 |
| vintage chairs at my front door |
A large US chain
of restaurants (best not to reveal which) recently discovered Vetralla’s
Cene in Cantine festival and chose
our town to film their newest commercial.
The previous locations featured
were Rome and Amalfi … so not too bad
for our small town
outside Rome. Until now Vetralla's only claims to fame were its excellent olive oil and the fact that
since 1512 it has been
under the protection of the English crown .
 |
| country style seating |
After
several pre-shoot visits by the
location finder and chief of the Italian film team, the entire troupe of about 50
people arrived in Vetralla yesterday
aboard sleek rented vans with tinted windows.
 |
| Vicolo del Sole |
There
were executives of the advertising
company in Boston, others from the main Florida
office who checked the daily film rushes. They were flanked
by an Italian crew which included
location men, camera men, scenographers,
actresses in high, high heels (dangerous on our cobblestones) and drivers of the
huge vans that invaded the flower decked historic center.
 |
| meeting the US team |
Throughout
the day they shot scenes of the town’s food and lifestyle; the grill scene in Piazza Francosone, the lunch
served in the vaulted halls of the Pro loco’s cantina which included grilled chicken and hand made pasta-but not served on the same plate as they do in these chain restaurants !
 |
| coordinating the film shoot, |
The whole
town will be anxiously awaiting to see
the outcome of the day’s film shoot. Hopefully the cameras were able to capture the atmosphere
of the medieval streets and ancient cantinas. The local people, including some photogenic
young men, participated as extras adding authenticity to the scenes.
 |
| Sitting pretty in Pza. S. Egidio |
For them it was also a way
to see their town in a new light, through
foreign eyes, and to appreciate its
humble, authentic beauty.
As night
fell, the last scenes were filmed between the city hall and the Duomo with the
actresses strolling across the piazza,
enjoying gelato and sitting on the picturesque dolphin fountains.
 |
| the film troupe in the main piazza |
When the long day of filming was over, about 10:30 pm , a hurrah went up from the troupe and
hugs and embraces were shared with new found Vetralla friends before they
loaded up the trucks and vans for the
drive back to Roman hotels and
long flights back to the States.
 |
| locals served the meals and judged the best decorations |
The commercial they were shooting in Vetralla was
to show the Italian passion for food, family and celebration of life, thus
enticing customers
to eat at their 200+ Italian themed restaurants
located in 33 different US states.
 |
| eating in the cantina of Emergency |
 |
| Pro Loco's cantina |
Wouldn’t it
be nice if Vetralla’s delicious extra virgin olive oil
would, one day, be included among the genuine Italian foods served
in these restaurants?
 |
| display of antique copper |
I recently ate at one of these places in New Hampshire but was disappointed with their food and customer service. The place was busy around 6 p.m. as customers did "take away" and completely empty by 8 p.m.
For more on the Cene in Cantine festival, use the search bar at the top of the page.
Having eaten at the original Carrabba's in Houston (in fact I was just there 2 weeks ago) since 1986 and having eaten the fare at the Bloomin' Brands (formerly known as the Outback Steakhouses)locations in the past, I must say there are significant differences between the Original versus the mass produced versions of Carrabba's, much less authentic Italian cooking.
ReplyDeleteMike Campbell wrote:
The food from the Original Carrabba's on Kirby Drive in Houston and continues to be run by Johnny Carrabba and family is very much into authentic Italian cuisine, albeit a mix of his grandmother's recipes from Sicily and other more Northern recipes. The food is phenomenal there as it has been since the place opened in 1986.
Whereas the fare at the chain locations is the typical Italian fare one can get at any Italian chain restaurant in the States, such as the Olive Garden, Buca di Beppo or the Macaroni Grill. Which is to say that they have antipasti, pasta and dolce but its Americanized for the palate of middle America.
12 hours ago via mobile · Like
Thank you Mike for your comment. I checked their menus that is why I mention the pasta with chicken.
ReplyDeleteI continue to enjoy your blog and to remember with great pleasure my all-too-brief stay in Vetralla. I especially enjoyed the recent blog about the young couple Fulvio shepherded to Etruscan sites since I had visited many on my trip (alone and in the rain, alas).
ReplyDeleteI hope to see Vetralla in the Carrabas ads. Very cool that they found their way to you.
We ate at a Carrabas once a few years ago in Asheville North Carolina where we had gone for my daughter's college graduation. I can't say that the food was anything like the meal prepared by Fulvio at your home (please give him my best regards). But for an Italian chain restaurant here in the States I would consider it well above average. Here in Philadelphia we so many fine Italian restaurants (plenty of bad ones, too) that it is not likely that I would go to a chain restaurant, and I don't know if there is one in the city
Marged L.
i lke your post and thank's for share your informaion
ReplyDeleteLast night I ate at a Carrabas restaurant in Tyngsboro MA. and enjoyed the food, but not the ambience and had to make an effort to be patient with the way customers are treated.
ReplyDeleteI know its a cultural thing, but after 50 years in Italy I found it difficult to stay in line at the door, waiting to be shown to a table, of the waitresses choice, which was a cramped booth with a very high table. I felt suffocated, and we asked to be seated at a round table instead.
I tried to take photos of the salad bar but was told that company policy forbids picture taking unless its a birthday party and photos may only be taken of the party table and participants,
No olive oil on the table, it is applied in the kitchen. Bread and dishes of olive oil for dipping are given at the beginning of the meal. Waitress very present, every 5 minutes she came by to ask if everything was allright.
The portions are very large and we two women had doggie bags to bring home half the fettuccine and half of a chicken dish. Nephew was given complimentary dessert, 2 cannoli, to bring away.
Quite an experience.