Did you know that Italians first settled in Los Angeles in the 1820s? Or that California’s wine industry was started in L.A. by Italian-Americans, and that the city is still home to the oldest winery in the state? Were you aware that Los Angeles has the fifth largest Italian-American population in the U.S.?
Los Angeles has a long and storied Italian history, and the celebration of those roots takes place each year at the Taste of Italy festival, hosted by the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles (IAMLA). Started 11 years ago, and held in the historic Little Italy neighborhood, Taste of Italy is a celebration of traditions and cultures—with a heavy emphasis on food and wine. “I thought this was a great opportunity to really highlight the diversity of Italian cuisine,” says Marianna Gatto, the Executive Director-Historian of IAMLA. “There isn’t really a national cuisine of Italy, it’s more regional. And many people aren’t aware of that.”
The event started small in its first year, attracting roughly 500 people, but has since grown to a 2,500-person party that focuses on educating and celebrating Italian-American culture and cuisine. This year’s event took place on October 12th and featured around 55 participants that included area restaurant and wine standouts like L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele, Osteria Cal Mare, and the San Antonio Winery (the aforementioned oldest winery in California). One of the biggest foodie highlights came from Don Lisander, a classic restaurant in Milan, Italy, that has been in operation since 1947. The restaurant flew members of their team out to L.A. just to whip up their famous Risotto Parmigiano for guests of the festival.
In addition to a bevy of pizza, pasta, wine, and prosecco, attendees also enjoyed a soundtrack of classic Italian tunes wafting over the proceedings. “We also feature six musical acts as part of the event to recognize the artistic legacy of Italian-Americans,” said Gatto, while “Volare” blared from the overhead speakers.
Although food and wine are the centerpiece of the festival, Gatto still wants to highlight the history of Italian-Americans in the city. “If people walk away with knowledge of the sheer diversity of food and wine, then we succeeded—we want everyone to have a great time and raise funds for the museum. But we also want to focus on the educational component, as well.” So guests are encouraged to eat, drink, learn, and repeat—then do it again at the 12th edition next year.