“If I Had the Money, I Would’ve Gone Back” - Nonno Giovanni’s Story from Abruzzo to Australia at 18

Nonno Giovanni makes us ARROSTICINI, a tradition from Abruzzo Nonno Giovanni was born in Pizzoferrato, in the province of Chieti, Abruzzo. At just 18 years old, he left Italy and arrived in Australia on December 29th, 1969, greeted at the airport by his maternal aunty after a long journey with Alitalia. After losing his mother at 16 and struggling to find work in Italy, Giovanni made the difficult decision to leave his family and start a new life on the other side of the world. He admits Australia wasn’t what he expected at first in fact, if he’d had the money, he says he would’ve turned straight around and gone back home. But over time, Australia became the place where he built a life, raised a family, and found opportunities he never imagined possible. Today, Nonno Giovanni shares one of Abruzzo’s most beloved traditions - arrosticini. Lamb skewers cooked over fire, the way they’ve been made for generations. Alongside him, his wife Elsa proudly represents their region with homemade spaghetti alla chitarra. What a treat and a culinary journey through Abruzzo. This episode is about migration, resilience, family, and the recipes that keep memories alive. Thanks for watching please SUBSCRIBE to my channel where we showcase a new nonno each week. See their recipes along with some of their stories of migrating from Italy and so much more. Instagram & Facebook: @thelittleitaliancook @nonnointhekitchen Website: www.thelittleitaliancook.com.au Where you can purchase : "NONNO IN THE KITCHEN" Aprons “NONNO IN THE GARDEN” Caps and Bucket hats "DECODING NONNA'S RECIPES" Cookbook Email: [email protected] Creator/Narrator: Jessica Timpano Editor: Domenic Timpano #recipeshare #Food #italianrecipes #cookingchannel #cookingathome #migrants #migrantlife #documentaries #italiani #nonno #nonnointhekitchen #nonna #nonni