IACC – Miami > Blog Archives

RENOWNED INTERNATIONAL ITALIAN FASHION SCHOOL, ANNOUNCES FIRST U.S. CAMPUS TO OPEN IN MIAMI’S DESIGN DISTRICT, by ISTITUTO MARANGONI

Istituto Marangoni, the leading Italian fashion, art and design school, announces the Group expansion into the Americas with the opening of the first US School in Miami’s Design District, the 10th in the world.

Istituto Marangoni was founded in 1935 in Milan and has more than 80 years of history and success in training the top professionals of Fashion and Design. Istituto Marangoni can praise itself for the education of four generations of students from 5 continents and for having launched over 45,000 professionals in fashion and luxury fields. It currently educates 4,000 students per year from 107 countries at its schools, located in Milano (the School of Fashion and the School of Design), Firenze (School of Fashion & Art), Paris, London, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Mumbai and Miami, the international capitals of fashion, design and luxury.

The prestigious school will now deliver the bran’s proven and unparalleled education model to top students throughout the US and Latin America.

The institution consistently plays a key role in shaping global fashion trends and holds the merit of creating some of the biggest names in the industry, including Domenico Dolce, Franco Moschino, Alessandro Sartori (Zegna Group Creative Director), Paula Cademartori, Julie de Libran (Artistic Director of Sonia Rykiel), Rocco Iannone (Creative Director of Pal Zileri), Maurizio Pecoraro brand owner and Istituto Marangon’s International Fashion Chair), and more.

Hakan Baykam, president of the new School, has identified the unique opportunity in Miami to pioneer a new fashion hub. As the visionary behind the expansion, he is building an impressive Istituto Marangoni Advisory Board in the Americas that consists of names like Esteban Cortazar, Craig Robins, Carlo ‘Amario, Oscar Feldenkreis, Karla Martinez, Milan Vukmirovic, Paula Cademartori and more. He is also curating a highprofile team of leaders for the new campus, which includes Massimo Casagrande (who is an Istituto Marangoni alumnus, founder of his own menswear label and former Versace designer) as Director of Education and Pablo Arbelaez as School Director.

” We were looking to create a new global fashion destination and selected Miami for its existing international allure and for its need for a firmly established fashion school. The city’s rapid growth in the design and art categories coupled with its accessibility to Latin America made it the perfect choice for us.”, said Baykam.

The Miami School will feature impressive course offerings beginning with short courses in winter of 2018.

IACC – Miami > Blog Archives

The Extraordinary Italian Taste – Pizza Night

EVENT: The Extraordinary Italian Taste – Pizza Night

Date: November 15^th, 2017 (from 6.00 PM to 10 PM )

Location: Palm 93 Villa – Palm Island – Miami Beach

Event Description:

Organized in the amazing setting of Palm 93 Villa, the event will consist in the participation of 6 Pizzerie that will showcase their chefs professionalism with great exhibitions throughout the night. Each chef will be preparing the pizza, following regional recipes and peculiarities. At the end of it will be given the award to the most “Innovative” pizza (experts jury) and to the most “Extraordinary” (public vote). For that occasion the Chamber will rent mobile pizza ovens.

Main target of the event will be food bloggers and journalists (influencers), hospitality industry professionals, and selected local consumers (foodies).

Over the night, there will also be other 2 moments to celebrate the Made in Italy culinary excellence.

The President of the Chamber will confer the Marchio Ospitalita’ Italiana award upon new local restaurants, preventively selected for their outstanding service and ability to give to their clients a real Italian experience.

The Marchio Ospitalita` Italiana seal will be given to 5 new restaurants that will be added to the already awarded 40 restaurants of the previous years. These new restaurants are: Forte dei Marmi, La Moderna, O’Munaciello, U’Mast, Zucca.

Simultaneously, it will be presented the preview of the Chamber’s Magazine “.it Italian Trade” dedicated for this year entirely to the Food & Wine industry.

It is expected a participation of about 200 influencers and foodies.

The night will be promoted by personalized invitations and a social campaign to specific professionals in the Food & Beverage.

Partners:

6 Italian Restaurants / Pizzerie that will participate with their Pizza Chef at the Pizza Night event: Farinelli 1937, Fratelli la Bufala, O Munaciello, Pummarola, Riviera Focacceria Italiana, Spris.

The night will be held in the framework of the II Week of the Italian Cuisine in the World promoted by the Italian Government and will occur simultaneously in other 8 big cities of North America (New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, etc.) with the operative organization of the Italian Chambers of Commerce.

Guest Star/ Event Presenter: Doreen Colondres, a well-known blogger (www.lacocinanomuerde.com) and TV personality will be presenting the night and the participant pizzerias.

Thanks to the sponsors of the event:

Biancotaste www.biancotaste.com

MB America www.mbamerica.net

Gelateria Veneta www.venetagelateria.it

Bread Stone Ovens, LLC breadstoneovens.com

Stefano Versace Gelato www.stefanoversacegelato.com

Italy Wines & Food Distributor www.worldwineandfood.com

Gra’it www.graitgrappa.com

Bramante birra_bramante

Watch here the Pizza Night video recap

IACC – Miami > Blog Archives

II Settimana della Cucina Italiana nel Mondo

An initiative from the Consulate General of Italy and Accademia della Cucina Italiana with 13 participant Italian restaurants with special regional menu at a fixed price.

Please, refer to the website of each restaurant for more information. Participating restaurants are: Via Verdi (Miami), Toscana Divino (Miami), Salumeria 104 (Miami), Strada in the Grove (Miami), Ironside Kitchen&Pizza (Miami), Due Baci (Miami), Riviera Focacceria Italiana (Miami), La Locanda (Miami), Spris Pizzeria-Midtown (Miami), Mercato della Pescheria (Miami), Spris Pizzeria- South Miami (Miami), Gol Italian Restaurant (Miami), Ristorante Bergamo (Greenville, South Carolina).

IACC – Miami > Blog Archives

SEMINAR: “TRADE AND LOGISTICS SOLUTIONS FOR ITALIAN SMES”

“Trade and Logistic solutions for Italian SMEs” is the title of the workshop, organized by the IACC, that will take place on Wednesday October 11, 2017 at One Biscayne Tower, 2 S. Biscayne Boulevard, Miami 33131, suite 3200.

The panel discussion will take into examination issues such as how to implement a cost-effective logistics and distribution strategy in the US market and how to plan the exportation of Italian products efficiently. The last part of the seminar will focus on US customs rules and regulations compliance. A networking cocktail will follow.

IACC regards the seminar as a productive opportunity to deepen relevant topics of general interest and as a productive occasion to network with an audience of high-profile Italian-US entrepreneurs.

The confirmed speakers of the event are three industry experts from the following companies: “A Customs Brokerage”, “Logistic One Group” and “Diaz Trade Law”.

Moreover, we will have the pleasure to host as guest speaker Ms. Lesa Forbes from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Seats are limited. In order to register send an e-mail to rsvp@iaccse.com within Friday, October 6.

Advanced registration is mandatory and free of charge.

The program of the event is available here:

http://www.iaccse.com/seminar-trade-and-logistics-solutions-for-italian-smes/

IACC – Miami > Blog Archives

Seminar: “Trade and Logistics solutions for Italian SMEs”

IACC – Miami > Blog Archives

IACC Truffle Dinner at Toscana Divino | Wednesday, October 4, 2017

IACC – Miami > Blog Archives

POST-HURRICANE IRMA ASSISTANCE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

We hope you, your family and your employees are safe. Like most of you, we have been recovering from the impact of Hurricane Irma on Florida and we have still some issues with power, internet and phone connections.

For the benefit of our community, the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce Southeast is glad to share updated information on Irma-related resources.

SBA Disaster Assistance

• Businesses in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and several other counties are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for damages from Hurricane Irma.

• Businesses and private nonprofit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

• Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase up to 20 percent of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA for mitigation purposes.

• Loans are also available for businesses that did not receive physical damage but were economically impacted due to the disaster.

• Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible up to $40,000 to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed personal property.

• Interest rates are as low as 3.305 percent for businesses and 2.5 percent for nonprofit organizations, 1.75 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

• More information is available at: https://www.sba.gov/disaster-assistance

• Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via the SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela

Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program

• Businesses in Miami-Dade County are also eligible for assistance from the Florida bridge loan program for physical or economic impact from Hurricane Irma.

• These short-term, interest-free working capital loans are intended to “bridge the gap” between the time a major catastrophe hits and when a business has secured longer term recovery resources, such as sufficient profits from a revived business, receipt of payments on insurance claims, or Federal disaster assistance.

• Loan amounts can be from $1,000 to $25,000. The loan term is 90 or 180 days based on individual business circumstances. Loans will be interest-free for the loan term but must be repaid in full by the end of the loan term or penalties apply.

• Applications will be accepted through October 31, 2017 contingent on the availability of funds.

• More information can be reviewed here: http://www.floridadisasterloan.org/

State of Florida Business Damage Assessment

• The State of Florida has initiated a survey which will help determine the physical and economic impact to businesses from Hurricane Irma.

• This survey is now live. If your business has been impacted by Irma, we encourage you to fill out the survey. This will assist State/Local authorities in determining the scope of impact and what type, if any, of additional financial assistance to provide to businesses.

• The survey is available in English, Spanish, and Creole.

• The English version is available online here: http://www.flvbeoc.org/index.php?action=bda

• Si usted prefiere completar la encuesta en español, esta disponible aquí: http://www.flvbeoc.org/index.php?action=bda&lang=sp

Other Business Resources

• Miami-Dade County Emergency Information – You can view information on transit, curfews and other emergency information here: http://www.miamidade.gov/emergency/

• Floridadisaster.org/info – This is the website for the State of Florida and the Office of Emergency Management. Here you can view press releases, review activated programs, and receive other Irma-related emergency information. The website is here: http://www.floridadisaster.org/info/

• Disasterassistance.gov – This is the general disaster assistance website from the Federal Government. You can view your eligibility based upon location and determine available programs. The website is available here: https://www.disasterassistance.gov/

• Florida Short-Term Compensation – The Short Time Compensation Program is a voluntary employer program designed to help employers maintain their staff by reducing the weekly working hours during temporary slowdowns instead of temporarily laying off employees. More information here: http://www.floridajobs.org/office-directory/division-of-workforce-services/reemployment-assistance-programs/short-time-compensation-program-for-employees

IACC – Miami > Blog Archives

New edition of Marchio Ospitalita’ Italiana

What is it about?

Italian cuisine has always been an important instrument to promote the Italian image abroad, fostering not only the knowledge of Italian products but also of Italian economy and culture all over the world.

As a matter of fact, the Italian cuisine is very much appreciated by Americans and local restaurants serving Italian dishes are often preferred destinations for a fine dining experience.

Therefore, restaurants have a significant role to play in this promotional exercise, that is why it is crucial that those who serve traditional Italian gastronomy can be easily recognized.

For this purpose, Unioncamere and the Italian Government have constituted the certification “Ospitalità Italiana – Ristoranti Italiani nel Mondo” – a seal of quality, to be conferred on Italian restaurants around the world.

The Italy-America Chamber of Commerce Southeast (IACCSE) is the body in charge of the selection of local restaurants serving authentic Italian cuisine in the Southeast of the United States and Puerto Rico.

It is the Chamber’s duty and pleasure to enhance the participation of potential candidates who are eligible to acquire the certification and the “Premio Ristoranti Italiani nel Mondo” which is bestowed upon the best Italian restaurants annually.

In the course of the last 5 editions, about two thousands of Italian restaurants have been certified all over the world.

Objectives

To develop and promote the traditions of Italian food products and upgrade the culture of Italian food and wine;
To enhance the image of Italian restaurants abroad that guarantee respect of the quality standards of Italian hospitality;
To create an international network, providing for the realization of promotional events of Italian productive excellence.

Benefits for your restaurants

Listed on the Marchio Ospitalita’ Italiana International website (www.10q.it);
Listed on IACC website (more than 1500 visitors every month);
Place the award outside your restaurant
No cost

Pictures from the Marchio Ospitalita’ Italiana edition in 2012

Pictures of Marchio Ospitalita’ Italiana award ceremony in 2013

Pictures of Marchio Ospitalita’ Italiana award ceremony in 2014

Pictures of Marchio Ospitalita’ Italiana award ceremony in 2015

Pictures of Marchio Ospitalita’ Italiana award ceremony in 2016

Requirements for certification

The criteria for the evaluation of Italian restaurants abroad, for the purpose of granting the brand “Italian Hospitality, Italian Restaurants around the World,” are collected in a specific Technical Guideline, which consists of 10 rules, and is valid at the international level:

Identity
Italian distinctiveness
Menu
Gourmet offer
Recipes
Wine list
Extra virgin olive oil
Italian cuisine experience and competence
Promotion of products of protected origin
Food and wine products having DOP and IGP designations

Winners

After a meticulous selection process, initial screenings and fulfillment of admission requirements by various restaurants, the following Italian restaurants in South Florida and Puerto Rico have been awarded with the Marchio Ospitalia’ Italiana (in alphabetical order):

2011 – 2012 Winners:

Arturo’s Ristorante Italiano (Boca Raton)
Caffe’ Abbracci (Coral Gables)
Caffe’ Milano (Ocean Drive)
Fratelli Milano (Miami)
Mancini’s Ristorante (Fort Lauderdale)
Mai Tardi (Miami)
Saporissimo (Boca Raton)
Soya & Pomodoro (Miami)
Tiramesu’ (Miami Beach)

2012 – 2013 Winners:

Bellini Italian Bistro (Weston)
Cibo Wine Bar (Coral Gables)
deiFrescobaldi (Miami Beach)
Escopazzo (Miami Beach)
Il Bolognese (Miami Beach)
La Locanda (Miami Beach)
Locanda Sibilla (Miami Beach)
Quattro – Gastronomia Italiana (Miami Beach)
Salumeria 104 (Miami)
Sardinia (Miami Beach)
Sorrisi (Coconut Creek)

2013 – 2014 Winners:

Adriatico Trattoria (Orlando)
Amami (Miami Beach)
Bianca at Delano (Miami Beach)
Bocce Bar (Miami)
La Spiga (Miami Beach)
Ni. Do. (Miami)
Pappa & Ciccia (Miami Beach)
Petit (Miami Beach)
Piccola Cucina (Miami Beach)
Primo Trattoria Italiana (North Miami)
Puntino dal Toro (Miami Beach)
Puntino Key Biscayne (Key Biscayne)
Sylvano (Miami Beach)
Toscana Divino (Miami)
Via Verdi (Miami)

2014 – 2015 Winners:

Big Fish Restaurant (Miami)
Casa Tua (Miami Beach)
Cibo Wine Bar South Beach (Miami Beach)
Dolce Italian (Miami Beach)
Farfalle – Fine Italian Restaurant (Miami)
La Bottega (Coconut Grove)
L’Osteria (San Juan)
Ristorante Casa Italia (San Juan)
Riviera Focacceria Italiana (Miami)
Strada in the Grove (Coconut Grove)
Vero Italian (Miami)
Via Emilia 9 (Miami Beach)

2015 – 2016 Winners:

Antica Mare (Miami)
Baraonda (Atlanta)
Bologna Caffe (Ospery/ Sarasota)
Cibo Wine Bar Ft. Lauderdale (Fort Lauderdale)
Farinelli 1937 (Coconut Grove)
Il Forno (Doral)
Limoncello Italian Restaurant Bar & Lounge (Aventura)
Sette Bello (Fort Lauderdale)
Tamarina Restaurant & Bar (Miami)
Vino & Tigelle (Miami)
Zona Blu (Weston)
Al Dente Ristorante (San Juan – Puerto Rico)
Il Nuovo Mercato (San Juan – Puerto Rico)
La Cucina di Ivo (San Juan – Puerto Rico)

2016 – 2017 Winners:

Forte dei Marmi (Miami Beach)
La Moderna (Miami Beach)
O’ Munaciello (Miami)
U’ Mast (Miami)
Zucca (Coral Gables)

How to apply

Fill out two application forms
Provide 20-30 pictures of your restaurant, menu, kitchen, label of Italian products used to cook
Being able to host a Chamber officer that will check the satisfaction of all the requirements

The award ceremony will take place on November 20, when the Consul General of Italy and the President of the Chamber of Commerce will consign the golden plaques to the owners and chefs of the certified restaurants that can be showcased at the entrance of your restaurant.

For further information and to receive this official recognition from the Italian Government for the next edition of Marchio Ospitalita’, please contact Ms. Nora Serrani at info@iacc-miami.com

IACC – Miami > Blog Archives

Van Berkel International Srl acquires OMAS SpA

With the recent acquisition of OMAS SpA, Van Berkel International Srl, part of Rovagnati Group, continues its growth and commitment as the most prestigious company in the world for high-quality food slicers and processing equipment.

Van Berkel International Srl operates two production plants, in Italy (Albizzate) and India (Chennai), and a knife production centre in Maniago (Pordenone), with approximately seventy employees in total.

Founded in 1949, OMAS SpA has two production sites in Italy, both in the province of Varese, one for food slicers and processing equipment (Oggiona S. Stefano) and the other an aluminium foundry (Besnate), employing a total of 83 employees.

Already a market leader in 1898, when the well-known BERKEL brand was conceived, Van Berkel International Group offers its customers top end food slicers (professional and domestic) as well as a wide range of food processing equipment.

Giuliano Reas, General Manager of Van Berkel International Group, explains, “the purpose of the acquisition is to leverage the scope of both brands to consolidate Van Berkel International’s leadership in the high-end slicer segment. If Berkel is recognized throughout the world for making slicers a symbol of excellence and tradition in history, OMAS founded its brand based on the same principles and thus has affirmed itself over the years due to the high quality of its machines and the deep penetration in foreign markets”.

Therefore, the business plan envisages an expansion of the product offerings and penetration of new markets. Reas continues by saying, “we want to grow in the United States, where we opened a new branch in Miami last year, and in India, where we invested in a new and improved production site that, in the last two years, has increased the production volume of over 10,000 units/year, about half of the Group’s total production; the rest will be manufactured in the Italian plants.”

IACC – Miami > Blog Archives

Orsoni at Venice Biennale, By Trend Group

Orsoni is a historical Venetian furnace that uses the same traits since 1888 to produce 24K gold leaf mosaics and enamels in more than 3,500 colors. While it is a traditional Italian company, rather than relying on the past, Orsoni focuses on innovation. The company seeks to convey emotions through its uniqueness and attention to detail, all firmly rooted in its passion for excellence.

Orsoni’s “color library“, is a timeless environment that preserves almost 3,500 enamels of different tones and shades from which was born the famous panel by Angelo Orsoni. This piece of art was displayed for the first time at the Universal Exhibition in Paris back in 1889, where Antonio Gaudí, the Spanish architect, was amazed with its beauty. Since then, Gaudí decided to use Orsoni mosaics in the construction of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain.

Orsoni is involved with the realization of several iconic buildings and projects such as: Trocadero and Le Sacre-Coeur in Paris, Saint Paul Cathedral in London, Rudolph Nureyev’s tomb in Paris, Norman Rockwell’s Golden Rule recreated in mosaics and many other masterpieces of Arabic and Oriental architecture.

During Milan Design Week 2017 the company introduced a world premiere -Fascino by Orsoni™- and revolutionized the surfaces industry by being the first company to launch a surface with real micro diamonds.

Orsoni will be one of the historic companies in the Venice Biennale (May 13th – November 11th, 2017), which the Pavilion Venezia will host as evidence of handcrafted Venetian artistic excellence.

In 2003, TREND Group, the world’s leading full-body glass mosaic, gold mosaic and Venetian enamel designer and producer, incorporated Orsoni and demonstrated a unique ability to synthesize the essential principles of Italian tradition with the dynamic creativity of today’s most celebrated designers, architects and artists. This was accomplished while maintaining a commitment to environmental concerns and cultural vibrancy.