BEHIND TDS WITH H.
A Milanese Tête-à-Tête with Gourmand Chiara Maci
- BY dressingscreen
- August 1, 2022
- 3:24 pm
As temperatures rise in and around the elegant promenades of Milan, TDS Ambassador Helen Nonini opts for a fantasy floral blue and red motif dress, this time fashioned by Degage – a brand born from the desire to combine essential lines, high quality materials and tailoring skills.
The style maven escapes the hot asphalt to visit a dear friend, Chiara Maci, a famous food blogger, writer, gourmand and protagonist TV programs like “Italia a Morsi” (Italy in bites), a food show dedicated to traditional recipes. Over some local delights, Chiara and Helen are ready to discuss the wonders of Italy and what it means to her.
“For me, Italian style revolves around one word: research. Research of the best materials, the exclusivity of design and of quality… with an eye on the beauty of our nation that often also influences the style and refinement of products all over the world,” said Chiara, who has been living in Milan for years and is just as passionate about some local brands, as she is about food.
On this warm Milanese afternoon, Chiara’s wearing an ecru, made-to-order vest – the type of elegant wardrobe staple that adds a dash of polish to any outfit.
The picture of a culinary goddess, the Bologna native makes her way to the kitchen in velvety friulane slippers, accented with her initials in gold and prepares a fresh squeezed orange juice made with ripe Italian citrus for her fashionable guest.
“For me Chiara has always been an ally, a friend and an effervescent mind with whom conversation is always stimulating. In addition to her spaghetti al pomodoro, she embodies the spirit of Italy in every way — quality, taste, simplicity and home,“ muses Helen.
An upbeat urban kitchen, the Bologna-native’s table is filled with contemporary treasures, all of which contribute to this contemporary yet elegantly cozy image.
Her mise en place is punctuated by tablewear of small porcelain items that speak to the heart and that celebrate the Dolce Vita lifestyle with personalized sayings like Ciao Ciao, Colpo di Fulmine, Tra Le Nuvole and Dolce Far Niente.
A lively striped vase by a Tuscan artist whose contemporary designs provide the perfect modern touch for the updated culinary oasis serves as the centerpiece for this convivial, intimate meeting.
More nostalgic accents abound, like Tuscan cloth napkins woven in the cellars of an ancient palazzo in the small town of Anghiari. – just as they were in the mid 19th century.
“Although I wasn’t born in Italy, Italianness for me, is a natural attitude towards quality, which is often also synonymous with beauty an understood as attention to detail. Italy has a tradition of savoir faire because there is a lot of love woven into our sense of craftsmanship.”
