What you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.
Every time we travel we discover -for us- new parts of the world, we become more conscious and pay more attention to the environment. If you are people like me, when you are abroad you willing to find out as much as you can of the authentic way of life. At the same time I never forget one of my biggest passion, the second hand fashion!
When I traveled to Finland last summer, I was very curious to learn more about their fashion habits. I didn’t have to look for so long, UFF shops are very frequent in Helsinki, they are throughout the city and I visited many of them (there are 19 second hand shops in the largest cities in Finland).
From jackets to accessories, underwear and shoes, the choice is very wide and you can make good deals!
sustainable fashion deshabille magazine
UFF it’s not only a second hand but they also have vintage clothes at your disposal! With a wide range of prices and with enough time to go through all of clothes it’s always worth it.
UFF collects used clothes in containers in Finland, re-usable and clean, shoes and home textiles. Then the collected clothes are sorted and because of the most of them are winter clothes these are mainly sold wholesale to other European countries and the profit is used to finance UFF’s development cooperation projects.
The aim of this project is to raise money for development aid projects in Africa and in India.
If you want to support UFF and every other projects and at the same time you want to be sustainable, we suggest tou to buy less and above all second hands. Enjoy your shopping!
It’s time to celebrate the 100th article published!
We (Dona&Imo) started the project “Déshabillé Magazine” on January 2014 after discussing how we envisioned our future-to-be digital platform. Digital yes, but we wanted something warm that could represent our passions: people, fashion, trips, food, culture. Four years later, we are still here, we attracted a universe of special talents and met a lot of beautiful souls around the world. New people are working together with us with passion and enthusiasm, and it is also important to stress that we are all strong, beautiful and passionated WOMEN… Is this another PINK WAVE?
Never mind… we are ready for the next challenge!
Imo
Co-founder
I am a freelance social media manager and a copy writer but that’s a small part of my life, it’s just what I do. I love being dynamic and active. I love laughing and be easy, not superficial tho. Let’s say that life wants us to be happy, so when it’s possible I try to give HER the best of me. Déshabillé Magazine gave me the opportunity to meet a lot of talented young people, while bouncing from one corner to the other of this wonderful planet we have, who need definitely more exposure, so this is our next goal… grow the audience and connect more souls!
Dona
Co-founder
That’s me in my ideal environment: traveling around the world, at one with nature and animals, discovering new cultures. I do travel for pleasure everytime I can, and also for work. I love evertyhing that is far away phisically and culturally from my world. Another great passion is writing, above all for Déshabillé Magazine, our little darling! My specialty are second- hand shops: it doesn’t matter where I am, I always look for one, they provide me the key joke to understand the people. Second- hand fashion is sustainable, and I love to think that my joy can also help the environment.
Chanoa Tarle
Freelance Contributor
I’m a copywriter (and occasional magazine contributor) specializing in fashion and luxury goods/ lifestyle.
I love contributing pieces to Déshabillé Magazine, especially emerging designer interviews. For the next 100 articles, I hope to see more views, more traction, more exposure! The Déshabillé team is a passionate and inspired group- the more people who know about their work, the better.
Francesca
Editor and Graphic
Well who Am I? I must say this is one of the most difficult answer i had to give. I’m a global citizen, a passionate photographer and a graphic/digital content optimizer. My biggest passion (beside photography obviously) is travelling cause it broadens the mind and feeds the soul, I feel all the humanity’s power and the nature’s grace while connecting with both, discovering and sharing new cultures. I firmly believe that DM will be a new way to look at fashion, style and design evolving a respectful, conscious and open minded interpretation.
Oh, and plus with a girl team 😉
Ida
Editor
I am an Epidemiologist based in Dallas, where I investigate infectious diseases. When I’m not being a detective, I love to explore new places, hang out with friends, binge on a great TV show and listen to good music – I love music from all parts of the world as long as it sounds good! Occasionally, I review articles for Déshabillé, this gives me a great opportunity to read about great people doing amazing things all around the world.
I’m excited to see all the talent that Déshabillé will uncover!
Lyn
Food Blogger Contributor
I am based in Kuala Lumpur and having previously lived and worked across 8 countries, owner of a chain of Chinese Restaurants, Ruyi & Lyn, YU and a Western eatery Monte Carlo in Kuala Lumpur. I am currently incubating a local startup project for culinary students, and building an online platform for the global food community.
Relationship status? Married to food and champagne this is why I love writing about everything connected to the food industry at Déshabillé Magazine.
A special thanks to the following women who are special for us. They wrote, shot and hunted talents for Déshabillé Magazine in the one-and-only jungle of London.
Alina
Photographer and Marketing Manager Contributor
I have an eye of photographer and the mind of marketer. Absolutely passionate about art and believe that artists should always stay together supporting each other. Déshabillé magazine always gave me support that I needed and I tried to give my support to it as much as I could.
Even though now I cannot participate in the magazine I will always feel for it and hope to provide support in the future again!
Azuka Wayfora
Videographer and Editor Contributor
My name is Azuka Wayfora I’m 31 and currently work in a photo and film studio as a booking manager but I’m working on making my debut in the film industry as a screenwriter-director. Needless to say, movies are my passion and have always been since I can remember (literally). However, there is another aspect of my life that will pop out inevitably once you get to know me, which is my passion for the Japanese culture. Oh and lets not forget music in general that just the blood that flows through the body of life!
Fresh off a trip to Vienna, three words resound in my head:
what a city.
As a frequent traveler, I’ve always travelled with a lot of expectations. It was heavier than my baggage… and I almost always overpack.But this time was different. I arrived with a new mindset, a focus on the present and virtually no social media presence. But that’s another story. The bottom line? Travel will never be the same. I was stunned. The people, the energy, the nature, sights and sounds…
Day One
My friend Ana and I meandered through the city center, taking in as much as possible on very little sleep. With only three days in Vienna, we aimed to cover lots of ground. We walked through countless parks and reveled in the vibes of historic cathedrals and hotels. There were so many magnificent spots – including the café at Hotel Sacher. Tip: Request to be seated inside. It’s much more beautiful than the tiny room with windows facing the street. The only bonus in that section is the sunlight streaming inside. Then we headed to Prater amusement park to play like kids and boost our energy.
Vienna City CenterThe Albertina Museum
Prater was filled with locals, tourists, families and couples alike. I discovered SchokoMuseum Vienna, very similar to the ChocoMuseos in Peru. I bought delicious Madagascar dark chocolate, though there were far more options in Lima. This was the only low sugar, dark chocolate variety I could find. At Prater, we found rides for visitors of all levels of courage. Visit to scream, get soaked, challenge your brain or fulfill a need for speed. It’s a great spot for groups – everyone leaves happy. However the queen of the show, as elegant as Sisiherself,is the Wiener Riesenrad Ferris Wheel. It’s picture-taking heaven, offering sweeping views of the park and surrounding neighborhoods – complete with a surprising abundance of trees.
Wiener Riesenrad Ferris Wheel View
There are so many reasons why I’d return to Vienna, husband in tow. Prater is one of them. The ferris wheel offers a Swarovski-sponsored car for a romantic, champagne-fueled dinner for two. Swoon.
Day Two
Landstraße, 3rd municipal District of Vienna.
We hopped onto the Vienna Metro, the cleanest I’ve seen, and arrived in Landstraße to spend the afternoon at Belvedere. Approaching the property, we were transported from a major metropolitan boulevard to the magical gardens of the Palace Stables. Friends caught up on landscape-backed benches, families gathered for picnics, couples took in the view. It was like stepping into a Seurat styled circa 2018. Appreciation for Belvedere’s beauty coursed through the air.
Belvedere Gardens and Orangery
Behind the glorious structure were even more gardens, leading to the Orangery for special exhibitions. What a sight. Finally, we made our way through the Palace Stables’ interiors taking in works by the likes of Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Max Klinger, Maximilian Reinitz and Hundertwasser. Of course Belvedere itself is a work of art with phenomenal architectural details, frescoes and views. Make this your first stop in Vienna if you’re an old soul or passionate about the arts!
Gustav Klimt at Belvedere ViennaInside Belvedere Palace
Next was the gorgeous Innere Stadt neighborhood, recalling images of Milano’s Brera. It was there we found Kotor Eat&Drink, the UNESCO-protected seaside city and Ana’s hometown. We discovered the owner, a man from Belgrade, has a home on the Bay of Kotor. We actually heard much more Serbian than English on this trip. I’ve been told there are over 1 million people from Serbia or of Serbian descent living in Vienna. It appears to be true!
We found ourselves at the MuseumsQuartier again, a grand square flanked by four museums (including twin structures opposite one another, the Kunsthistorisches Museum -Art History Museum and the Naturhistorische Museum, Natural History Museum). The square that was so subdued with picture-taking tourists a day earlier, was now filled with partygoers of all ages for a holiday afternoon rave. What a sight to see: young partygoers, parents dancing with their children and random travelers like us. The scene was Vienna in a nutshell. There’s an optimism and warmth that permeates the people. And artistic freedom is respected from classical to trance.
Then it was off to eat for the third time in two days at Veggiez. It’s a hip and super tasty vegan restaurant just steps away from the Vienna State Opera with a friendly staff and laidback vibe. A few more rounds in the city center, and we discovered quite a few gems- all closed for the May 1st holiday. Rare book shops. Fine African art. We drank up each window with wonder.
Before heading back to the hotel, it was more sightseeing, last-minute shopping and a second and final vegan ice cream run at Veganista. Definitely check out the Neubau District for cool concept stores, vintage/retro fashion – even costumes.
Day Three
We finally, we arrived to the UNESCO-protected Palace and Gardens of Schönbrunn, where the fabulous Empress Elisabeth of Austria (a.k.a. Sisi) once called home – and before her, Maria Theresa. We started with the exterior grounds, which sprawled on and on and on. I think I’d need a full week in the gardens alone to fully experience every corner, path and turn. When you go, you’ll find a dramatic lookout point, exquisite fountains, masterfully-sculpted statues, a labyrinth and more. Yes, a labyrinth. So dreamy. And there was something about the primarily young, female staff of gardeners and preservationists, that underscored the progressive nature of the city.
A Restoration Project in the Schönbrunn GardenArt in the Gardens of Schönbrunn
As for the palace interiors, they’re nothing short of magic. A wonder made even more special by a photography ban. We explored 20 rooms or so but the palace is home to over 1,000! Schönbrunn tugs at the imagination with a voyage into the daily lives of Sisi, Maria Theresa and their families. I was transported through time, imagining myself dancing long ago in the palace ballroom. Mozart famously performed in the Mirror Hall for Maria Theresa. He was only 6 years old.
We went on to end the tripat Designer Outlet Parndorf, a colorful village of shops about 40 minutes from Vienna. We were greeted by top-quality outlets from the likes of Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Dolce & Gabbana, Scotch & Soda, Nike and Prada.
When I do return to Vienna, I’ll just need my husband, a few evening dresses and at least two nights of music at the Vienna State Opera and Vienna Konzerthaus. Until then, dear Wien…
Chanoa Tarle is a freelance copywriter, journalist and editor specializing in fashion and luxury goods/lifestyle.
Her work has appeared in magazines including ELEVATE and Luxury Hoteliers and she’s written for an inspiring list of companies including Scaling Retail and Neiman Marcus.
A chef-friend of mine recently opened his first cafe, and sent me this message:
“Hi, Lyn, all is well until we received a 1* rating on Facebook on our kitchen inefficiency during our opening day. Must admit, it hurts. Read another a few days later, said our food wasn’t good enough. How can I not take it personally? It hurts me as it has brought my entire ratings down.” Surely it does. If you ever take anything or anybody seriously, surely any downside will hurt.
There is so much to learn from diners’ feedbacks that I have often joked about publishing online reviews into a retrospective print.
I have received everything from semi death threats, as astonishing as the ugliness of my outlet that my interior designer ought to be shot, that our food is so subpar to a food cart that it’s surprisingly that we are still in business, to ridiculing the lack of English proficiency from my team, to the threat of reporting my business to the ministry of trade due to not meeting a customer’s fine dining expectations.
As a restaurant owner, I can wholehearted admit that we are not perfect. We fucked up. I can also wholeheartedly apologize for being an utter failure for not meeting your expectations. I should shoot myself. I hear your anguish and I am truly sorry. Emotions aside, a business still runs as a business. We can only learn, improve and take the positive out of any situation no matter how catastrophic. Here are my tips for handling negative reviews:
Not everyone is your customer
Rule numero uno in Hospitality? Please everyone. A restaupreneur mentor who operates a successful chain in London often reminded me that pleasing every Tom, Dick and Harry is for the weak; simple because it is IMPOSSIBILE. We are a society of diversity – every individual is built on different tastes, preferences and expectations. We would be Gods if we could win every heart!
Hence, know your demographic. Who do you want in your restaurant? Target those. If you are operating a vegetarian eatery, keep the vegetarians happy. Don’t run after Bangers and Mash fanatics. It’s really that simple.
No one is perfect
We live in a democratic cyber age whereby anyone, with or without merit, are able to label themselves as food critics. There are those kind ones who care about humanity, and will provide your business with constructive feedbacks in confidence. Tip: Restaurateurs tend take these more seriously than a crazy public rant, and will provide you with compensation if necessary because we are truly appreciative towards your empathy and sanity.
As much as an imperfect restaurant can learn from constructive criticisms in their strive for perfection, let’s face it, there will always be trolls. Trolls who are little obsessed with a singular bad dining experience that they would take time to troll, and troll, and troll until they are heard. They will get all their friends to write you bad reviews. Just like a bad breakup, you kind of wish that they would just move on. And then there are also competitors who will disguise themselves as Micky, Goofy and a Babushka to take you down. These are the real creeps.
Show that you are making progress
I call this passive reactionary action. No matter your haters, there is nothing more annoying than shouting out to the world that you do take your work seriously by constantly innovating and progressing. I believe in the laws of the world, that if we subscribe to a simple law of hard work by focussing on the right criticisms, you will succeed. Believe in your product. Take the positive from the negative. Unless it’s the Michelin or World’s Top 50, don’t be consumed by social media ratings.
And when you succeed, there will be envy. And when there is envy, there will be competition.
We can’t make everyone love us. Even religions can’t, so don’t take heart. Learn. You may think: How are such pissy remarks even fair towards your team who have worked blood, sweat and tears over long hours? There are so many of us out there, working our arses off because we truly need the jobs to pay our bills – just to be trashed.
The restaurant business is not merely a job. This is a lifestyle. And it’s real, bad ass one.
Based in Kuala Lumpur and having previously lived and worked across 8 countries, Lyn Siew is the owner of an award winning Contemporary Chinese Hybrid Restaurant, Ruyi & Lyn, and a Western eatery Monte’s by the Red Herring. She is currently incubating a local startup project for culinary students, and building an online platform for the global food community. Relationship status? Married to food and champagne.
Follow her daily eating and drinking adventures on Instagram!
All years of hard work behind you in your home town, pack your camera and move to this huge, uncomfortable metropolitan city. You barely speak their language, you barely know what to purchase for your breakfast in the food store. Everything is new, unfamiliar and you throw away first yogurt, because it turned out to be made of soya. This situation should be familiar to everyone who left their home town behind. The same thing happened to me. Adaptation is really tough; for some people it’s easy, for others it’s hard. For me it took almost 3 years to finally feel comfortable. But today I’m going to talk about how to get back to what you have already created back home.
I tried to start from zero.
Take pictures of people I know for free, just to amaze them and hopefully in the future get real orders. But believe it or not, no one wanted to pose for me. They were busy with their lives or just didn’t care about me whatsoever. I didn’t have any friends here, but back home I had the whole team – make up artist, stylist, hairdressers and I even had backups. If one of them was busy, I had another 2 or 3 people to work on the project. I was able to create really awesome photo shoots. But in London it wasn’t so easy. Time passed, I invited some of my colleagues to my Facebook page and the next day when I came to work one of them asked me “Hey, Alina, I saw your images, they are so amazing! But what are you doing here?” Really, what I was doing in retail for 2 years? That got me thinking out of the box.
London is famous for fashion industry, but hey, where are all this fashion people?
Where are these artists looking for collaborations? I started to look for them. The greatest source of artists came from Facebook groups. You have no idea, but nowadays groups in such cities as London are very strong. People connect and open for collaborations. Search for stylists, makeup artists, photographers and many more, add the name of the city, and voilà. London has almost 9 million of people, at least 1 million of them are somewhere connected to arts. People here are passionate about art and they love to collaborate with others. It doesn’t matter if the photo shooting is tomorrow, doesn’t matter if no one pays you.
Living in London people are happy to work for the sake of art.
Tell people who you meet randomly what you do. Show them your pictures, give them your website. Inspire them with your ideas about photography, you never know what side projects they have. You never know what is their passion outside work. And finally, you never know who is going to be your client. Don’t be shy.
Another great source is University.
Some people get themselves to Uni’s just for connections and you should also consider that. Maybe just some short photography courses, maybe some other workshops that you could join. So you’ve found them, now you need to inspire them, explain your idea, show them examples and wait. Be nice to people, respect them and give them food on the shootings. They work for you for free, right? Don’t be scared, in such big city you’ll always find people who see the world in a similar way. And remember, people love what other people are passionate about.
Inspire them and share your visions and they will follow you.
Avvocato, 32 anni, vivo a Lecce.
La mia prima pubblicazione è avvenuta nel 2003, a diciannove anni, con il romanzo Come dico Io, premiato l’anno successivo alla V Biennale del Premio La Lama.
Nel 2005, con la mia seconda esperienza narrativa, Quattro, ho conseguito il Premio Ignazio Ciaia – Nunzio Schena e nel 2007 ho realizzato il mio terzo lavoro, il romanzo L’alba di domani.
Nel 2013 ho pubblicato il romanzo Rewind, premiato dall’Associazione Asterisco.
Dal 2014 collaboro con il blog letterario Inchiostro di Puglia, per il quale ho realizzato il racconto breve Caterina va a Martina.
Ho un mio blog su WordPress e collaboro come social media manager con alcune piccole realtà imprenditoriali pugliesi.
“La scrittura resta: va sola per il mondo” – Sylvia Path
Sono nato in quello che Wikipedia definisce un ridente paesino, ma in realtà ho scoperto che c’è poco da ridere: e così ho iniziato a leggere, senza sosta. E poi ho iniziato a scrivere, perché sono troppo emotivo per tenere tutto dentro e credo sempre che finché una cosa non è scritta non esista realmente. Ho una paura folle di diventare, un giorno, razionale, schematico e maledettamente noioso.
“La lettura rende un uomo completo, la conversazione lo rende agile di spirito e la scrittura lo rende esatto.”
– Francesco Bacone
Il mio romanzo omaggia il Salento: il mare, il sole, il barocco e i silenzi di ogni scorcio. E’ la prima volta che un paesaggio diviene coprotagonista di un mio lavoro, ho sentito forte questo legame durante la mia esperienza a Milano, e credo che molti ragazzi che hanno lasciato questa terra troveranno nelle mie parole un modo per riconciliarsi con il proprio passato e con scelte di vita dolorose: partenze e addii.
“Uno scrittore è un mondo intrappolato in una persona.” – Victor Hugo
Il problema attuale in Italia? Tutti scrivono e nessuno legge! A complicare ancora di più le cose, la crisi del settore editoriale impone prezzi un po’ troppo alti per un lettore medio, e così ogni autore è costretto a scegliere la scorciatoia del blog, oppure ad affidarsi ai lettori forti, quelli da un libro al mese, per intenderci. E inoltre, purtroppo, i nuovi schemi del web impongono letture veloci, nell’attesa di una metro o che sia il proprio turno in sala d’attesa, e questo va a discapito della creatività di un autore, costretto a cercare sempre più la frase a effetto che il contenuto elaborato.
“Io voglio che alla baionetta sia equiparata alla penna”
– Vladimir Majakovskij
Il libro si ispira al bisogno che tutti abbiamo di trovare un posto che possiamo chiamare casa. Il mio protagonista è tormentato da un passato ingombrante e incapace di trovare una sua serenità interiore: vagabonda tra Milano e il resto del mondo, ma è troppo inquieto per vedere davvero la sua strada… prendo il lettore per mano e lo porto in questo viaggio dentro se stessi.
A seguito di un attentato terroristico, il nevrotico Stefano Randi, autore di fiabe per bambini, si ritrova bloccato per quattro giorni nel Salento, a pochi chilometri dal suo paese natale.
Grazie alla sua amica d’infanzia Chicca, ragazza madre della piccola Camilla, Stefano verrà introdotto nella piccola comunità di contadini e pescatori di Monterrino: accanto ad Al e Giuliana, anziani coniugi sposati da oltre trent’anni, e a padre Randall, ex migrante e guida spirituale del paese, Stefano riscoprirà il valore delle piccole cose e della vita semplice del Sud.
Alice, la sua incantevole musa, lo aiuterà a superare ansie e paure con dolcezza e pazienza, in una lenta e sorprendente accettazione di se stesso, con tutti i suoi limiti e le sue deliziose imperfezioni.
Davide Simeone
Lawyer, 32 years old. I live in Lecce. I was 19 years old at the time of my first publication in 2003, the novel was called Come dico Io, it obtained La Lama Award at the V Biennale.
In 2005, with my second book, Quattro, I received Ignazio Ciaia – Nunzio Schena Award and, in 2007, I completed my third book, the novel L’alba di domani.
In 2013 I published the novel Rewind, awarded by Asterisco Association. I have been collaborating with the literary blog Inchiostro di Puglia since 2014, for which I have written the short story called Caterina va a Martina.
I also have my own blog and I work as Social Media Manager for some small reality businesses in the region of Puglia (Apulia).
“You can make anything by writing.”
– C.S. Lewis
I was born in what Wikipedia describes as a charming and pleasant village, but there was nothing to be pleased about, and so I started reading without ceasing. Then, I started writing because I am too emotional to keep everything inside and I believe that until something is not written down, it does not really exist. I am very scare to become, one day, rational, schematic and darn boring.
“A word after a word after a word is power.”
– Margaret Atwood
My novel pays homage to the Salento Region: the sea, the sun, the baroque style and the silences that fill every corner. It’s the first time in which a landscape becomes a join protagonist of a work of mine, I felt that this bond was really strong when I left for Milan ( in the far North of Italy), I am convinced that many young people who had to leave our land will find in my words a way to reconcile with their past and with some painful life choices: departures and goodbyes.
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
– Maya Angelou
Being a writer today in Italy is problematic: everyone writes but nobody reads. In addition, to make things more complicated, the crisis of the publishing industry compels higher prices to the average reader, this leads authors to use shortcuts as blogs, or to rely on the “one-book- a-month” readers. Furthermore, the web nowadays imposes ultra-quick read times at the expense of the creativity of an author, forced to pursue always and continually a catch-phrase instead of an elaborate content.
“If you want to change the world, pick up your pen and write.”
– Martin Luther
The book is inspired to the need of each one of us to find a place we can identify as home. My main character is an author of stories and fables, Stefano Randi, tormented by his past who wanders restlessly between Milan and the rest of the world… but he cannot see its own way. Thanks to his dear friend Chicca, he will be introduced to a small community of farmers and fishermen in Monterrino. Eventually he will meet the muse of his life, Alice. She will support him and drive him into a new brighter life where he will be able to accept himself, his limits and his flaws.
“Respectful unification of tradition with new elements from far away can bring great innovation at the table and to society.”
Three very interesting personalities in this project. How did all begin and why have you all decided to start this path together?
This journey kicked off two years ago as a result of the brainstorming of three women who have lived in Bologna for more than 10 years — me, my sister Christine and our friend Tatiana. We have come together to celebrate the connections (Incontri) between our land or lands of origin and the place we call home today, Bologna.
How do we do this?
Aglio Olio Pili Pili is a book that celebrates cultural integration through the food cultures of Italian native, émigré and immigré families, using both local and imported, established and unconventional, culinary techniques and ingredients. The project’s editorial productions, community events, laboratories, and related multimedia explore and reinforce the notion that the most social, intimate and lasting encounters between different cultures take place over a meal.
Odette Boya – Co-author of Aglio Olio Pili Pili
You spent your lives in so many countries, totally different from each other. How have these countries influenced you as a woman and influence every day your project?
Speaking for myself, the places I have lived and worked have had the greatest influence by far on my career and my style of doing things. A communications specialist, editor and writer, I have worked for universities, think tanks, governmental agencies, and companies in the U.S., Europe and Africa. I have had the tremendous opportunity to live and work in the inspiring cities of Montreal, Washington D.C., Paris, Gaborone, Kinshasa, Rome and now Bologna. All of these experiences have enabled me to see, hear and taste the world, and to develop expertise as a communications professional. The late novelist Chinua Achebe said it best: ‘The world is like a Mask dancing. If you want to see it well, you do not stand in one place.’
Through Aglio Olio Pili Pili I have found a delicious way to express my multicultural perspective and approach to life.
What is the message behind Aglio Olio Pili Pili?
It all began with one diabolical ingredient, the habanero pepper, the main ingredient of Congo’s famous pili pili.
My husband Vincenzo and I always stocked our pantry with the ingredients for aglio olio e peperoncino— a basic Italian meal of spicy spaghetti. Thanks to my parents, we were even luckier, we always had a jar of pili pili in the refrigerator. Early on in our love story we discovered that these diabolically spicy red habaneros prepared Congolese style were no match for the dry ground peperoncino. Thus was born our signature dish, aglio olio pili pili. It is a dish which has inspired this project. Two people, one couple, the fusion of unexpected yet simply delightful and exciting ingredients, one meal bringing together three continents.
Who are the people you would to target with your message?
To date, our target audience is Italy and more specifically Emilia Romagna since our recent book, Aglio Olio Pili Pili: Cibi e culture tra origini e future si incontrano a Bologna published in Italian this year by Morellini Editore, Milano, explored all of these themes locally. We are also very present in local multicultural events like the annual Festa Multietnica in Bologna as well as other small events we organize in Bologna’s lovely piazze or in other spaces like the Erbario of Coop Alleanza 3.0 or at in The Bologna Museum of Modern Art (MAMbo).
However, I would like to extend the concept and the project to other regions of Italy. The presence of Cécile Kashetu Kyenge, Europarliamentarian and former Minister of Integration in the Italian government, and author of the preface of our book, at our official book launch in September has inspired me to begin to analyse these topics and share the message not only at the local level, but at the European and international level.
How is it possible that cooking together or eating together always unite the most different personalities? Unfortunately it is so difficult to apply it to a larger scale.
I don’t believe that sharing a meal can always unite people from very different backgrounds. But it’s important as a first step. In our recent book, along with about 30 recipes based on our feature interviews, there is also a ‘Recipe for Integration’. It is a playful addition to the book, but it has an important message about curiosity, open- mindedness and persistence in the application of any large scale integration initiative.
What is so special about Bologna, the city where you decided to live?
Bologna is a rare gem. Not only at the Italian level but broadly speaking. It is a city where different ideas co-exist and evolve. Why? That is a complex question but I would begin by saying that it is because it is home to the oldest university in Europe, it is an epicenter of innovation in terms of mechanical engineering, and it is a point of reference for its rich artistic and musical heritage. Today Bologna is known as a university town, populated with students from all over Italy and the rest of the world. As our Brazilian interviewee has noted in the book: “In Bologna there is a healthy spirit of different things co- existing in the same space which you do not see in other places in Italy.” This reality has provided fertile ground for our project.
Is it a coincidence that your life revolves around the topic “Food”, thinking about this project, the book and your UN profession?
It is no coincidence. Food is nourishment. Food is celebration. Food is love. This is what we all live for. And yes, this year I was employed by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) as a communications specialist and am happy to link themes I was introduced to there to our project, where relevant. For example, The United Nations has declared 2016 the International Year of Pulses, crops harvested solely for dry grain. For this reason we couldn’t resist making mention of pulses, especially in the context of this book’s theme: sustainable and innovative foods. Many of the dishes— both familiar and new— that we’ve encountered thanks to the Aglio Olio Pili Pili community feature these nutritious seeds as protagonists, from Fatteh bel djaj in Lebanon (chick peas), to a traditional Moros y Cristianos in Cuba (black beans) to a festive soup to ensure a prosperous new year in Brazil (lentils).
Next projects, events, ideas, collaboration you are planning with your team?
Since the publication of the book we have been busy with book launches, here in Bologna in the form of a dialogue with the presence of Cécile Kashetu Kyenge, in Verona with African Summer School, on Radio Città del Capo, at Liberia Ambasciatori, Eataly in via degli Orefici, Bologna. A few weeks ago, Aglio Olio Pili Pili made its TV debut on RAI Tg2’s show Eat Parade.
After this promotional phase, in the new year we will consider ways to expand the book or new editorial projects to an even larger audience. And of course continue to gather people together at events in Bologna, also with local partners.
DM loves to inspire the readers to follow their dreams, we would like you to share some encouraging words.
At this risk of sounding like a slogan I would encourage everyone to remain curious, like a child. Also to remain human, that is to be guided by love for others, even for those we don’t know, and even if it makes us feel vulnerable, Déshabillé…
Traveling in China is exciting and adventurous and it gets even more adventurous if you don’t know any Chinese. Unlike Thailand or Vietnam, China is not among the most popular destinations for western tourists. There are lots of tourists in China, especially during the holiday season, the difference is: they are all Chinese!
Although there are English signs in most of the national parks and around the most popular tourist attractions, the locals are not really used to foreign tourists and due to that most of them speak no or very limited English. Considering that it is very useful to know at least some basic phrases in Chinese that will help you get along in daily life.
I don’t need it. (veeery useful!) 不用。
I don’t want meat. 不要肉。
Do you know where this place is? 你知道这个地方在哪里?
How much is it? 多少钱?
Thank you. 谢谢.
I want to buy a ticket to… 我要买一张票去 …
Since Chinese is a tonal language the right pronunciation can be a bit challenging for us westerners and make it difficult to make yourself clear, because some locals (especially elder people) won’t understand you if you are not using the right tones. In this case it is very useful to have for example the address of the place you want to go written down in Chinese (in Chinese characters!). When going to a restaurant the easiest thing is to find a place where they have a menu showing photos of the different dishes, other than that you can always point at the food that you want as in a lot of cheap restaurants you can look right into the kitchen or it is even in the same room where the guests are eating. If you are vegetarian and want to make sure that even it doesn’t look like it on the photo you are not choosing a dish with meat or fish from the menu, you can look for these two characters: fish, meat 肉
There are probably nicer things to talk about, but nevertheless I have to come with this topic: toilets. If you have ever traveled in Asia you already know that you can’t compare the hygienic standards to those in Europe, but I can tell you whatever you have in your mind when thinking about dirty and smelly toilets, what you will see in China is worse. It is definitely necessary to always have toilet paper or tissues with you since that’s usually not available in public toilets or sometimes even in hostels. Soap is also a thing that is usually missing (I saw it maybe 3 times within 12 months in China), so remember to bring some hand sanitizer or wet wipes. Don’t go to the toilet with a lot of bags or other items because the locks in the cabins never work (never!) and you will need at least one hand to keep the door closed.
Another important thing that you need to know about traveling in China is, that during the holiday season (July and August/national holidays in the first week of October) everybody in China is traveling and the prices for accommodation and transport can be twice as high or even more. If you are planning to go by train you should definitely book your tickets in advance (ctrip.cn) since the trains are usually fully booked and it is almost impossible to buy tickets at the train station on the day of your departure. Buying bus tickets is a bit easier.
Having the reputation of one of the most romantic and artistic spots in China, the once so calm and quiet Dali, that used to be a secret destination among backpackers, turned into a tourist hot spot in the last years. Both Chinese and western tourists are invading Dali in droves every year, but somehow Dali still maintains at least a bit of its original flair. Although street venders are offering the typical tourist souvenirs and you can book tours to visit minority villages and all that stuff, Dali seems to be a lot more laid back than other tourist destinations in China. If you manage to avoid the tour groups and crowds and explore the city and its surrounding areas on your own, you get to see all the beauty and amazing scenery that the Yunnan province has to offer. If you are planning to visit Dali now (do it!) here are some tips that might be useful:
The Three Pagodas
Located just a few Kilometers outside the Old Town of Dali, The Three Pagodas can be reached easily by a 20 minute walk and are a nice option for a lazy day when you don’t want to spend the whole day out exploring. Other than that they are not a MUST, you can for sure get some nice shots of the pagodas and walking up the hill you will pass numerous temples that are quite nice, but to be fair they are all kind of similar and after the fourth temple you might already have had enough. Besides the entry fee is a bit pricy: 120 Yuan for an adult /60 Yuan for students.
Cangshan Mountain
Cangshan Mountain is a mountain right next to the Old Town of Dali and doesn’t look too special at first sight, but from my experience I can say it is definitely worth going up there, since you will be given an amazing view over Dali and the countryside. There are three cable ways to go up the mountain, the longest one in the middle that takes you up to the highest point of the mountain and two shorter ones on the left and the right side. The two shorter ones are connected with a 12 kilometer hiking trail which seriously is one of the most beautiful trails I have hiked so far. The Mountain is also called the mountain of 19 peaks and 18 streams, because there is a stream going down the mountain in between every two peaks. The path leads along most of these streams and provides you with amazing views of waterfalls, mountain cracks, the famous Erhai Lake and peaceful forests and greenery. I would recommend taking the right cable just opposite the old town to go up the mountain, then follow the path all the way to the other cable station and take the hiking trail right next to it to go down, since there are some more amazing viewpoints and it is very likely that you can enjoy it all by yourself because most people take the cable cars. Don’t worry about the rainy season- as long as you take an umbrella with you it will be just as enjoyable. The visibility might be poor in the beginning, but the neglected hiking trail along the mist covered mountain is just picturesque.
Erhai-Lake
Definitely worth a trip is Erhai-Lake, the seventh biggest lake in China. The best way to enjoy the beautiful countryside and see some villages other than the really touristy ones where the tour buses will take you, is to hire a motorbike and go round the whole lake. Since the lake is really big this will take you the whole day, but scenery is amazing and you can stop to take pictures or have lunch in one of the villages.
What to eat
A very famous specialty of Yunnan is the rose pastry, which is usually a small round cake filled with a sweet rose paste. Not as well known among strangers but definitely as delicious and a real local specialty of Dali is baba, a flat bread-cake with either a sweet, creamy rose flavoured filling, or a filling made of egg and pork. The Yunnan cuisine is very different from the one in other regions of China, so don’t miss the chance of trying it in Dali. Most of the restaurants along the main roads in the Old Town such as the Foreigner Street or the busy Renminlu, are restaurants with standard Chinese food or western styled dishes, the local restaurants are located in the smaller side streets or the villages. Since those are places where usually all the locals eat, the prices are a lot cheaper than in the popular bars and restaurants and the food is more authentic. If you are looking for a good place along the main road though, I would recommend a small Muslim restaurant right at the corner of Renminlu and Yeyulu, which offers authentic northern Chinese rice dishes and handmade noodles for a fair price.
Where to stay
There are a lot of really nice hostels in Dali, all in about the same price range and most of them located in the Old Town of Dali where I would recommend staying, as it is the heart of Dali with the atmosphere of an old Chinese village and a lot of nice old buildings and cute little cafes and shops. The one particular Guesthouse that I can definitely recommend is the Dragonfly Guesthouse. It is owned by a Chinese-Dutch couple and the rooms are located around a lovely little backyard with outdoor sinks. The rooms are very clean and modern and in the dorms each bed is provided with a personal reading light and a curtain to have a bit more privacy. You can enjoy food and drinks in the public area, or relax on the rooftop on your lazy days. The Owner, Chris, also offers a free Scooter tour around the lake every week, shows you around the countryside, and introduces you to the best local food. The scooter tour was definitely one of our personal highlights during our stay in Dali. The guesthouse also organizes bus tickets with a pick up right in front of the building without charging you an extra fee.
Maria Helena
Read more about her adventures in China: gegenwind.me 🙂
I have an eye of photographer and the mind of marketer. Absolutely passionate about art and believe that artists should always stay together supporting each other. Déshabillé magazine always gave me support that I needed and I tried to give my support to it as much as I could.
