A tender self-portrait, ‘Aftersun’ lets Charlotte Wells fictionalize her own life and her relationship with her complicated father
Timothée Chalamet reteams with ‘Call Me By Your Name’ director Luca Guadagnino for charming cannibal romance Bones and All’
Noah Baumbach and company provide a wild re-imagining of Don DeLillo’s ‘White Noise’
With Showing Up, Kelly Reichardt sculpts a portrait of an artist on edge, featuring a wonderful Michelle Williams and Hong Chau
Stars at Noon, the latest film from Claire Denis, befuddles and bewilders but is worth the watch if you get on its wavelength.
On September 26th, The “female mastermind group” Fylí and the global hospitality group SHŌ held an exclusive dinner at Cracco to close MFW for a group of Milan’s top fashion industry insiders. With sustainability, diversity, and global impact at the forefront of the conversation surrounding Italy’s evolving fashion industry, Fyli’s “Illuminating Your Purpose to Create Impact” brought together women from across the globe to form valuable connections that will lead to necessary action.
Milan Fashion Week’s “Illuminating Your Purpose to Create Impact Dinner.” Guests dining at Cracco.
While fashion shows, celebrities, and designer clothing usually take center stage during fashion, not too far behind the curtain, there’s an entire industry of designers, advisors, and investors working to bring sustainably and diversity to the forefront of the global fashion industry. With this in mind, the CEO of Fylí, Jaclynn Brennen, paired with culture visionary, advisor, and catalyst, Orietta Pelizzari, to connect some of Fylí’s U.S based key investors and Milan’s most notable figures within the fashion industry. “Now more than ever, the Italian fashion industry is seeking more sustainable practices, greater diversity and inclusion, and impactful international relations,” explains Jaclynn. “Fylí joined the Milan Fashion Week calendar to develop a curated experience to help create conversations and forge the relationships, resources, and funding necessary to drive actionable solutions.”
Orietta Pelizzari (left)
Paola Arosio (left), Catherine Sypert (right)
Among the group were CNMI Sustainability Fashion Award Winners – Ara Lumeire and NKWO, renowned showroom CEOs Ricardo Grassi of RG Showroom and Sabrina Scarpelinni Bonini of Massimo Bonini, Head of Fashion at Riscante Federica Montelli, Italian designer Luisa Beccaria, Head of Sustainability and New Brands Projects for the Italian Fashion Council, Paola Arosia. During the evening’s reception, Catherine Sypert, COO and Head of House at Fylí, shared a little more insight into what sparked the idea to host the “Illuminating Your Purpose to Create Impact” dinner and dive deeply into Italy’s fashion industry. “There’s been a lot of effort to focus on sustainability and cleaning up the fashion industry, which is the 2nd most harmful industry to our planet. While the Fylí community is industry agnostic, we have many impact investors looking for opportunities to invest in companies that impact, are focused on improving the world, and elevate women.” Fyli’s Community Manager, Mia Callens, added, ” Italy’s dedication to sustainability and seeing how the needle has moved towards sustainability in the Italian fashion space is something that the global fashion industry can learn from. It is amazing how they set up different initiatives and legislation to hold designers and brands accountable for creating more green production processes so we can continue pushing for a better planet for future generations.”
Mia Callens (left), Aram Ostadian-Binai (center)
The evening was not without some excellent food and fun. At each guest table setting were custom-made place cards; one was the menu, and the other with three questions for each guest at their table to answer during their introduction. The menu was curated and sponsored by the upcoming hospitality group SHŌ. There was incredibly impactful energy flowing the Cracco and all of Fyli’s guests. Witnessing women from across the globe come together to learn from each other, uplift one another, and build relationships to create change through fashion was an incredible experience.
A few weeks ago, we tried the new Italian restaurant in Chelsea Market. A less rushed alternative to the market’s typical grab-and-go options, La Devozione offers fine dining, casual dining, a market of artisanal goods, and also takeout. If the restaurant’s name sounds familiar, it’s because they stem from a well known pasta manufacturer with roots dating back more than 110 years – Pastificio di Martino. Their story is fascinating, with the aforementioned origins to the first takeaway stand in Naples, to now expanding into restaurants in the United States. Our last visit involved dining at A Tavola, their casual dining area, and we couldn’t wait to try The Oval for an immersive tasting experience with Chef Alessio Rosetti.
Well, today was that day! We entered Chelsea Market and wandered over to the restaurant, nestled in the very center across from the open-concept food court. Soon, we were seated at the impressive chef’s counter: an oblong round tabletop surrounding state-of-the-art stovetops, ovens, pasta stations, and more, also known as The Oval.
We began our meal with a few cocktails: the American Rose and the Select Aperitivo. Both drinks had a citrusy, bitter flavor profile with the former boasting a bit of fizz and the latter holding a more floral component from the juniper berries. They paired perfectly with our first course, which was a wafer made of over-boiled and mashed up pasta, then spread thin, seasoned with classic italian herbs, and dried out. It also came with two breadsticks, and delicious ‘cookies’ made with pork fat and crushed almonds. So unique, with familiar tastes but brand new formats, made for the perfect carb-based appetizer.
The second course was our first pasta, the Spaghettini a Limone. Bright and acidic yet balanced due to the creamy provolone sauce, it excited us about the rest of the courses to come. Lemon pasta is one of my absolute favorite dishes, so I could have happily eaten an entire meal of this alone. Next, the Pacchero Calabria arrived. A plate of 4 large paccheri, each topped with bergamot glaze, smoked swordfish, and fennel fronds, were like little flavor explosions. Citrusy and fresh, earthy, and smoky essences filled your mouth for a true gastronomical experience. I loved this small, punchy dish!
Next, the Sogno Rosso was a spaghetti with caviar and parlsey foam that came out for our fourth course. It was plated gorgeously with voluminous bright green parsley foam that keeps its shape for longer than expected. The flavors, once swirled together, were earthy and complex. The Marco Polo, a roasted beet goat cheese pasta, arrived next: a bright magenta colored sauce served in a large wine glass. Goat cheese comprised the main flavor, which quickly melted and incorporated into the pink sauce. This brightened the dish and added a whipped, creamy texture.
Our next course was a pick-your-own adventure: either the Candele Rotto a Mare or the Candele BBQ. Of course, we each chose one so we could sample both dishes. The Candele Rotto a Mare was a cripsy medley of octopus, squid, cuttlefish, and asparagus covered in a ragu sauce. The result? A seafood-heavy flavor balanced by the classic, neutral comfort of a red sauce that blended perfectly. The Candele BBQ was one of our favorite items of the night, with sizzling pork belly and creamy artichoke.
The final food course was the restaurant’s namesake dish – La Devozione. A simple tomato basil sauce yet so complex and satisfying in flavor, this pasta absolutely cannot disappoint – and that’s due to the quality of its ingredients. Tomatoes are from Sorrento which are harvested in the summer and canned to send to the US in the fall. In contrast to San Marzano tomatoes, these are richer and sweeter, giving the sauce an extraordinary flavor. This was our favorite item last time as it’s also on A Tavola’s menu, and was definitely near the top this time as well.
For dessert, we had a lime tart, which was a unique twist on the indulgent lemon tart. We finished off our meal with smooth, creamy espresso brewed in the moka pots La Devozione sells in their market. They were a delicious end to a decadent, artful meal. We highly recommend The Oval to anyone looking for an experience far greater than just a meal – a creative, interactive Chef-led lesson in Italian cuisine.
ABC’s hit show, The Rookie has returned for its fifth season followed by the highly anticipated spin off series, The Rookie: Feds starring Niecy Nash-Betts who will be reprising her role as Simone Clark.
Bring the Beauty of Iceland’s Wilderness to the Cocktail World and savor every sip of this smooth London Dry Gin from Iceland…