Viale Canova

Lorenzo Spezzamonte and Massimo Bortolazzo have brought authentic Italian cuisine all the way from Venice to Brisbane, Australia.

Arriving in 2002 Lorenzo and Massimo have together created a unique fine dining experience. Some of you may have had the pleasure of tasting Lorenzo's fresh pasta, made every day.

"Viale Canova" is set to score full marks, not only for the food, but also for the friendly service and special atmosphere. The candlelit restaurant has an intimate and homely feel, similar to a family dining room, with beautiful artwork on its walls supplied by Oriel Gallery.

Soft music plays in the background. There may be a harpist, there may be a Carnivale, a fashion show or a masked evening - you never know what will happen next, but keep in touch to find out what special events are taking place.

This small Italian Restaurant, tucked away on Sandgate Road in Clayfield, is a gorgeous feast for all the senses. Opening just more than two years ago by two Italians hailing from a little town called Borso del Grappa, Viale Canova has quickly established a name for itself among gourmands and food critics. The atmosphere in the restaurant is extravagant yet homely, with tasteful works of art gracing the walls, soft candlelight and chandeliers. The service is exceptionally friendly without being stifling.

The creations in the kitchen are care of chef Lorenzo, who uses his extensive experience in the fine food arena to create traditional Italian dishes using quality Australian produce. Bread to start is mandatory and exquisite – nothing beats a freshly baked loaf, especially when it is topped with moist bocconcini, tomato and oregano. Next the sliced baked rabbit topped with truffle sauce is robust and delicious, while the homemade fettuccine with Moreton

Bay bugs and Italian porcini mushrooms in a white wine sauce completes the meal. Lorenzo is famed for his selection of risottos and pastas, but the menu also boasts a variety of meat and fish dishes.

Headed by chef Lorenzo Spezzamonte, the food is rich and authentic, with only the freshest of ingredients used and everything prepared on site that day. The service is also authentically Italian, with business partner Massimo Bortolazzo, who hails from the north of Italy, in charge of the front of house.

The restaurant is divided into two. Inside, the look is classical with pale floor tiles, white and red walls, high-backed wooden chairs and plenty of modern art. A small courtyard out the back offers candlelit, white-clothed tables with elegant wrought-iron chairs.

Viale Canova, 4/828 Sandgate Rd, Clayfield, ph: 3256 1901.
http://www.vialecanova.com/

Danye Alighieri Society Brisbane

2007 was the 55th year of the Brisbane Dante’s continuous existence. With branches worldwide, our parent society in Rome, la sede centrale, was founded in 1889 on the inspiration of the great Nobel prize winning poet, Giosuè Carducci. Its two objectives at that time, that we and all branches still pursue, are to maintain and to resuscitate the use of Italian among Italians emigrants in foreign lands and also to diffuse the Italian language and culture among non-Italians.


Our Activities

Monthly Cultural EventsAcross the years these monthly encounters have ranged from concerts, theatre outings, lectures on Italy, past and present, Italian films (subtitled or not, according to need), music, art, cooking and so on. Cultural meetings usually take place in the 3rd. week of every month and are announced in the Dante News. English and Italian feature as the languages of presentation. We encourage initiatives from members outside the management committee to suggest ideas and speakers for functions.

Language and Culture Courses

For the Brisbane Dante, these represent the greatest expression of the Society’s aims and our most important commitment of time and effort. Courses for the most part are year long in duration with an additional intake of new students in Semester two. All levels of language are taught from Monday to Thursday in the evenings and on some mornings. Children's classes are also available. In addition, circoli di cultura are offered fortnightly in Italian including, of course, un circolo dantesco.

Dante Alighieri Society Inc., Brisbane

23 Foster Street Newmarket

PO Box 3107 Newmarket, QLD 4051

Australia Ph/Fax: + 61 07 3356 7731

http://www.dante-alighieri.org.au/English/Main-English.htm

Susan Parisi

A Canadian-Australian, Susan Parisi's long standing love affair with the Italian culture began when she married an Italian-Australian and was immediately swept up in the passion and love-of-life of a large Italianfamily.


Fascinated by all things Italian, it's no surprise that a particularly intense trip to Italy was the inspiration for her first novel, Blood of Dreams. A murder-mystery set during Carnevale season 18th century Venice, Blood of Dreams is a story of obsession, intrigue and betrayal.

Nominated for fivemajor awards, Blood of Dreams won an Aurealis Award for speculative fictionin January 2008.

Her next book, Mosaic, is a conspiracy-thriller set inRome and Palermo.

"I've got to admit, it was an unconventional upbringing," Susan comments."In a family with complete indifference to mainstream values and opinions you made up your own rules of conduct. It definitely gave me a sense of being an outsider and observer - a perspective not uncommon among writers.

But the odd thing is, I didn’t write . . . I loved reading but was obsessed with painting and sketching from a very early age and wanted to be a book illustrator or portrait artist. The possibility of becoming a writer never even featured . . ." Craving stability after something of a harum-scarum upbringing, Susan went to university, studied psychology (clearly an ironical touch), got an honest job, married and became part of her husband’s large and vibrant Italian-Australian family. But the legacy of delinquent parents ran deep
Most of Susan's working life was spent contemplating the idea that there had to be more to life. In between a variety of jobs, Susan spent her time renovating houses with her husband, pursuing her lifelong love of painting and sketching and nurturing a growing passion for Italy and the Italian culture.

Although an ardent reader and film-goer, the idea of channeling her restless creative energy into writing stories still had not entered her head.

http://www.susanparisi.net/