We are joined by Gianni Miradoli, CEO of Central Holidays, a European tour operator founded in 1972 by brothers Fred and Joe Berardo.

An Italian native, Eva Zanardi has lived in Manhattan since 1991. A world traveler fluent in four languages, she is currently employed as director of communications at the Italian Cultural Institute in New York City since 1999. Prior to this, she majored in French and Spanish at the Universita' di Venezia and holds a degree in foreign languages. Afterwards, she pursued a successful career as a foreign correspondent for Italian Vogue and Harper's Bazaar, writing about jewelry, art, and cinema. She graduated with honors in 2007 as Graduate Gemologist, Graduate Diamonds, Graduate Colored Stones, Accredited Jewelry Professional, and Jewelry Essentials. She is also a certified Vinyasa Yoga teacher.

Alessandra Belloni is the artistic director, founder, and lead performer of I Giullari di Piazza, an Italian music, theatre, and dance ensemble that is Artists-in-Residence at the Cathedral of St.John the Divine in New York City. She is also the designer of a line of signature series Italian tambourines made by Remo. She is the only woman in the United States and in Italy who specializes in traditional southern Italian folk dances and percussion she had learnt from the people in the fields. A tambourine virtuoso, singer, dancer and actress, Ms. Belloni was born in Rome, Italy and is committed to preserving the strong and rich traditions of her culture. She tours around the world at major music and percussion festivals and theatres, and has just performed her production Tarantella Spider Dance to sold-out audiences in New York, and is now working on making it into a broadway musical.

Julia della Croce is one of America’s foremost authorities on Italian food. She began her career as a restaurant critic and has now authored over thirteen cooking and travel books, many of which have been translated into French and thirteen other languages, and distributed around the world. She also conducts cultural and culinary tours to Italy. Her work has appeared in many magazines, newspapers, and online publications including The New York Times, Food & Wine, and The Washington Post. She has been broadcast on countless radio and national television shows, including the Food Network. Besides working towards the preservation of traditional Italian cuisine through publishing and teaching, Julia has dedicated herself to advocacy work for better food and sustainable agriculture. She pioneered an award-winning healthy school food program for 200 children at an independent school in New York and developed a nutrition program providing natural food and local farm-raised produce to an emergency food pantry in New York City serving some 900,000 people every year.

Charles Scicolone is a wine consultant, web radio personality, writer, and educator. As the sommelier for a major New York City Italian restaurant, he was nominated by the James Beard Awards for Outstanding Wine Service and Wine List for six years running. He currently develops wine lists on a freelance basis for both restaurants and individuals. Together with his wife, food and wine writer Michele Scicolone, Charles is the author of Pizza - Any Way You Slice It! and has written articles for Eating Well, Santé, House Beautiful, Gourmet, McCall’s, Beverage Media, Wine Enthusiast, and Tibesti. He also hosts wine, food, and cultural tours to Europe several times a year. He has participated in special corporate events for clients including American Express and has appeared on national television on Emeril Live!, Stress Free Cooking, In Food Today, Ciao Italia, and Cooking Live. Recently, he was awarded a Distinguished Service Award by the Italian Trade Commission.