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In Milwaukee Buzz Blogs
Tuscans gather to toss cake at Libiamo
 
By Bobby Tanzilo RSS Feed
Managing Editor

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More articles by Bobby Tanzilo

What is a blog?  For us it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. Published Dec. 22, 2006 at 8:52 a.m.
Tags: panforte, siena, pienza, piacentine, piacentini, tuscany, toscana, groppi, libiamo, barga

Tony Piacentini is a Milwaukeean with Tuscan roots and Wednesday night he brought an old Sienese tradition to Brew City.

At about 9 p.m. at Libiamo, Piacentini and his Wednesday night gang held what might be the first ever Panforte toss in Milwaukee (to be sure, we'd have to ask some of the older Groppis or other Tuscans in town).

"Dean Cannestra (Libiamo owner) stated this will be an annual event for Libiamo, open to all," Piacentini said, "with weather permitting even holding it outside. As you can see we moved tables and played in the bar area, watching the Packers game at the same time."

The object of the traditional holiday game is to launch the flat, dense -- but oh so sweet -- Panforte fruitcake -- a Christmas treat -- across a table and get closest to the edge without said cake crashing to the floor. This is the first in what Piacentini hopes will be an annual event. All are welcome to come and join the fun, learn the game and work out the kinks.

The fruitcake -- not exactly a Panforte -- was made by Piacentini's cousin Paul Piacentine of Piacentine's Artisan Bread in the Milwaukee Public Market.

"Once we all 'dialed in' there were multiple 'hangers' per round over the edge," said Piacentini, who is pictured above. "We used an 8-ft. table .... static was built up on the Panforte while the landing and slide occurred."

More Information ...
Libiamo
221 W. Galena St.
Milwaukee, WI 53212
(414) 271-1155

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