Top 5 Italian American Sites in New Orleans, LA

[@Nola1176]

This was wonderful. My Sicilian great great grandfather fled Palermo after getting into a "disagreement" with the Black Hand. He landed in New Orleans (and took a different last name). The Italian contributions and influence made to NOLA culture add to a beautiful and rich history.

[@Blueyes787]

I love the Italian culture!!!!

[@maestrozilla]

Prego Prego my friend

[@peterborrello6394]

Thanks for mentioning Cosimo Matassa ! He along with the great Dave Barthlomew and the legendary Fats Domino.were the founders of what would bevome Rock & Roll! A guy from Macon Ga when hearing the New Orleans sound decided he needed to Record with Matassa launching his career..that gentleman was Little Richard!

[@janetbarocco]

I grew up in New Orleans and am a 3rd generation Sicilian (my Dad's side). Thanks for highlighting the tremendous contributions made by Sicilians to New Orleans culture. Our culture is woven into the Crescent City's very DNA.

[@theoBaba773]

😊

[@RomeoDiG1022]

I love you videos keep them up. My mother is Sicilian, I wish I knew more about my family history from Palermo 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹

[@FrankBrocato]

I love my NOLA and I agree with the 5 Sites you chose especially the Ice cream. Thank you for this video I live in Georgia now but get down several times a year especially to Central Grocery. Like others have said, "This makes my heart happy"

[@ItalianAmerican]

Grazie! It sure is a great Italian (Sicilian) American town!! Glad you enjoyed, thanks. for watching!

[@davidkimberly4682]

This makes my heart happy.

[@pasqualeventura945]

John, my amico from Columbus Ohio knows Lena and Louie Prima Jr . His name is Ray Massa and his band is called Ray Massa’s Euro Rythems , they play all over the USA . I admire you very much for your love of our culture ! I was born in Citta Palermo ( La Vucciria ) and I am moving back in the early fall of 2025 . My heart has always been there and I should have moved back there thirty years ago. Keep up the good work and I hope to meet you some day and please say hello to that beautiful Donna Siciliana for me . Tell her I will buy her a canollo at Villabate Alba If I ever see her there ! Best Regards, Pasquale Ventura

[@christianbrother4724]

Such a great video. My parents were from Louisiana. I have many fond memories of family holidays in New Orleans. Both of you look so snazzy all dressed up. Love this video!

[@ItalianAmerican]

Grazie! It's a great town, were glad you enjoyed! Thanks for watching!

[@MarsalaforLA]

As I learn more Sicilian history, an interesting music note from 1804-1805, Sicily was America's first ally in an International War during the First Barbary Coast War. Thomas Jefferson was sent to France in 1784 and served as Minister to France until 1789. In 1786, he met and fell in love with Maria Cosway, an accomplished-and married-Italian-English musician of 27. They saw each other frequently over a period of six weeks. She returned to Great Britain, but they maintained a lifelong correspondence The President's Own Band: When Jefferson became President in 1801, he sought to improve the Marine Band with Sicilian musicians. "Thomas Jefferson, father of the new American nation and third President of the USA, was not satisfied with that military music which he certainly considered rough compared to the European and Italian repertoire which he loved particularly. Therefore, he decided to send Capitan John Hall in Verdi’s homeland to enlist new marines among the most able musicians. In 1803 the Berber war raged across the seas: the American States, independent already, were not protected by the English economic agreement, so their ships were often captured by the North African inhabitants. So, they asked the Kingdom of Sicily for support and obtained it, being allowed to use the ports of Palermo and Syracuse. THE ENLISTMENT of Sicilians in 1805 to the US Marines. Right in the island Capitan John Hall found the musicians whom he thought to be the right ones, This musicians were the director Gaetano Carusi, three of his sons (ten-year-old Samuele, nine-year-old Ignazio and eight-year-old Gaetano), Francesco and Felice Pulizzi with their sons Venerando and Giacomo, together with Giacomo, Michele and Gaetano Sardo, Ignazio Di Mauro, Domenico Guarnaccia, Sal­va­to­re Lau­ria, Pa­squa­le Lau­ria, Giu­sep­pe Papa, An­to­nio Pa­ter­nò e Cor­ra­do Si­gno­rel­lo; the name of Filippa, Gaetano Carusi’s wife, is not mentioned in the official papers, even though it seems that she was part of the band, like perhaps some other of the official members’ wives. All of them were not only musicians, because they were enlisted as fully-fledged marines and so, in addition to make official oaths, they had to take part in the war too. THE ARRIVAL AT WASHINGTON. In September 1805 the Sicilians arrived at Washington. SICILIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE AMERICAN MUSIC SCENE. Venerando Pulizzi was one of the few exceptions: he remained in the band for 21 years and became the director for the first time in 1816, when he was only 21 years old, and then since 1818 until 1827. His son joined the Marines too, but he was expelled for a dark incident and then asked for readmission in order to fight the Southerners (evidence of it was found in a letter written by Lincoln, where he demanded to reintegrate Venerando Pulizzi Jr in the Marine military unit). It seems that also the Sardo family, that now lives in California, continued to take part in the Military Corp, because a letter signed by Lincoln bears witness to this.

[@manitheman0806]

hey Charles.....great information. Here's tidbit around that time....The Kingdom of two sicilies were allied with the New born US Navy in the battles with the Barbary Pirates of North Africa.. .Library of Congress Few people today know the story of a Sicilian-born sailor named Salvadore Catalano who became an early American naval hero. During the First Barbary War (1801-1805) against the North African states of Morocco, Tripoli, Algiers and Tunis, he was a critical player in a secret mission now fabled as one of the most courageous actions in American naval history. Catalano would pilot the Intrepid for ’s now famous destruction of the captured USS Philadelphia in Tripoli Harbor in 1804. While chasing an enemy vessel the frigate had run aground on an uncharted reef about two miles outside Tripoli Harbor. Listing badly and unable to fire the starboard guns, Philadelphia was captured and pulled off by the Barbary pirates into port and its officers and crew imprisoned. It was a humiliating defeat and posed a real danger to American warships in the Mediterranean Sea. Salvadore Catalano was a native of Palermo, Sicily and probably born in 1767. By the outbreak of the First Barbary War, he was an experienced Sicilian sailor with fluency in the language of the Barbary Corsairs, and enough English to communicate with his American commanders. He joined the Intrepid crew under the command of Lieutenant Decatur in 1804. Catalano’s composure and his knowledge of the reefs and shoals of Tripoli Harbor would be essential to the mission.

[@dianeduquette6368]

I miss my big Italian family and the old days of big family dinners and music. Love this..

[@ItalianAmerican]

Grazie Diane, we're glad you enjoyed! Thanks for watching.

[@cdd7012]

Charles “Buddy” Bolden was a New Orleans cornetist who was active for a brief moment just before and after the turn of the 20th century. Though Bolden is far from a household name, many people cite him as the first musician who, at the time, was able to fuse together a variety of styles - ragtime, blues and spirituals - to form the style of music we know today as jazz.

[@sebjoeko]

This was a wonderful 'travelogue', with a Sicilian 'bent' - beautifully produced and filmed!

[@e.cannata]

Absolutely love the channel! Exactly what I need! Trying to learn about my Italian heritage and you guys show alot!

[@nic8875]

We locals NEVER go to Central Grocery. That used to be a thing like 20 years ago, but now it's just a tourist trap. Their bread is always stale, so their sandwiches are rough to eat. Also, hot muffulettas are better than their cold version. Who doesn't love gooey cheese? To their credit, they do have one of the best olive salads, which is essential to any muffuletta.

[@ssumrall70]

No the Olive Salad has gone bad as they don't use 100% olive oil anymore just read the label on a jar of it which can be found at most area grocery stores. Rouse's house brand is 100% olive oil and so is DiMartino's and Nor Joe's.

[@r.m9437]

going to Sicily this summer to visit my relatives!!! so excited!!!!

[@daphne201239]

New subscriber here! You don't even know how much I love this video! Now I can't wait to visit NOLA & Kenner. My Sicilian grandfather was from NOLA. I'd love to tour all the Sicilian museums / Eateries. Lucky for me My cousin -in- law is Nick LaRocca's grandson.

[@leticiabladel7032]

Thanks for the great info!!!

[@ItalianAmerican]

You bet! Thanks for watching!

[@tomnugent505]

This was great I am looking forward to visiting

[@ItalianAmerican]

You should! NOLA is an incredible Italian American destination!

[@maestrozilla]

GRazie Mille! Detroit is waitin to greet you all.. Metro Detroit has Italian and San MArino fests in July

[@guineveregruntle6746]

Great places to visit in New Orleans.

[@spideraxis]

Bellissimo!

[@christianbrother4724]

In hot, humid NOLA, the gelato looks awesome.

[@ItalianAmerican]

Ice Cream is even better in a hot town!

[@DominickM.]

Great job guys

[@williamdalcerro9476]

Nick LaRocca's recording of the first-ever jazz record (called "jass" back in the day) celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2017. Talk about an amazing thing to promote in the mainstream American media! The major Italian American organizations were notified of this but all of them took a pass.

[@ItalianAmerican]

Nick LaRocca and his indelible contributions to jazz are often-times sadly overlooked! We hope this video does a little something to change that! Thanks for watching!

[@daphne201239]

My cousin in law, in NOLA is trying to raise money to do a Nick LaRocca documentary. He was his grandfather.

[@daharris41]

Because they know it will bring up the time when Italians weren’t considered white. Plus they understand that it was actually invented by the black community there.

[@williamdalcerro9476]

@@daharris41 I also understand that jazz music is basically Black music. But were you aware of the great contributions which Italians made to jazz, including using their eventual acceptance by white society to help increase opportunities for Blacks, with whom they interacted in New Orleans? Read the book, Bebop, Swing and Bella Musica: Jazz and the Italian American Experience."

[@joesaputoGSV]

My personal favorite is franks restaurant always a stop I need to make when I visit the BIG EASY

[@patrisio3]

I didn't realize just how Italian New Orleans is until I lived there in 2008. Given that about 17% of people in the N.O. metro area have Italian ancestry (the largest European ancestry in the metro area), I'm surprised more people don't know how Italian N.O. is.

[@ItalianAmerican]

Shocks everyone, but there is a reason they used to call the Quarter "Little Palermo"! Thanks for watching!

[@sjh9781]

Did they stop at Rocky’s????

[@Jack-cr7qn]

Restaurant Filippo’s is a really good Sicilian food hot spot. 1917 Ridgeway, Metairie,La.

[@stephensloan1795]

A cool Sicilian place in the New Orleans area is Rocky & Carlo's in Chalmette. They serve good New Orleans style Italian food cafeteria style. Ladies Invited.

[@williamdalcerro9476]

The 100th anniversary of the first "jazz" record in 2017 was something that would have hit the mainstream media like fire. We could have educated millions of Americans (Italians or otherwise) rather than the handful who watch videos on KZbin. And any cries of "cultural appropriation" from jazz critics could have easily been overcome by the incredible stories (plural) of the friendships between African American and Italian American jazz musicians throughout the music's history, from saxophonist Flip Phillips (born, Filipelli) playing with all-Black bands to drummer Louis Bellson being Duke Ellington's first "white" drummer." (Incidentally, Bellson also broke the color line via interracial marriages when he wed singer Pearl Bailey in 1952, a marriage which lasted until her death in 1990). The national Italian American community has tons of wealth but a bare cupboard when it comes to ideas. That we still have yet to even make a dent in our fellow Americans' perception of us as "mafiosi" is a sad testament to the total lack of leadership and vision shown over the decades. And the continuing emphasis on food and "fun" will further contribute to no one taking us seriously.

[@daharris41]

What happened once Italians became white? Remember they weren’t considered white until later on and when that happened the relationships between black and Italian disappeared.

[@paullisanti8673]

Torron was brought to Sicily during the Spanish Period. Sicily was under 3 Spanish Royalties. The Two Alfonsos who were Castillians, and the Aragonese. Torron became Turrone in Sicily. Much of the Siclians Pronounciation comes from the Spanish Latin Pronounciation

[@voiceofreason2674]

Venezia is great and it's cheap. But if you want the BEST in new Orleans there's a few that got it beat. Like Irene's and Tommy's downtown both fine dining creole Italian, and nearby Venezia they got a place called mandina and it's not great except it's got my favorite red gravy ever. Best overall is two Tony's out by the lake

[@OnlySteph26]

She does the thing with her hands! She’s legit Italian!😌🤌🏾

[@WyldWillow]

As a New Orleanian it was Buddy Bolden that invented Jazz

[@thomasecker3074]

What did y'all think of Venezia's?

[@antoniolavecchia1464]

,,,,,,, Carissimi saluti a tutti i Siciliani in New Orleans,,,, sono un Siciliano di Sommatino - Caltanissetta,,,,,, ciao ciao,,,,, 💋🇮🇹💋🇺🇲💋🇮🇹👍🙋‍♂️

[@TimeTraveller010]

Greetings from Melbourne Australia, Italy of the antipodes other than Buenos Aires. I need a correction on a historical question. I thought Calabrians were the first to set foot in North America, from Ellis Island. I know that in Sao Paolo Brazil thousands of Calabrians immigrated there before the Italian diaspora of the late 19th Century. Saluti from an Italian brother in Australia!

[@ItalianAmerican]

Greetings from Italian America! The Calabrese theory is not one we have heard in all of our studies and travels. We can't speak for sure to the entire North American continent, but the first Italian to settle in the future USA was Pietro Cesare Alberti, a Venetian who arrived in NYC (then New Amsterdam) in 1635! The Sicilian community in New Orleans is one of the oldest Italian American communities to arrive and settle in large numbers, but not necessarily the FIRST!

[@TimeTraveller010]

@@ItalianAmerican Correct on New Amsterdam. The Dutch traders and immigrants known as Walloons established New Amsterdam. And I was reading somewhere that along with the Dutch a large number of modern day Lombards, Lombardia Italy, entered Hudson harbor. It eludes me if it were Lombardi, Genovesi or Venetians. Just the same they left a deep cultural impressions on the Americas.

[@theoBaba773]

3:05 Sangwish

[@SPANKY.ADMD.BOSTON]

Speaking from personal experience Whenever we as Italians say our last name were automatically stereotyped or perceived differently deliberately or subconsciously with out a doubt!!

[@busterbailey5320]

Saying Italian AND Sicilian? Now that's fokin ITALIAN

[@antonichirullo1567]

Certo che la ROSSELLA è davvero super sexy ,UNA BELLEZZA TIPICAMENTE ITALIANA

[@Dave-qj1vx]

LOUIS PRIMA!!

[@smithk6977]

👍👏👏👏❤️

[@NOLAGent1]

Those are actually mules not donkeys pulling the carts. Easy mistake to make if you don't have experience with those animals as they do look similar.

[@bayonnetenor]

Jazz came from Sicily? Nice try, but no cigar.

[@davidkimberly4682]

The Sicilian influence on jazz is tremendous. I wouldn't say it "came" from Sicily, it more accurately evolved from enslaved people and free people of color in Congo Square. But, Sicilians had a huge influence as it emerged.

[@ItalianAmerican]

Thank you David... while at 13 minute video can't explain the roots of America's most unique musical art form, we're trying to make the point that Sicilians were there at the beginning with huge contributions... including the WORD Jazz!

[@MarsalaforLA]

My statement is that Nick Larocca was an early Jazz Ambassador, who contributed to the national success of Jazz with his song writings and recordings. The music that became known as Jazz was being played in New Orleans with Larocca taking it to Chicago and New York. In New York, Larocca recorded Jazz songs that sold over 1 million copies which contributed to America embracing the music. Nick LaRocca's dad, Giarolamo, brought his Cornet with him from Sicily in the 1880s. By 1905 Nick was playing the cornet in Mississippi and New Orleans. In 1915, Nick was playing with a band on Canal Street to promote a World Championship Fight. He was asked to bring the band to Chicago to play this New Orleans type of music, which some say began being called "Jass." One theory was one night someone yelled out to "Jass it up!" a phrase from "Jassing (meaning to rev-up) up a car engine." Others think the word came from Jasmine scented perfume being used in the Storyville section of New Orleans. From Chicago, LaRocca took the band to New York and recorded the music as "Jass." But he found the young people were scratching off the "J" and calling it "ass" music. The next label referred to it as "Jasz" and the following label as "Jazz." Larocca's early songs songs sold over a million copies and the U S Army began shipping the records to the troops in France during World War I. After World War I, Jazz became popular in France and spread throughout Europe. Larocca's dad wanted Nick to have a trade. In his early years, before 1915, Larocca was an electrician at the New Orleans Opera House. The is the influence of Opera in Nick's writings and songs. Nick also liked to make animal sounds with his horn and wrote "Tiger Rag," a favorite of LSU. In New Orleans, prior to Nick Larocca there was Buddy Bolden who began playing in the late 1890s and after Larocca there was Louis Armstrong, who started in 1919. Charles Joseph "Buddy" Bolden (September 6, 1877 - November 4, 1931) was an American cornetist who was regarded by contemporaries as a key figure in the development of a New Orleans style of ragtime music, or "jass", which later came to be known as jazz. Today there are three main Jazz Festivals in Sicily: 1. The Vittoria jazz festival in June . ... 2. The Messina sea jazz festival (May-June).... and 3. The Catania jazz festival. John and Ro, this is a great piece on the Italian Migration and contribution to New Orleans.

[@ilijeganu273]

​@@ItalianAmerican A simple Google search will tell you Jazz was started by African Americans. A man named Buddy Bolden who was the first Jazz musician. You guys are altering history.

[@tonynasaofficial]

Im just here cause of red dead redemption 2 c:

[@Reazzurro90]

This was a little cringe but not bad.

[@cameloty.4295]

It’s a mule not a donkey.

[@ItalianAmerican]

A good point! Thanks for watching!

[@jodyweems2762]

So, after pitching a fit about how pizza is a religion to Rosella, we don't hear anything about how it was? Come on, guys, don't tease without telling.

[@ItalianAmerican]

Great point! We enjoyed everything there!

[@NOLAGent1]

​@@ItalianAmerican Nearly EVERY New Yorker is gonna say New York Pizza is way better... except I have heard a few say Connecticut is actually better 😀

[@cdd7012]

Italians created jazz ??????

[@claudej.montgomery9421]

I wouldn’t be surprised. The beginning flashback in “The Godfather 2” was playing New Orleans jazz funeral music that you hear very similar to today’s jazz funerals. That movie was based in the 1900s

[@daphne201239]

Maybe the word, not necessarily the style of music.

[@DaMillerBoi]

@@claudej.montgomery9421 buddy bolden was a black and he created jazz followed up by Louis Armstrong

[@consealedhecklers]

no Sicilian did not create jazz black people in New Orleans did there was just multiple Sicilian jazz musicians

[@barbarianblood2316]

She was trying way too hard with that “NY”accent, jeeeeez. Otherwise cool episode.✌️

[@jeanneamato8278]

Do your followers know the real origin of Columbus Day?

[@keithmccain9925]

False! Italians did not bring Jazz and Rock n Roll music to America. Ask Ken Burns.

[@benluchini7500]

Wonderful show ,could you correct some facts from Sicily and italy???? They are one of the same, correct pronounciation of italian worlds would be a plus for all italian watchers.