You can't imagine our surprise, when last night the Assessore of Tourism for the town of Morcone, Italy called Midge and Annarita up to the stage and presented Cooking in the Kitchens of Pontelandolfo with an award for promoting tourism in the province. We were there as part of a national tourism initiative - 2024 Anno Delle Radici Italiane. The Year of Italian Roots - people like Midge, coming to Pontelandolfo to find her roots and forgetting to go home.
We had given a lively presentation that included - throught the magic of technology - one of the first Cooking in the Kitchens of Pontelandolfo participants - Lynn Yonally - talking about seeing Pontelandolfo for the first time. She liked the program so much, she put a group together for the second year and then sent her daughters during year three! Talk about promotion for the Province of Benevento. The participants really spread the word.
The participants who, since 2016, have enjoyed our culinary and cultural program have been incredible ambassadors for our part of Italy. The award really belongs to them and every single one of the Pontelandolfese who have been collaberating on the initiative. We thank of course, Rossella Mancini who with Midge sat down and brainstormed about how bringing tourists into private homes could possibly work. And work it did! Here it is 2024 and we are planning for 2025.
Thank you Morcone for recognizing what we do -
auguri a tutti...