The Calabrian Way

The Calabrian Way is a collection of authentic Southern Italian recipes which our two mothers, Franceschina Martino and Delma DeRose have been cooking, from memory since they were children. Both were born in the small hilltop town of Fagnano Castello, Calabria and later immigrated to Australia to start a better life. They settled in the Mareeba, Dimbulah district in Far North Queensland and worked on tobacco farms along with their husbands and children. All through our childhood and young adult life, we marvelled at how food appeared on the table at every lunch and dinner but not really appreciating the efforts or the behind the scenes action which took place in the kitchen, nor the preparation needed sometimes days before. All this they did willingly and with love, never tiring and always glad to feed the masses who turned up for Sunday lunch.Franceschina and Delma did not know each other in Fagnano, but through the marriage between 2 of their children, Michael and Maria, a special bond developed and so their journey continues now with two joined families. With the traditional wood fired oven in the back shed, they fast became renowned for making the best Pitta e` Pane in Mareeba. It soon became apparent to us that all these traditional recipes would one day be lost if not recorded. To date most of these recipes are made from experience, knowing by touch and taste if enough of any one ingredient is sufficient. Along with the actual ingredients it was crucial to document the way the food is prepared and worked to create the special shapes.We felt it was important to tie the recipes back to their origins and interleave images and thoughts of Fagnano Castello within the book. These images and inspirational quotes serve to remind us all that life can sometimes get too complicated and we should slow down, reflect and most importantly, enjoy the food from the heart.Michael Martino was born in Fagnano Castello, Calabria Italy and immigrated with his sister and Mother, Franceschina Martino to Australia in 1965. Franceschina and her husband, Pasquale Martino settled in Mareeba and worked on the tobacco and sugar cane farms in the region. With his strong attachment to the traditional Italian way of life and new found opportunities in Australia he continues to enjoy the best of both worlds. He is a practicing Architect in Far North Queensland and has a deep sense of gratitude for his upbringing and is proud to have retained his traditional heritage. Maria Ernestina DeRose was born in 1964 in Dimbulah, Far North Queensland Australia where she spent all her childhood on her parent’s tobacco farm. Her parents, Irio Cleto DeRose and Delma Pompea DeRose also immigrated from Fagnano Castello in 1950 and 1951 and through that background Maria grew up knowing and experiencing the old Italian traditions. As a young girl she was always in the kitchen helping her mother and learning the old recipes. As an adult she continues to practice the old ways of living and aims to share her cooking experience with all her friends.Michael and Maria are married with two children, Francesca and Gabriel Pasquale who they hold dear to their hearts. They have journey back to Italy and especially Fagnano Castello, on numerous occasions to bond with their relatives and to experience the true Calabrian Way.Southern Italian cooking,traditional Calabrian recipe,Italian travel experiences,authentic Italian recipes,Italian food,The Calabrian Way is a testament to our gratitude and our special way of thanking our Mothers for persevering with the old traditional ways. We hope to carry on with their legacy and introduce the world to our special little place we often all home… Calabria.