Eat Amatriciana Pasta and Help Fund Earthquake Rebuilding Efforts in Central Italy from Beijing
As you may know, a 6.2-magnitude earthquake hit central Italy on August 24, leading to severe damage in the towns of Amatrice, Accumoli, and Pescara del Tronto in Italy.
The historic town of Amatrice, with a population of around 2,000 people, was the epicenter of the earthquake. "Amatrice is not here anymore, half of the town is destroyed," the mayor of Amatrice Sergio Pirozzi stated, following reports that 297 people lost their lives as a result of the earthquake.
The town is situated in remote mountainous terrain, and is popular with tourists in summer. You might have also heard of this town before the earthquake struck because it holds an annual pasta festival. This year marks the 50th edition of the Festival of the Spaghetti all’Amatriciana.
Alla amatriciana, originating in Amatrice, is a traditional Italian pasta sauce based on guanciale (cured pork cheek), pecorino cheese, and tomato. This tomato-based sauce is popular in Roman trattorias, and is one of the best known pasta sauces in Italian cuisine.
What can you do to help, from Beijing, you might think? Well, The China-Italy Chamber of Commerce, in agreement with the Embassy of Italy, announced “Un futuro per Amatrice” in early September. For every order of Amatriciana pasta, RMB 20 will be donated to the Amatrice Municipality (RMB 10 offered by the restaurant, and RMB 10 from what you're paying for your pasta). This project involves 57 restaurants in China, with the following restaurants participating in Beijing:
- Bar of the Embassy of Italy
- Barolo
- Buona Bocca
- Eatalia Unique
- Eatalia Carpe Diem
- Eatalia La Dolce Vita
- Fiorentina
- Fiume
- Galleria
- La Dolce Vita
- Lmplus Central Park
- La Pizza
- Mercante
- Opera Bombana
- Park 17 Italian Restaurant
The project goes on until November 24. And on November 25, the restaurants will transfer all the donations tothe China-Italy Chamber of Commerce, which in agreement with the Italian Embassy in China will announce the total amount collected during the promotional activities organized within the framework of “the first week of the Italian cuisine abroad in the world” (November 21-27), and will then transfer the entire sum to the Amatrice Municipality. For more information you can write to donations@cameraitacina.com.
You can also donate directly to the following bank account:
Bank details:
RMB Account: 333756012539
EUR Account: 335056012539
China Italy Chamber of Commerce
Name of the bank: Bank of China Beijing, Xincheng Guoji Sub-Branch
Address: 1/F, Building No.26, Central Park, 6 Chaoyangmen Waidajie, Beijing, China
Tel: 6597 9313
SWIFT Code: BKCH CN BJ 110.
And, last but not least, if you're traveling this holiday, these are participating restaurants in the rest of the country:
Chengdu:
- Bucciano
- Casa Maria Piccolo Ristorante Italiano
- Grappa's Italian Restaurant
- Tivano Restaurant
Chongqing:
- Alessi Bistro & Wine Lounge
- Dcafe
- Nova Venezia Italian Restaurant
- Origanoroma
- Spazio Italia
- Vito Vinoteca
Dongguan:
- Buonasera Italian Restaurant
Foshan:
- Oggi Pizzeria
Guangzhou:
- Cincin Tutti Italian Restaurant
- Mammamia!
- Oggi Trattoria Pizzeria
- Oggi Trattoria
- Oggi Pizzeria
Ningbo:
- Amore Restaurant
Qingdao:
- Milano Italian restaurant
- Italiano DOC
Shanghai:
- Bella Napoli
- Bella Vita Shanghai
- Cucina 1980
- Da Camilla
- Fratelli la bufala
- Goodfellas
- Mammamia!
- Mammamia! Shanghai Village
- Palatino
- Porto Matto
- Salotto G
- Spazio Italia
Shenzhen:
- Angelo Mediterrean Restaurant
- Oggi Trattoria Pizzeria
Suzhou:
- Mammamia! Lake
- Mammamia! Suzhou Village
Tianjin:
- Bella Vita
- Venezia Club Italian Restaurant & Winery
Wuxi:
- Mammamia!
Zhongshan:
- La Botte Italian Restaurant
More stories by this author here.
Email: tracywang@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @flyingfigure
Instagram: @flyingfigure
Photos courtesy of CNN, CICC
