Two Worlds

Francesca and Gayle (l. to r.) catch up and celebrate Gayle's upcoming wedding. © Photo by Regina Di Meglio

When my friend Gayle said she was coming into town to try on wedding dresses, I knew I had to see her. After all, we used to pass by the Vera Wang wedding dress shop in D.C. back in college. Now, she’s planning for the real deal. Talking to her about wedding planning has me getting nostalgic for Antonio and my wedding in Italy and vow renewal in the United States. I never did get tired of trying on wedding dresses or choosing floral centerpieces. But the cake tastings were probably my favorite. Gayle likes that, too. She brought some yummy cupcakes from Crumbs in the spirit of wedding planning. And the apple one was as perfectly light and moist as it looked. Still, I’ll have to try the M & M topped cupcake by day’s end. It’s the least I can do for the bride to be. I’m sure she’ll want a full report from me. This visit with Gayle would have only been better if we could have finished it off with a stop at Con-E-Island, the D.C. ice cream shop we used to frequent back in the day. Thanks for the visit and delicious trip down memory lane, Gayle! You are going to make a beautiful bride. I can’t wait.

I hope to bloom as beautifully as this flower. © Photo by Francesca Di Meglio

Many of my friends and family already know that I recently had a miscarriage after months and months of trying to get pregnant. I’ve been heart broken, and many of you have been a source of compassion, hope, and love. Thank you! My husband and I appreciate your thoughts, prayers, and time. Now, I’ve finally come to grips with the reality of our situation enough to write about it. Today, I shared my personal story and a separate guide to help others deal with the effects a miscarriage has on your marriage in the Newlyweds blog I maintain for About.com. Maybe I’ll help other people who are facing miscarriage or similar challenges. Even if my words don’t resonate with others, I feel much better now that I’ve put everything into these stories. Writing, after all, is therapy for me.

(l. to r.) Francesca, Alex, Rosaria, and Mamma Regina are soaked from a wet and wild ride at Disney's Animal Kingdom. © Photo courtesy of Di Meglio family

My mom Regina, my friend Alex, and I spent last weekend at my sister’s place in Florida livin’ it up. (To view photos from the weekend, click on the “Girls Weekend 2010” photo album.) We did the girlie girl thing with pedicures, soaked up sun in the baby pool (yes, a baby pool), went on rides at Disney World, did some shopping, and ate anything we wanted. The weekend, which was a much-needed distraction and lots of fun did include two men – my brother John and my sister’s dog Shilo, both of whom provided ample entertainment (from brother John giving his three-month-old daughter a bath to Shilo jumping onto the table to eat a zucchini pancake). There was girl’s night out with all of us, my sister-in-law Jaci, and baby Maria for dinner at Kouzzina. And there was many a World Cup disappointment. Let’s not even talk about that. Besides, delicious clams and pretzel bread made everything all better. Love and miss you all now!

(From l. to r.) Angela, Giuseppe, Fausto, and Antonio celebrate Italy's 2006 World Cup victory. © Photo by Francesca Di Meglio

Aside from meeting my husband Antonio (see photo above), taking a few glorious vacations with him, and marrying him, the last 10 years in my life have not been what you’d call a dream. But two other events did make my life more meaningful — or at least more joyous. The first was joining the Juventus squad on the field (as a photographer/reporter) as it faced off against A.C. Milan for the Super Cup at Giants Stadium in 2003. Juventus, which is my favorite Italian club team, won. But it wouldn’t have mattered if it lost. I was deliriously happy to be sharing the same air as such soccer gods as Gianluigi Buffon and Paolo Maldini.

The other sweetest moment was when Italy defeated France in the 2006 World Cup. (For more celebration photos from Italy’s victory, click on “Italy’s 2006 World Cup Victory” photo album.) It was a dream come true for me to witness my favorite national team finally win (in penalties and against France no less). What made it all the more beautiful was sharing the moment with my husband (then boyfriend) Antonio. We, along with family and friends, took to the streets in my family’s native Ischia. We were full of love and happiness. I wish I could bottle up that moment forever. Indeed, my husband agrees. He already wrote me to say that this year’s games are just not the same because he is watching them in Italy while I am watching them in the United States. Still, today, Italy plays Paraguay in its first game of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. I can guarantee we’ll both be cheering so loudly for the Italians that we’ll hear each other’s tribal cries from across the ocean that divides us.

Antonio (l.) and Ralph (r.) joke with one another while Ludovica (center) looks on at the '76 House. © Photo by Francesca Di Meglio

Over Thanksgiving weekend 2009, one of our favorite people, Liz, organized and offered dinner to my husband Antonio, our friend Ludovica, cousins Ralph and Connie, and me. Clever and thoughtful, Liz chose the perfect spot for dinner with foreigners — the ‘76 House, a piece of Americana in Tappan, N.Y. Opening in 1686, it calls itself “New York’s oldest tavern.” (For photos of our dinner, visit the “Old ‘76 House” photo album.)

The small bar is cozy and charming and has you imagining George Washington — or at least guys who looked like him — pulling up a stool. Traditional revolutionary garb serves as decoration in the restaurant. Even the Christmas trees, which were decked out in American flags and red, white, and blue ornaments, had you feeling patriotic.

You might imagine the menu to be filled with hamburgers and hot dogs and not much else. You’d be wrong. The food was fabulous. I had the delicious pot roast, which came with an impressive popover that melted in my mouth. The appetizers we ordered, including mussels and calamari, were divine, much better than I’ve had at other restaurants. The fish seemed fresher and everything was cooked to perfection.

There was a band, and Liz and the gang had gotten them to play the Italian tarantella in honor of our wedding anniversary. That’s right — this night out was over a month ago, and I’m still thinking about it. It was that great of a night.

Still, the best part of the evening was the company. We know we’re in for a good time — and some creative use of foul language – whenever we get together with Liz, Connie, and Ralph. Until the next time we feel like shouting c—- in c— in a public place!

Antonio and Francesca on a New York rooftop. © Photo by Alex Vaina

As most of you know, my husband Antonio arrived in Naples this morning, so that he could spend the holidays with his mother and sisters, and I’m still here in the United States working and spending time with my family. I miss him terribly, but I realize we’re pretty lucky. Military families who have deployed loved ones in Iraq and Afghanistan have it much harder than I do. You can check out my About.com blog about the vow renewal ceremony some Army couples took ahead of holiday deployments. Leave your comments because I would love to know if you think these kinds of ceremonies help married folk who have to be separated for long periods of time.

In case you’re wondering, the photo above is from a glorious night Antonio, our friend Ludovica, and I spent breaking bread at the New York City apartment of our friends Alex and Rosario, who are also hosting an Italian native who is studying English, Cinzia. Alex is a fabulous chef and a dear friend, and we’re still talking about the meal she prepared, which featured spaghetti, meatballs, rolled chicken and beef for seconds, mulled apple cider and a pear tart (and that’s not even everything). One of the highlights of the evening — besides Alex and Rosario’s lovable dog Molly — was our visit to their rooftop and the beautiful view of the New York skyline. See more pics below. Grazie ancora to Alex, Rosario, and Cinzia!

Cinzia, Alex, Antonio, and Ludovica (from l. to r.) © Photo by Francesca Di Meglio

Cinzia, Antonio, Francesca, and Ludovica (from l. to r.) © Photo by Alex Vaina

Ludovica proudly displays her copy of Dirty Italian, a gift from Uncle Gino. © Photo by Francesca Di Meglio

Last year, when my cousin Fausto visited us from Italy, my Uncle Gino gave him the book Dirty Italian (Ulysses Press, 2006) as a gift. Fausto learned how to say completely vulgar phrases that I would never repeat, at least not in this blog. Uncle Gino found Fausto’s pronounciation and interest in this book downright hilarious — and he started buying copies of the book by the truck load. He now hands them out to all our Italian visitors. Over Thanksgiving weekend, Ludovica and Antonio happily received their copies. Now, they have English translations for telling a woman her breasts look like perfect melons or a man that he should f__ off. I guess I used one of those phrases in this blog — oops! You read it correctly. They even brought their copies of the book to show their teachers and friends at Berlitz, where they’ve been studying English. I’m so proud! Note the sarcasm. Way to go Uncle Gino!

The gang gathered around chef Agostino D'Ambra (center in white chef's jacket) at Focolare in Ischia. © Photo courtesy of Francesca Di Meglio

I won’t even pretend to be an objective critic or journalist today. Antonio and I have been going to Focolare, a family-run restaurant in Ischia, since we started dating about five years ago. We have always loved it and ever since Agostino D’Ambra, one of the owners and a chef at the restaurant visited us in the United States, we’ve grown to love the family who runs the place even more. The food is delicious and the atmosphere is distinctly Ischitano.

To get to Focolare, you must drive on narrow, curvy roads in the dark hills of Ischia, but it’s worth it. Surprisingly, a bus does make it up there, so you don’t have to have a car to get there. Once you arrive, you get to feast on traditional dishes with a twist — always with a twist. (To view some of the dishes we recently ate there, visit the “Dinner at Focolare” photo album.) For those guests, who know the family, the cantina (wine cellar) in the back is the perfect way to begin the food experience that is Focolare. There, much like Ischitani would offer to friends and family at home, the owners serve wine, homemade prosciutto, and bread sticks to the guests they know. We recently headed to the cantina with Americans Pasquale, who is originally from Naples but now works as a chef in the States and recently appeared on the Food Network’s Chopped, and his wife Jaime, an American who is a Rockette in New York. Even if the family doesn’t know you, in the main dining hall, they will treat you like family — and serve you an unforgettable meal. Buon appetito!