It was quite an accomplishment earlier this month when Massimo, Christine and I traveled to New York City for the Fancy Food Show.

The Fancy Food Show, held every year at the Jacob Javitts Center by the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, is the biggest event in the gourmet food business...more than 25,000 owners of shops and markets attend this important event to view new products for possible sale at their stores from more than 2,200 companies world-wide who display their newest products.

The Fancy Food Show also has an annual award competition at that time and gives out awards in twenty different categories. These awards are the equivalent of the Oscar of the food business, so in every sense, the Fancy Food Show is the "Premier Event" of the food industry.

Early in June, our Christine Leone appproached me and suggested that we enter our Valle dell'Etna Pistacchio Nut Cream into the competition. "Forget it, Christine," I said,"We'll never have a chance...all the big companies who spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in marketing and advertising have entered products...we'll never stand a chance." She persisted in her quest to enter the nut cream in the competition and after a couple of weeks of driving me crazy, I relented and gave her the ok....she was giving me a headache and I figured that would quiet her down a bit.

Chris prepared the samples and submitted the products. The 98 Finalists and then twenty Winners were chosen by close to 100 specialty food retailers from around the country. The competition began in June when NASFT member companies submitted nearly 1,600 entries totaling more than 3,500 products in hopes of winning the specialty food industry’s most prestigious honor, according to the NASFT. To our shock and amazement, we were notified that our product had made the cut and was a Finalist!

"Don't get excited, Chris," I said."You did a great job getting us this far, but I don't want you to be disappointed when we lose." I was preparing her to accept disappointment, as I was sure that one of the "biggies" would surely win.

We set up our booth at the show and this year a delegation of Italian vendors were there...from Milan, Venice, Florence, even Sicily. They came over to our booth one by one and wished us well. "Alfred," one of them said to me, "No Sicilian has ever won such an award in this competition other than in olive oil, so don't get your hopes up".

"It would be wonderful if you somehow did win," he said. "Sicily has an unemployment rate of 22% and, this would be wonderful for manufacturers, as it would give them courage to market their wonderful products in America, but really Alfred, you don't stand a chance."

The evening of the second day of the three-day show, Chris and I went to the awards dinner.

Like the Oscars, they had the press there, entertainment...all the trappings of a major event. The host asked all the finalists to sit in chairs on the stage. Chris, who started this project, represented our tiny company. She was sitting on the enormous stage, surrounded by many big companies...in fact..I bet we were the tinest one there!

One by one the finalists were announced and a picture was flashed on the enormous screen behind the screen... four finalists per category. I was sitting in the audience, amazed at the intesity of the crowd, as there were nearly 1,000 in attendance.

Our category was finally announced.

"And the winner in the category of Outstanding Jam, Preserve or spread is.......Valle dell'Etna Nut Cream from All Things Sicilian!"

Shocked, I looked at Christine as she bounded to the podium to accept the award...a trophy just like the Oscar!

I was shocked, and so were all the giant companies! All the next day at the show,we were visited by company presidents, purchasing managers, distributors and agents, asking about the product. More than 250 different companies visited our booth to wish us well, congratulate us or inquire about selling the product themselves. One by one the Italian companies came. The look of pride that they had in their eyes said it all.

"Alfred," one of them said, "Your company did a very very good thing for Italy and Sicily today...grazie tante." For me,that statement was our reward. For our tiny company to get recognition for our beloved Island... well, what more can I ask?

As you are reading this I am back in Sicily with Massimo scouring Sicily for more products. We are traveling to Ragusa, Palermo, Marsala and tiny hamlets here and there...we now have a story to tell!

Ciao!
Al

This is an amazing and easy way to use our incredible (and now award-winning!) nut creams. I know the Pistachio isn't back in yet, but it will be soon and you can try all the other kinds in the meantime to get ready for it!

Luscious and rich, few desserts are as decadent as chocolate fondue. With the dippers prepared ahead, it can even be kept in a crockpot on low for a while, meaning no last minute effort for the host.

• 1 ˝ cups chopped white chocolate
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 to 2 Tablespoons Sicilian Pistachio Nut Cream

Piccolo Mondo via Garibaldi no.309 in Via Grande next to The Church of St. Antonio is my favorite in all of Sicily. I have been there many many times and my friend Carmelo and his staff never fail to serve a great meal at fabulous prices.

The lamb with potatoes and rosemary is killer.Their pizza and calzone (everything here is homemade) are the best for miles around.They have a complete dinner menu complete with Carmelo playing pop tunes in the background. I also recommend any pasta dish that he has, plus his fish is so fresh that it still flops around the plate!

Finish off a great meal with homemade tiramisu, sorbet, fresh fruit or coffee and Averna!

Tel:095-7890936. Closed Mondays.

PS. Mention that avv. Zappala sent you!!

• Catania:(All Year Long) Etna Fest concerts,shows,etc.You can get specific dates and times at any tourist information booth there)
• Maniace: (All month long) Sagra delle pere e delle pesche (Pears and peaches festival)
• Nicolisi:(August 15th) Celebration in honor of patron saint Saint Antonio da Padova (He's the saint that you pray to when you lose something and want to find it!)
• The following towns also have festivals this month featuring food, song, art, and fireworks! Mascali, Mineo, Motta, Randazzo, Riposto, Catania, Acicatena, Adrano, Belpasso...that's why Sicily is so much fun in August!