Dec 13, 2024
Joining us this week is Andrea Falaschi,
fourth generation butcher from Macelleria Falaschi in San Miniato
in the heart of Tuscany. Andrea’s family business is
celebrating its 100th year in 2025. Andrea takes us through
his family history with some anecdotes about how the business
started back in 1925 with his great Grandfather Guido emigrating
from Argentina with no reading and writing skills to open San
Miniato’s first butcher shop. Moving through Fascism in Italy
we hear about the discord between his grandfather Vasco
and Vasco’s brother Bruno, and you must hear the segment discussing
Vasco’s fear of the phone when that technology became
commonplace!! Also, Andrea talks about the influence women in
the family had on the business.
Andrea, with interpretation assistance
from his dear friend Astrid Ensign, who designs Portland Food
Adventures trips to Italy, shares some of the challenges of the
business, including the severe conditions in Italy through the
pandemic. He is a huge lover of cinema, and Andrea shares the
joy he had visiting the Goonies house when visiting Oregon earlier
this year, as well as some of his favorite experiences in
Oregon.
How does this relate to Portland?
Well, here. Two ways!:
Oregon Mailata in May of 2025, the Italian Festival of the Pig put
on by renowned chef Portland chef Cathy Whims and her
team. The
event takes place on March 22 and tickets can be found here,
where you can see his exciting butchering demonstration, in
addition to many other workshops, wine tasting, and a big
celebratory meal put on by some of Portland’s best chefs.
TUSCANY!! This!! A very few select folks
can book a trip to Tuscany in the Fall with RATF host Chris
Angelus’ Portland Food Adventures, and celebrate Macelleria
Falaschi’s 100th anniversary with Andrea and PFA’s Astrid
Ensign, former expat, and host Chris. Check
out those details here and contact Chris – contact into on the
PFA website at the link to your left.
