Thursday, September 1, 2016
Pizza: Americans are the biggest consumers
With an average of 13 kg per capita the United States hold the world record of pizza consumption. Italians rank second with an average of 7.6 kg each.
Source: Coldiretti
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Ice cream: Italians are the biggest consumers
Italians are ice cream biggest consumers, each year eat 12 kg per capita, plus 4 kg of industrial productions. In 2015 sales were up 8%.
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
What (American) consumers want to eat and drink?
Very interesting report on consumers preferences and habits
Pizza:
- 75% of consumers eat pizza twice a month or more often
- Women are more likely to order vegetable toppings; men are more likely to order meat toppings
- Top 3 pizza toppings: sausage 54%, mushroom 51%, extra cheese 45%
Snacks:
- 3 in 4 consumers’ snack at least once a day
- Forget midnight snacks, mid-afternoon is prime snacking time
Beverage:
- 80% of customers at coffee shops purchased only a drink on their recent visit (no food)
- Grown-ups’s night out: when drinking away from home, consumers say they are most likely to order these adult beverages: 76% beer, 73% cocktail and mixed drink, 65% wine, 42% straight hard liqueur
Sandwich:
- 3 sandwiches consumers eat per week as average
- 46% of sandwiches eaten are purchased away from home
- 3 out of 5 sandwiches are ordered to go
- Top 3 most ordered meat: chicken breast 47%, bacon 42%, ham 36%
Monday, March 28, 2016
Define beauty: new A4 challenge
Beauty: A combination of qualities present in a thing or a person (such as shape, color, form or personality) that please the aesthetic senses (especially the sight) or the intellect or moral sense.
There’s a new trend sweeping social media in many parts of the world: the “A4 waist” (last summer was “bikini bridge” and earlier was “thigh gap“)
This harmful trend is seen in over one million posts in which women are uoloading photos of A4 sheets held vertically in front of their waists to prove just how thin they are.
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Pope Francis and Fidel Castro
Great moment in the history, 2 men who have changed history and will further influence for years to come. Admiration and respect!
Thursday, July 30, 2015
The world currently enjoys a two-billion-cup-a-day habit
How can we ensure that we get that caffeine fix in a turbulent climate?
Monday, April 13, 2015
Pasta: Italy is worldwide market leader
With 26 kg consumption per capita per year - at least a daily portion of 70 gr - Italians are the biggest pasta lovers. Venezuela is second with 12,3 kg and Tunisia third with 11,7 kg.
Not only consumption, Italy is also leader in production figures with 3,3 millions of tons annualy, second is USA with 2 millions of toms and third place goes to Brazil with 1,1 million tons.
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Shanghai labor cost is increasing reflecting the cost of living
Shanghai has raised the monthly minimum wage for full-time employees in the city from 1.820 to 2.020 RMB. The hourly minimum wage for part-time employees increased from 17 to 18 RMB.
The minimum wage was first introduced in 1993 when it was just 210 RMB per month to ensure basic quality of life for citizen with low incomes.
Shanghai’s over 60’s reach 4.14 million
The number of Shanghai resident aged 60 or more reaches 4.14 millions, or 28.8% of the permanent population.
Friday, February 27, 2015
She made my day
Many many years ago I had big dreams, revolutionary dreams I would say. Later I still thought I could change the world and contribute to build a better world. On the second half of the journey I considerably lower the bar, struggling for a decent and honest survival. Have to admit that “legacy” have always obsessed me, an alone man living somewhere far.
Today I received a lovely email form a girlfriend I had in the years 2002-2003. We both were younger, our lifes were lighter. Every time we met was no longer than 6 or 7 days at a time; despite of that still have great memories of these days and I still think she was one of the best women I have met.
More than 10 years are passed: we live in different cities from then, she had a lovely baby girl, and somehow we managed to keep in touch time to time.
Knowing that I meant something in her life makes me happy and fulfilled. I reckon this is the kind of legacy I aspire.
Friday, January 23, 2015
Bella Ciao
Today I have read a nice article on La Repubblica newspaper about Bella Ciao song, which makes me search about it.
The song Bella Ciao was sung by the anti-fascist resistance movement active in Italy between 1943 and 1945. It is worldwide used as a hymn of freedom and resistance.
The author of the lyrics is unknown. A version of this song was recorded for music researchers by Italian folk singer Giovanna Daffini in 1962.There are versions by Yves Montand, Giorgio Gaber, Renato Carosone, but they lack the last part which say ”this is the flower of a partisan dead for the freedom”.
Bella Ciao (by The Black Cat Orchestra)
Bella Ciao (by Manu Chao)
Una mattina mi son svegliato,
o bella, ciao! bella, ciao! bella, ciao, ciao, ciao!
Una mattina mi son svegliato
e ho trovato l’invasor.
O partigiano, portami via,
o bella, ciao! bella, ciao! bella, ciao, ciao, ciao!
O partigiano, portami via,
ché mi sento di morir.
E se io muoio da partigiano,
o bella, ciao! bella, ciao! bella, ciao, ciao, ciao!
E se io muoio da partigiano,
tu mi devi seppellir.
Mi seppellirai lassù in montagna,
o bella, ciao! bella, ciao! bella, ciao, ciao, ciao!
Mi seppellirai lassù in montagna
all’ombra di un bel fior.
E le genti che passeranno
o bella, ciao! bella, ciao! bella, ciao, ciao, ciao!
E le genti che passeranno
Ti diranno «Che bel fior!»
«È questo il fiore del partigiano»,
o bella, ciao! bella, ciao! bella, ciao, ciao, ciao!
«È questo il fiore del partigiano
morto per la libertà!»
Saturday, December 20, 2014
TBC 8 years later …..
TBC was my first employer in Shanghai, the excuse i had to come back in China. I have been working there for little less than 1 year and I remember it as one of the best working environment ever, mostly due to the laid back boss. More than 8 years after my departure I was invited to have an holiday lunch with the old team. Happy to see again some of old friends :-)
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Mr. Berlusconi welcomed by eggs
Mr. Berlusconi entered Democratic Party offices. Some left-wing activist among the crowd welcomed his arrival by throwing eggs and shouting against him.
[Read More…]
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Hand was temporary attached to the ankle
I could not believe it while I was reading the headline on the front page of the Shanghai Daily. Then inside I found the picture in case it was not clear.
Friday, December 13, 2013
Three cooks who used leftover oil to cook dishes are jailed and fined.
Today on Shanghai Daily. No wonders I haven’t eaten in “hot pot” restaurant for ages!