Celebrating the People and Achievements That Shaped Us
The COIAF Heritage Minute presents a new daily tribute honoring the individuals, ideas, achievements, and events that form part of the Italian and Italian-American legacy.
Each story is an invitation to learn, remember, and share that heritage with another generation.
Click on the image, to hear today’s complete Heritage Minute with audio and navigation.
Taste of Italy
Explore Italy One Dish at a Time
Discover twenty celebrated Italian and Italian-American favorites, with a stronger focus on Italy’s great regional classics.
Italian-American Favorite • Piccata Style
Chicken Piccata with Mushrooms & Spinach
Tender chicken cutlets, sautéed mushrooms, and fresh spinach finished in a bright, glossy lemon-butter sauce—our caper-free COIAF version.
Italian-Inspired • Rustic Family Table
Spinach Ricotta Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Golden chicken breasts filled with creamy ricotta, spinach, Parmigiano-Reggiano, garlic, and herbs for a rich rustic supper.
Bologna • Emilia-Romagna
Lasagna alla Bolognese
Tender pasta layered with slow-cooked ragù, béchamel, and cheese in the classic Bolognese tradition.
Bologna • Emilia-Romagna
Tagliatelle al Ragù
Fresh ribbons of pasta paired with authentic Bolognese ragù and a finishing touch of grated cheese.
Rome • Lazio
Cacio e Pepe
Tonnarelli or spaghetti tossed with Pecorino Romano, toasted black pepper, and pasta water into a glossy Roman sauce.
Amatrice • Lazio
Bucatini all’Amatriciana
Bucatini coated in a vivid tomato sauce enriched with guanciale, Pecorino Romano, and a restrained touch of chile.
Milan • Lombardy
Risotto alla Milanese
Creamy saffron risotto with a luminous golden color and the elegant character of Milanese cuisine.
Milan • Lombardy
Ossobuco alla Milanese
Braised veal shank with rich pan sauce, traditionally accompanied by golden risotto alla Milanese.
Florence • Tuscany
Bistecca alla Fiorentina
A magnificent thick-cut Tuscan steak, grilled over high heat and served beautifully rare.
Genoa • Liguria
Linguine al Pesto Genovese
Linguine coated in fragrant basil pesto with pine nuts, cheese, garlic, and Ligurian olive oil.
Puglia
Orecchiette con Cime di Rapa
Puglia’s signature ear-shaped pasta tossed with broccoli rabe, garlic, chile, olive oil, and the savory depth of anchovy.
Naples • Campania
Spaghetti alle Vongole
Spaghetti finished in the pan with fresh clams, garlic, parsley, olive oil, and white wine for a classic taste of the Campanian coast.
Sorrento • Campania
Gnocchi alla Sorrentina
Tender potato gnocchi baked with tomato, fresh mozzarella, Parmigiano, and basil until bubbling and lightly browned.
Campania & Sicily
Parmigiana di Melanzane
Layers of tender eggplant, tomato sauce, cheese, and basil baked into a deeply comforting dish.
Sicily
Arancini Siciliani
Crisp golden rice balls enclosing savory fillings—one of Sicily’s most recognizable street foods.
Sicily
Cannoli Siciliani
Crisp pastry shells filled with sweet ricotta and finished with pistachios, chocolate, or candied fruit.
Central Italy
Bruschetta al Pomodoro
Grilled rustic bread topped with ripe tomatoes, basil, garlic, and fragrant extra-virgin olive oil.
Capri • Campania
Insalata Caprese
Fresh tomato, mozzarella, and basil create a simple and beautiful expression of Italian summer.
Southern Italy-Inspired • Italian-American
Polpette al Sugo
Tender Italian meatballs gently simmered in a rich tomato sugo and finished with Parmigiano-Reggiano and fresh herbs.
Treviso • Veneto
Tiramisù
Espresso-soaked ladyfingers layered with mascarpone cream and a generous dusting of cocoa.
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IHCN • International Italian Heritage Directory
Discover Italian Heritage Around the World
The International Italian Heritage Coalition Network (IHCN) is COIAF’s searchable international directory and digital card catalog of important Italian heritage places, institutions, events, and cultural resources.
Search by category, city, region, or location to discover the people, places, organizations, traditions, and community resources that keep Italian heritage visible and connected across generations.
Explore family-history resources, ancestral research, immigration records, Italian archives, DNA resources, and the stories carried through generations.
Learn more about COIAF’s purpose, cultural programs, educational mission, community partnerships, and the work being developed to preserve Italian heritage for future generations.
Coming soon: discover the America 250 and Colorado 150 commemorative throws, available in exclusive designs with automatic mix-or-match volume pricing.
Every purchase supports COIAF scholarship fundraising.
