Articles by: Giulia Madron

“Because taking a dump doesn’t mean you have to be one.” With this motto AirWC is becoming a real hit all over the internet, presenting itself, with a very funny video, as the Airbnb for private toilets. A gag, of course. But let’s face it. If it was real, we have to admit that would save many people’s “private emergencies”!

Let’s say that you are walking around New York and suddenly you “feel” you are in desperate need of a toilet. First, you look for a Starbucks, whose bathroom is the hope of many tourists. However, when you really need it, there is always a line that seems to circumnavigate the globe.

With the AirWC App your life would be so much easier. Indeed, you can sign in, locate the closest toilets to you can book 15-minute session for just $4.00. If you need more that 15 minutes (we don’t wanna know!), the difference in price could be paid on location. Moreover, to be sure you have the service and the toilet you are looking for, you can check out the reviews left by previous users. For more demanding guests, the app offers also AirWC Premium which entails that bathroom hosts also tender moral and physical support.

The concept of such funny video was created by the Italian production company Combocut, which in 2013 released the Italian version of the video. This year, it was brought to the United States by TheCreativeShake, a New York City based creative agency. The two companies partnered up and shot the ad in NYC.

Now the question that comes natural is: will it be launched on the market? We’ll definitely keep you posted!

In the meantime, enjoy the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ3WsO01598&feature=youtu.be

For more information go to www.airwc-app.com.

Did you think you could ever eat and enjoy international food for 3 days in a row with no interruption? Maybe not. But that was before you attended the New York Summer Fancy Food!

It ended yesterday, July 1st, the 60th edition of one of the most important international fairs in North America dedicated exclusively to food. The Javits Center accomodated 2.600 exhibitors -1.600 Americans, all the others Internationals- who offered the many visitors and buyers the opportunity to discover delicious products that make their country unique.

Italy was the real protagonist of the Summer Fancy Food 2014, with more than 350 participations who confirmed just one thing: when it comes to food, Italians do it better!

This year, we not only witnessed the participation of big Italian companies, already established within the US market, but we also noticed the presence of many other smaller ones (even start-ups!) which give us hope in terms of business development and in terms of the magical moment that the Made in Italy is experiencing all around the world.

We would like to share with you some curiosities and new products we found (and of course, tried!) while going around the Italian pavilion.

A very original idea comes from the brand “Chinotto Nella Rete,” a network of 5 companies (Abaton Concept Store Nicchia di Savona, Agriturismo Le Giaire di Calizzano, Il Chinotto di Lurisia, Luana Fornaro azienda agricola di Quiliano, Sensu di Alessio Pamparino di Finale Ligure) with the same mission: promote on a global scale the chinotto, this typical citrus of Savona,Liguria, known also for its various characteristics which allow multiple uses of this fruit. Besides the delicious drinks, liquors and other spirits made with chinotto, this year the “Chinotto Nella Rete” launched some very interesting products which gives to the customer a real sensorial experience. For instance, the line of perfumes made out of the citrus. The “Chinotto Flower Perfume” is a fresh, elegant and sweet fragrance that will take you on a journey through the history of Savona wrapping you with a delicate perfume of fresh green and citrus notes.

Another product that captured our attention was “Guappa” by the Antica Distilleria Petrone. Guappa is the only Italian cream liquor in the world made with buffalo milk of the Campania region and 3 year aged brandy. The company, which has always been rooted within its traditions, decided to give a touch of innovation and introduce this flavorful liquor taking advantage of the unique taste of the buffalo milk, the great resource of its territory. The name “Guappa” comes from the tradition, typical of the buffalo farmers, of giving a name to each animal. The tradition narrates that there was buffalo cow named “Guappa” from the Spanish “Guapa,” which means “beautiful,” who made everyone jealous because of the great quantity of milk she produced and that, during winter, the farmers would mix with alcoholic spirits in order to get warm. “Guappa” by the Antica Distilleria Petrone is a liquor of unique and refine taste you must try!

And for those who do not have a lot of time to cook, here a ready to eat salad, "E' Pronto," made with hulled wheat and vegetables by Luzi Fior di Pietra that you can find at “BuonItalia” inside the Chelsea market, in the heart of Manhattan. The brand launched a line of various products that take advantage of the natural characteristics of cereals and other legumes that are perfect for a diet low in fat and rich in proteins, vitamins, potassium and iron.
Besides the many products produced out of this cereal, of very high digestibility, the spelt salad “ready to go” brings together delicious taste, healthy nutrition and, above all, a great practicality. What’s also curious about this product? Well, it can last 6 months on the shelves of your kitchen. So start stocking up on it!

Moreover, we met a very nice young lady, from Campania, who just started her own business of tomatoes sauces. The name of the brand? “Italianavera” (RealItalian). The name of its creator? Diana Attianese, a woman under 30 with a great passion for food and especially for tomatoes. “Italianavera” was born with the intention of combining a family tradition with an innovative vision of what Italian food represents. In other words, Diana brings together not only the simplicity of the Italian food using very natural ingredients, but also some creativity and design to her products which will guarantee a unique dining experience. Indeed, besides the deliciousness of the sauces, its packaging is very original and innovative. A pleasure for the palate and for the eyes!

Let’s talk sweet now. We want to talk about sugar. This year, at the Fancy Food we found something very interesting: mint sugar. The brand that created it, Essenzialmenta, specializes in products using the mint of Pancalieri, in the Piedmont region, known as the Italian capital of mint. This year they came out with the first mint sugar in the world combining the freshness of mint with the sweetness of sugar. This sugar it’s perfect for the summer. You add it to your water, coffee, milk, tea, juices or cocktails.

Furthermore, we found another company from Treviso, Veneto, that just entered the market. Philipp Breitenberg is a young entrepreneur with a huge passion for organic farming. He and his brother, Manuel, founded the brand “Kiwiny” which offers very genuine products, using only organic kiwis (mixed also with other fruits), that take advantage of the great nutritional benefits of these fruits. The product line includes smoothies, jams and many other juices that allow you to take care of your health without renouncing to taste. A charge of green energy that will make your day.

These are only some of the things we discovered among the all amazing products that were presented at the Summer Fancy Food 2014...just a taste, but all “Made in Italy.”

As Italians we must say we are disappointed and angry because of this failure. So we think it’s useless to comment on how we played, telling you who scored or about Suarez biting Chiellini. Instead we are going to tell you how the i-Italy editorial team and collaborators reacted to the game.

Some of us went to see the game at Ribalta Ristorante some others saw the game at home or in some other bar around the city.

According to our Editor in Chief Letizia Airos who saw the game together with our collaborators Antonella Villa and Alessandra Rotondi, at Ribalta the atmosphere was really tense.

People got really angry after the referee threw Marchisio out of the game and also after Suarez’s bite to Chiellini. Chef Pasquale Cozzolino was so nervous that he decided let off steam by making more pizzas than needed.

Alessandra Rotondi, who went to the bathroom and came back in the exact moment Uruguay marked the point, decided she will never go to the bathroom again during a soccer game. However being propitiatory wouldn’t have helped Italy this time, even though hope kept Italians on the razor’s edge until the end.

Despite anger and disappointment because we were hit in our pride of being Italian, the i-Italy team's reactions to the game were really objective. We asked our boys.

“It was a very boring game,” said Giacomo Lampariello, video maker. “Italy played with no personality at all. We deserved the elimination.” He also affirmed that he was really angry not because of how Italy played but because of “how they did not play.” And in regards to Suarez’s bite to Chiellini he laughed and commented: “Oh well….Hannibal Suarez they should call him.”

Matteo Banfo, video maker, said: “One of the worse matches I have ever seen. Prandelli should have brought Giuseppe Rossi to Brazil. Now, resigning was the only thing we could do.”

And about Suarez he joked: “Well, Suarez has to learn from Mike Tyson. If you want to do something like that, at least do it better!” Matteo’s hope about Italy passing the rounds extinguished after Uruguay’s goal. “After the very first match I thought it was going to be easy for Italy. However, today I realized there was no game at all so I lost all the hopes I had in the team.”

The most angry and really disappointed was Mattia Minasi, video maker. “Awful match and very sad because we are going back home having done a really poor figure. What really made me angry was the expulsion of Marchisio and the fact that Prandelli inserted Cassano as the only offensive forward. His calculations were wrong,” said Mattia who never lost the hope until the final whistle that concluded the game and also Italy’s participation at the World Cup 2014.

Well, a very sad day for all Italians today. However, even if we are not very proud about our soccer team’s performance, we should be proud about one thing: Italian food. Yes, because today we had the confirmation that Italian food is the best in the world. Everyone appreciates it..... especially Suarez apparently.

Cesare Prandelli defined it “the most difficult match of the round” and he was right. In Recife, Italy lost in an embarassing way against Costa Rica. The only thing in which the Azzurri beated the players of the “pura vida” was in the number of offsides, 11 to be precise.

Since the first half of the match it was quite evident that things did not work out well and starting with a 4-1-4-1 formation was not a great idea apparently.

Wrong changes. Cesare Prandelli broke down the right corridor that worked well against England leaving too much exposed the area left to Abate, who was a weak help to the team.

No game in the halfback. Prandelli saw in Thiago Motta a player who could make a difference. But he didn’t and instead he just slowered the game. Also Daniele De Rossi did an unusual disappointing performance. Not to mention Chiellini who, after a terrible performance as a fullback during the debut of Italy against England, didn’t do better in the center, losing balls easily ripped off by Costa Rica. Only Andrea Pirlo “turned on the light” with some dangerous kicks that made us hold our breath for a few seconds.

What happened to Super Mario? Mario Balotelli seamed to have his mind somewhere else, wasting a few opportunities of marking the so hoped goal. Too many errors for the champion who first got wrong an easy lob and then he saw one of his powerful kicks being stopped by Navas.

The mystery of the penalty. A penalty for Costa Rica caused by Chiellini was not whistled. But there was. The Italian player, after losing the ball, makes a foul against Campbell.

Costa Rica’s goal. Italy was sleeping and Costa Rica didn’t waste its time to mark a goal (42’) and had its revenge. With an almost non existing Italian defense, Diaz crossed the ball to Ruiz who marked the victory point.

During the second half of the game, Prandelli changes the formation: 4-2-3-1 this time, adding Cassano, Insigne and Cerci to the “salad” but leaving alone Balotelli who did not find the miracle.

Italy tries to recover the match. A right kick from Darmian makes everyone hope but unfortunately there was no positive result.

No shots for Italy. The Azzurri of Prandelli continued to pass the ball to each other without creating any conclusive actions.

The “Azzurri” failed during a match that could have been an easy one. Prandelli did not interpreted well the game but hope is the last to die, they say. Now Italy doesn’t have to lose against Uruguay next Tuesday in Natal. The match will be crucial for the “Azzurri”. They need a draw. But if the National Italian team is the same one we just saw in Recife, the day after they will be on a plane off to Italy.