Fourth of July with Rosanna!

Do you know Rosanna?  You probably have a little Rosanna in your kitchen - she's the most fabulous Seattle based tabletop designer around.  Not only is she a great designer, amazing business woman, and fabulous entertainer - but she's really really nice.
So I asked my friend Rosanna to share her ideas for celebrating the Fourth of July in style.  You can check out her blog to see my ideas for celebrating too! 

From the end of June to the middle of July, my family and I live in an old farmhouse in Umbria, Italy. During this time, we live a life half American, half Italian, using the best of both cultures. We are surrounded by art, historical architecture, and the breathtaking natural beauty of the land. I'm always struck by Umbria's profound beauty, which only deepens with the passage of time.

We celebrate this quintessential American holiday by paying special attention to our connection with Italy. To honor this cross-cultural bond, I've created a unique Fourth of July celebration that blends the customs and traditions of America and Italy.

• We use Rosanna dishes in red, white, and blue. My favorite combination is pale blue dinner plates combined with red and white polka dots.

• A small American flag is inserted into each napkin, tied together with ribbon, and I typically use unhemmed American yardage for a tablecloth.

• For decoration we use vintage US flags (some so old they only have 48 stars!) alongside a large Italian flag, and Rosanna recycled blue Mexican glass hurricanes as vases for flowers.

I plan the dinner menu with great care to create a bicultural eating experience:

• During the meal I highlight the best of both countries by placing classic American and Umbrian dishes side by side.

• According to Italian custom, I serve the meal in multiple courses:

• Il primo piatto, 
the first course, is a pasta dish, penne al pomodoro e vodka (penne with tomato and vodka cream sauce.

• Il secondo piatto, 
the second course, includes three meat selections: American hamburgers ground by our favorite Italian butcher, Domenico, scottadito d'agnello (a petite lamb chop typical of the region), and handmade Umbrian sausages from Domenico. All the meats are cooked on a wood-burning grill. We add sprigs of herbs to the grill to perfume the food, which results in succulent, richly flavored meats cooked to perfection.

• We serve American hamburgers on a large tray with all the traditional condiments. Many times, I end up giving a lesson at the table for our Italian guests on how to build a good burger. The demonstration is always fun and amusing, if not a little strange to some of our guests. This simple gesture of sharing iconic national foods unites our two cultures and creates a sense of conviviality.

• Every year our friend Vito brings a gigantic cake festooned with the American flag. Though emblazoned in red, white, and blue, the cake itself is made in the Italian style: flaky puff pastry layered with delicious homemade pastry cream.

There is the final toast, which goes like this: "Un brindisi ai nostri amici italiani e l'independenza degli Stati Uniti!" - "A toast to our Italian friends and to Independence Day!" We end the feast with sweet, sparkling wine from Veneto accompanied by Vito's Italian/American flag cake.

I wish you all a safe and happy Independence Day!

With love,

To pick up your own little piece of Italy this summer, pop on over to the Rosanna site!


About Rosanna

If Rosanna ran the world, everyone would sit down to dinner each evening and enjoy a healthy meal presented on exquisite dishes. She believes that eating together is truly a giving and loving experience. Her desire to celebrate life - from the major milestones to the smallest moments - is what drives her design. Whether it's for a birthday party for the kids, a glamorous soiree, or simply dining at home, her stylish dishes turn any day into a special occasion.

Rosanna Bowles is a Northwest educated, self-made entrepreneur. She started her successful tableware company out of her Seattle home in 1982. Nearly three decades and millions of dishes later, Rosanna Inc. has grown exponentially. Rosanna has emerged as a trendsetter in the homewares industry and established her product as an internationally acclaimed brand. Rosanna is a star presence in design circles, highly sought after for her expertise on mindful, gracious living.

Rosanna has acquired a remarkable assortment of awards. In both 2002 and 2011, she was a finalist for the Nellie Cashman Woman in Business award. Seattle Homes and Lifestyle Magazine has selected Rosanna Inc. as one of the top 100 design companies in the Northwest. In 2005, Rosanna became the first American to win the prestigious Gift of the Year Award from the UK. In 2008, the University of Oregon, Rosanna's alma mater, bestowed her with an alumni fellow award for outstanding career achievement. Rosanna's products have appeared twice on Oprah's "O List," and in 2008, O Magazine included Rosanna in an exclusive feature, "Women Who Make Beautiful Things."

Coverage of Rosanna product is widespread. Her tableware has been featured in Family Circle, Country Living, Southern Living, Every Day with Rachael Ray, Sunset, Redbook, Cooking Light, People, Brides, Better Homes and Gardens, Bon Appetit, Good Housekeeping, Elle, Elle Decor, Vogue, Real Simple, O Magazine, O at Home, and the New York Times. She also appears regularly on ABC, NBC, and CBS affiliate programs throughout the Pacific Northwest, and as a guest on Martha Stewart Radio. Better Homes and Gardens consulted Rosanna for the 2010 holiday season as a tabletop expert, providing a beautiful showcase for her tablesetting philosophy: "Dress your table as you would yourself."

Rosanna brings a unique sensibility to hear tableware. Her work is not only about producing beautiful things; it is about creating a way of life. Rosanna's first book was born out of this philosophy. Stewart, Tabori, & Chang, a division of Abram's Publishing, released Coming Home: A Seasonal Guide to Creating Family Traditions in March 2010. In the book, Rosanna guides us through the cultivation of human connection with ideas, recipes, and activities inspired by the four seasons. Coming Home is a testament to Rosanna's range. It has launched her as a lifestyle expert with a vision extending far beyond the table.

Rosanna pours her heart into her work. Her products remind us of what's important: to infuse our lives with ritual, tradition, and community, keeping home and family at the heart.

To keep up with Rosanna, find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RosannaInc, follow her at Twitter @RosannasTable, pin with her on Pinterest, and watch her videos on YouTube.