayor of Culture at the City Hall of Torgiano, Italy. Together with us is Pietro Crocchioni, painter and photographer.

And here is Isabella Ciotti of the Pro Loco of Torgiano....

and another fun photo of Isabella and Pietro.

Lots of painting, lots of wine and lots of smiles during the event, i Vinarelli.

I Vinarelli - a close up look

August 20, 2012 -- busy putting my drawing on watercolour paper, ready to paint with....

wine and watercolours.

To my left, friend, artist and photographer, well-known Pietro Crocchioni.

Here I am with Sylvie Béal, Mayor of Culture of Torgiano, and Pietro Crocchioni.

Getting to work with a spray gun...filled with WINE and a bit of color from my watercolours.

My first painting of the evening, swimmers with caps and glasses, each one holding a wineglass, while swimming. I was inspired by the Olympics, and the rest came with the event i Vinarelli, where everyone paints with wine and watercolours, each year during this event.

Pietro painted three pieces, I did two of them. Here I am cutting out curls that is the hair of the woman I painted, and then coloured with wine.

A very very hot evening, but passed in a fun and original way, with old friends and new ones made that evening.

Getting ready to "shoot" my painting with wine!

Here is Pietro at work, being filmed, while another painter, Stefania, looks on, and also Emanuele Ferlicca of Perla Arredamenti, Assisi.

And then, my turn....

Here I am working on my second painting, the first one is drying.

Here is the long table where 80 artists painted, and altogether I believe that we were 150 people to have dinner.
Quite an event, fun, and although warm, a very good turnout.
The Vinarelli continue this week and the last day is the 25th of August. Still time to come around and see the artshows, and enjoy the lovely town of Torgiano. See you here tonight, I will be there!

Tuesday, 21 August 2012

i Vinarelli a Torgiano

The event i Vinarelli took place on August 20th.

Here is one of my two paintings I did with watercolours, and WINE!

More news and photos to come....

Monday, 20 August 2012

tonight...i Vinarelli!!

Why is tonight so special?
Well, when is it that you see about 100 people seated at long tables in the middle of a small town, painting with watercolours and W I N E!!!???
TONIGHT!

I'll be there together with many many artists, painting all sorts of different subject matter, BUT using wine instead of water.

First we will all share a delicious Umbrian meal, THEN we start painting.

Have to rest up now, as well as get my materials ready for this evening. Should be fun, have done it other years, and always amusing as well as interesting.

See you later, with photos of course. This photo was taken in 2003 during i Vinarelli.

Sunday, 12 August 2012

i Vinarelli at Torgiano

Coming up, on August 20 at Torgiano

i Vinarelli

that is.............painting with W I N E !!!

At torgiano, about 25 minutes from Perugia, a very interesting event is now going on with many cultural events, as well as an amazing outdoor restaurant, where the food consists of Umbrian cooking, and of top ingredients (from the oil they produce in this area, to the best of meats, etc).

"Agosto a Torgiano" hosts many art exhibitions, music, and lots of different things to do such as visit the oil and wine museum on certain nights and then on August 20..................the very popular, fun, amusing and original i VINARELLI....when artists (including myself) will paint with

W I N E!!!

Here is the video made to promote Umbrian events in 2003 where I am being interviewed while painting.

http://stephanieseymour-delishoes.blogspot.it/2011/06/painting-with-wine-in-italy-and-my.html

And here is another video of i Vinarelli.

http://www.youtube.com/v/Ra4PLOt_jcE&fs=1&source=uds&autoplay=1

Alvaro Palanga interviewing me at i Vinarelli 2003

Together with artist friends Luciana Bartella, Umberto Raponi, e Ricchetti

My first experience with this event was in 2003, when I painted at a long table with lots of other artists, after having a delicious Umbrian meal, and drinking lots of good wine. We sat outside while people walked around curiously looking at our paintings, watching us at work, and enjoying the uniqueness of seeing artists drink from one glass, and use another glass instead of water, diluting their watercolors with wine!!!

Here are a couple of photos from 2003 when I was stopped and interviewed by Alvaro Palanga. The video then was used as a promotional piece for Umbria, "Umbria Emotions" showing the different cultural events that go on in Umbria.

Tuesday, 17 August 2010

i Vinarelli di Torgiano - painting with wine at Torgiano

Last night at Torgiano in Umbria, dozens of artists painted with watercolours and wine, after a pleasant dinner together at a long table in the center of Torgiano, beautiful town about 15 minutes from Perugia.
Old friends came to walk and admire the work of artists, who painted in various styles. The painting started at almost 10pm and went until about 1am.

Ieri sera a Torgiano in Umbria, dozzine di artisti hanno dipinto con acquarelli e vino, dopo una buona cena offerta dal Comune di Torgiano. Eravamo ad una tavola lunghissima al centro di Torgiano, una cittadina bella circa 15 minuti da Perugia.
Vecchi amici sono venuti per ammirare le opere degli artisti che dipingevano in vari stili. Il tutto è comminciato intorno alle ore 22 fino a circa l'una di notte.

Saturday, 14 August 2010

iVinarelli - dipingere con il vino - painting with wine

Lunedì a Torgiano ci sarà il popolare evento i Vinarelli, alle ore 19.30. Quest'anno ci sono anch'io, insieme a tanti artisti, tutti a dipingere con acquarelli, ma ad utilizzare il vino invece di acqua.

Monday at 7.30 pm I will be at Torgiano at the popular event i Vinarelli, where all artists will paint with watercolours and dilute their colours with wine.

HOW TO SPEAK ITALIAN...in 60 seconds

Cavolo...means cabbage BUT you can use it when you want to say WOW!
Non so. So simple, and it means, I don't know. The word no, is no (easy) AND the word so comes from the verb sapere which is to know. So is used for I.....io so, I know. But in this case it is so simple...forget the I, and just say NON SO. Everyone will know what you mean, that is that you don't know!!
Raffreddore -- it means, a COLD. Like a fever, a cough, like what I feel I may be coming down with right now. If I want to say that I have a cold, I say "Sono raffreddata". That translates that I have (or I am) with a cold. You can also say "Ho un raffreddore" which means, I have a cold. Anyway you look at it, you will have to stay in bed or around the house, until you become....guarito or guarita, which means that you are cured!
IMPEGNATA!!! That is what I have been lately. BUSY! Lots of IMPEGNI (appointments, things to do, tasks, chores, you name it!) Actually I should say IMPEGNATISSIMA....meaning very very busy. And to tell you the truth, that is exactly how I like my life!
Per favore.....it is a nice way of asking someone "please" do this or that, or take one, or asking a favor. BUT you can also use it with hands wide and saying PLEASE!!! Stop it! Don't! Be quiet! It is all in the way you say it, and your body language. PLEASE!!!!!
Lo.......this is used when you have a noun like Spagnolo.....you see, this word means a Spanish man. Lo is used because the word starts with sp and you have to use lo rather than il, probably because it makes it easier to pronounce the two sounds....lo with sp rather than il and then sp lo sp, not il sp......When, on the other hand you need to use plural, that is Spagnoli, you must change the lo to gli and then say gli spagnoli. Oh my, this is difficult even for me. Signing off now, will be back with an easier lesson next time.
If you know Spanish, can it help you to know Italian?? YES!! Do I know Spanish? NO! But when I hear it, I can understand lots of it, and I am SURE it's because I know Italian.
Differente....it is easy to see what it means. But the hard part is the ORDER you put this word in. You don't want to use it like in English BUT to put it after the noun that you are calling different. Like I want a different book. Vorrei un libro differente. See, it is AFTER the noun, that is how you use adjectvies in Italian. And don't forget to say the letter E at the end....different - TAY.

Curiosities of Italian Life

VERY curious indeed, this Italian life. On the OUTSIDE it looks like people have loads of money, buying expensive iphones, cars, clothes and even eating out and spending money here and there. BUT on the inside, we are all having troubles with paying bills, hoping our children find jobs (most want to leave Italy now, lots do anyhow). So, the curious thing is that Italians look like they are having an easy time, but believe me.............
Moods........hmmmmmmm......when I am on facebook, I see the difference of the mood here in Italy and the mood in the States. There is a huge difference. People here are moody, due to the politics, especially. We just don't have the fun-loving thouughts and moods of the people in the States. Of course, I am from there, so I have a pretty happy mood most of the time. But being in the middle of complaining and low moods makes it even harder to stay up. Grrrrrrrrrr!!!
No shopping list. What do I mean? I mean, when you go to the market, you don't always need to have a shopping list....you see what looks fresh, colorful and good, and then buy what excites you. I have often had guests for dinner without really knowing what I am going to make. I see zucchini, or tomatoes, or something else and then the idea comes to me. That's how it is in Italy, the visual gives one the idea of what to do next.
City streets.....why oh why are there so many HOLES in the streets!! They just wrote about them the other day in the paper, and there are hundreds (or thousands, don't remember) of holes of all dimensions all over this city. And that means uncomfortable driving that is for sure!! Bump bump bump! The rain opens them up more and then they get bigger. They fill them up sometimes but not well enough. Another of Italy's problems, beautiful country, but we have a large share of things that need to be improved.
Politics. Read on!! In Italy, no matter what the occasion, dinner parties, tv shows, meeting people on the street, watch out, because politics and talking about them is what is in store!!! People just can't get together without talking politics. It is a BIG part of Italian life. And talking about it often can get you in trouble IF the people you are talking to think differently than you do. If they are of another viewpoint, watch out!! If you ever saw two Italians with differing views, you will know what I mean.
SNOW....will it or won't it snow? If it does, the curious thing about snow in a small town, is that everything just about STOPS all of a sudden. They are very slow in cleaning up the streets, but in a way it is nice because you can go out and walk all over the place without any cars around, and then, it is very very beautiful and quiet. So.....into bed I go and perhaps tomorrow it will SNOW!!

EATING and other things....in Italy

TOMATOES -- it is easy to talk about tomatoes in this country. And easy to eat them. They come is such a variety, the ones for sugo, the ones for salad. Ones you can cut into little pieces, or lay out flat with oregano and oil and vinegar and salt.....They are so good, they get lots of sun, and people love to use them in cooking. If you don't know how to use them, just ask an Italian mamma in the store. She for sure can tell you everything you need to know.
Good parmesan, bad parmesan. You know, here in Italy we have wonderful parmesan. It is really really delicious. I once heard that in the States they take the waxy part of the parmesan and even use that to be ground into the stuff you can buy in a box. If that is true, that is really terrible!!!! It would be like eating candles!
Lemons. Why lemons? Because you can squeeze them in water, add sugar or honey; you can squeeze it on meat or fish or salad, or use them to decorate a plate. You can use the peel for flavor in a cake, or to decorate the top of a dessert. You can even use half to put into the dishwasher and make things come out sweeter. Why lemons you ask???
Wintertime weight gain. Yes. Easy to munch on cookies, or almonds or parmesan!! Or a glass of wine and nuts, or a bruschetta! Hard to take off that one or two kili.....that means taking a walk, and today it is going to rain, so wouldn't it just be easier to stay inside, with a nice glass of hot milk and coffee and a few cookies??
JUst how sweet do you want things? In Italy, sweets are sweet but not as sweet as in England, or the States. A cake may have something on it, but not as gooey and sweet as in other places. Salt, on the other hand, is used more freely here than perhaps in the States. Foods can often be very salty, though very good too. Sugar and salt, each country has their own way of using them.
Honey.....it's the time for honey lately, because it is cold, and in the evening is a good time for camomilla tea, or some other hot drink. I like to use honey, good for the throat, and tastes so good. The hard honey is the best, easier to bend a spoon getting it out, but better for you and more "real" and usually biological, whereas the liquid might just have some sugar in it, or not be quite as natural.
Sweet potatoes. If you love American sweet potatoes, the ones they serve on Thanksgiving, be prepared to NOT find them in Italy. It is very hard to find them (actually I just heard a Chinese market has them) but the ones they have in the normal markets are white on the inside! Sweet but white! Isn't that strange!
RED WINE (vino rosso) goes with meat, and WHITE WINE (vino bianco) goes with fish. But wine is so good in Italy, especially the really good ones, any wine is fine most of the time. Room temperature (reds) and white chilled.
CELERY?? When I was a kid, we ate celery sticks all the time. With salt, without, in the lunchbox, or at home in a glass of cold water. I think I have never been served a piece of celery like this in Italy UNLESS they served it with lots of other vegetables to create a vegetable platter to dip in oil and salt, and that dish is called pinzimonio. (better check my spelling on that one, and I will let you know!)
I am going to cook when I get to L.A. BUT it won't be as good as in Italy (see my last post under curiosities of Italian life). I try the best I can BUT the ingredients just aren't the same. And the cuts of meat are different too.

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