On the theme "Italians of Harringay" you may enjoy this video "1 second a day - more or less" by Alessandro Mariscalco. It's a 1 year time lapse giving a glimpse into the life of a young Italian living here, and it features quite a few local landmarks (I've spotted Stanhope and Roseberry Gardens, Gokyuzu, Blend, the Sainsbury's, the Overground, the bridge on Green Lanes, as well as Clissold Park and Stamford Hill, but there are probably many more - it goes quite fast!).
I've received it through Italian friends - it has received a bit of media coverage in Italy because at the moment the whole issue of young people leaving in droves to work abroad is very topical. The consulate here estimates about one plane full of new arrivals lands in London every other day, and the number of Italians here has now surged to a quarter of a million (don't tell the Daily Mail....!). I have no figures but based on how frequently I hear Italian spoken here vs other parts of London, I personally think this area must be one of those with the highest concentration of the 20-30 year old segment now.
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Tomo Pizzeria on Hornsey High Street is a really good restaurant. I've eaten there many times since it opened and rarely (like, once or twice?) has there been an off note. The pizzas are excellent but the pasta dishes are better: perfectly executed every time. And it's very reasonably priced. It's actually run by a Polish couple, one of whom has Italian ancestry. Not that that matters.
Hi Christian
does Alivini sell to the public too or is it just a wholesaler?
Germana - I get your point but I have an English husband, I work with English people and I have very few Italian friends here in London, I honestly wouldn't mind some Italian conversation with other Harringay residents every once in a while!
Hi Cecilia,
Alivini is a wholesaler but I'm sure that if you try to call them and you're ready to buy big quantities (boxes instead of packets) it won't be a problem for them to sell to private.
Hi Cecilia, happy to meet up, plus let's create a group and organise an event maybe. Just don't leave me all by myself on the new group though!
Can we English Italophiles join the group and practice our Italian?
I remember it - though the guy who ran it was from Colombia, I think.
In the 8 years I've lived on the ladder I've always noticed loads of Italian voices passing by on the roads. Although it may have increased in the last six months or so, I've always thought there's a bigger Italian community here than most people realise. I think the reason people don't realise it is because there is NO Italian presence on the High Street (the Italian restaurants are run by Albanians I believe).
I would LOVE it if we had a proper old school trattoria (not just another pizza/pasta place) selling honest and simple classic trattoria dishes. An Italian deli would be fantastic too. And if we were to get another pizzeria, how about all those Neapolitans I hear around opening a proper wood-fired oven Neapolitan pizza joint. Oh, yes!
It's great having all the Turkish shops but I would dearly love to see a couple of Italian ones spring up. Maybe this reported influx could trigger a start....
HI Anna, nice to hear from a second generation Italian. I would be very nice for people like me who have arrived more recently to get to know your community better and hear about any memories you or your parents may have. What you say is quite surprising to me though. I feel like I see or hear Italians every time I leave the house. It is possible that as I grew up in Italy I am perhaps very quick at detecting who is Italian - particularly people who have not been here very long - simply by the clothes they wear or the way they move when they talk to each other or other small details...and then when I get closer I am more likely to notice the language they are speaking. Just a thought.
You're right Germana, it's so easy to detect Italians just by the way the're dressed! Expecially in the winter when they're always super wrapped compared to the English.
I also agree on the fact that Harryngay is full of young italians.
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