Alessandro Pinto
The food of Cilento in New Jersey

Alessandro Pinto was born in 1921 and lives in Orria (Salerno), on the hills of Cilento. His wife was a very good cook. His favorite recipe is fusilli, rigorously seasoned with goat meat.

Today his family is divided between Italy and New Jersey so Alessandro, in the cold season, goes to America to stay with his children and grandchildren. There she eats only Italian food because her daughters have preserved the tradition of preparing and consuming only Cilento dishes. Alessandro, however, also knows how to make fusilli by himself.

However, there is a substantial difference that he underlines between Orria and New Jersey: “you eat too much there”, says Alessandro. And you eat too much because there is always an occasion to celebrate: religious holidays, birthdays, name days are good occasions to sit at the table. In spite of Cilento where the days of celebration were well marked by popular tradition but where conviviality was lived in front of a glass of wine and a few fresh figs.