The Standard 8 June 2014

June 8 to 14 2014 THE STANDARD STYLE /DIPLOMATIC RECEPTION 15
Italian
National Day
at Greendale
Dusty Miller
Mrs Roberto Abodi, deputy head of mission at the Italian Embassy, made the welcoming speech on Monday as Enrico De Agostini
(far right) hadn’t, then, presented his credentials. He did so
FEW places in the world will have had a nicer
afternoon to celebrate the Italian National Day
(Festa della Repubblica) on Monday than that
experienced at the Italian Embassy in Greendale,
Harare. (Other than perhaps in Rome itself !)
The day was pleasantly warm with golden sun in a
cloudless cornflower blue sky; men were smart, women
sleek and sophisticated; conversation stimulating;
there was the lovely aroma of expensive cosmetic fragrances
in the air, competing with the perfume of the
Embassy’s well-maintained colourful gardens.
Other scents included those from a whole juicy roasted
suckling pig, fresh off the spit and Italian cheeses,
hams salads and pastas. For the first time in many
years Italian wine (rather than South Africa) was
served at this annual glittering reception, a “must attend”
event among the cognoscenti.
We toasted the 68th anniversary of the founding of
the Italian Republic, soon after the end of World War
II and the defeat of Fascism. By democratic vote the
Italian people narrowly chose to depose the Royal
Family (House of Savoy) and become a constitutional
republic.
We toasted that historic (sad for many) day with elegant
flutes of Fantinel Prosecco Spumante (what
used to be often called Italian champagne) and crisp
elegant extra dry Minini Soave white wine. The red
wine was a robust Minini Casa Vinicola Bardolino.
Zest Hospitality Training and Event staff did the
magnificent catering and ran the well-stocked bars
(info@zesttraining co.zw) and there was a splendid
sufficiency of efficient, polite waitrous in the marquee
and throughout the landscaped grounds.
As my new friend Enrico De Agostini was still the
Ambassador-designate of Italy (having not then presented
his credentials to President Mugabe), protocol
dictated that the deputy head of mission, Mrs Roberto
Abodi hosted the event. At the playing of the Italian
and Zimbabwean national anthems she was on
the podium flanked by an officer of the Carabinieri
(para-military police) taking the salute in the unit’s
distinctive full dress uniform dating back to the 18th
century. Enrico stood close by, his wife Mrs Susie
Russell De Agostini was in the audience.
The New Ambassador is a fun-loving foodie and wine
connoisseur and recently cooked a Venetian-themed
dinner enjoyed by gourmets at Meikles Hotel’s la
Fontaine Restaurant. In late June this will be followed
by a dinner celebrating the cuisine of Rome at
the same venue.
dustym@zimind.co.zw dustymiller46@gmail.com
Diplomatic receptions bring together a cross section of the community. Here Former Harare
Mayor, Much Masunda is flanked by economist John Robertson (left of the picture) and George
Thomson, who owns Cape Wines (Pvt) Ltd in Msasa.
The Italian defence attaché is an officer in the para-military police regiment, the Carabinieri,
but the Embassy declined to give his name or rank for “security reasons”. The unit’s full dress
uniform dates back to the 18th century, but they also wear modern camouflage and boast a
parachute and airborne division