Colloca’s Cooking!
Paula Xiberras
Silvia Colloca is a true Italian Renaissance woman, actor, opera singer or more precisely mezza soprano and culinary queen.
I had a chance to speak to this down-to-earth high achiever recently about her book ‘Made in Italy’ and SBS TVshow of the same name.
Silvia has not been to Tasmania as yet but on her list is a family caravan trip in the countryside and to experience all the wonderful food including the delicious cheeses.
As noted before, Silvia is a trained opera singer and actor with a passion for cooking.
Silvia didn’t think that she would be creating a career in cooking because it is her brother who is the chef and Silvia is untrained, but food and cooking is a passion for the family and so it was to her mother’s village and family home and farmstead in Italy that Silvia went to write her book and present her TV program.
Silvia wanted to create in an authentic Italian kitchen.
When I ask Silvia is there anything she can’t do she explains that if she could dance she would do that too, in fact anything in which she can express herself creatively.
Silvia says she doesn’t believe people should be pigeon-holed into one talent and that they can excel in many different things and she wants to teach her own children this. Silvia, although she is concentrating on cooking, is still acting and doing gigs as a singer.
Refreshingly when I compliment Silvia on all her talents including her singing, Silvia shrugs it off saying ‘anyone can sing’ and ‘voice is a matter of‘muscle training’.
For a simple meal idea Silvia says you can’t go past ‘Italian fast food’ otherwise known as mussel soup made in about 10 minutes and if you want something a bit more snazzy, an elaborate pasta is her food of choice. Lunch ideas might include broccoli, garlic, chilli, sourdough and anchovies.
‘Cucinapovera’ or ‘peasant cuisine’ is the food Silvia explores in her book, the food of the Italian people of the land and in spite of most of our opinion, it’s not an enormous Italian meal but instead a hearty agrarian feast that is ‘simple, fresh’ and consisting of ‘vegetables, healthy grains and spent, but its frugal and not an enormous meal.
Silvia’s book is more than just a cookbook, full of gorgeous photos of Italy and also hinting how acting runs in her blood, she features a photo of a castle and it’s story of a colourful king that she is surprised that Johnny Depp hasn’t thought about making a movie of as yet!.
Silvia’s book ‘Made in Italy’ is out now published by Penguin Books, Australia and Silvia’s TV program of the same name can be seen on SBS on 8pm Thursdays.