S1 Ep11: The Imaginary Meal

It feels that in-depth and somewhat sentimental review of five wonderful years is probably necessary…. “Italy is not a country, it’s an emotion”… and then finally, for now, the Epilogue which is set 22 years later… “But whatever happened to L’Americana?”(With grateful acknowledgement to Italian writer Luigi Barzini for some paraphrasing in this section.) Written & Presented by Ian McAlisterRead by Richard GreenwoodEdited by Stu Smith & Nigel Heath with Jamie AllenOriginal Music by Stu SmithProduction Music from Epidemic SoundRecorded and Produced by Tom Allom & Nigel Heath at La Cucina Studios for Xacutti ProductionsSeries Artwork designed by Stu SmithSpecial Thanks to MIke Hanson, Podpeople Productions, Jamie Allen, MWPR Radio, The KWR, Ian Dean, Jean-Luc Burch, Oscar Simons & Kit McAlister

With his children’s education to consider and, after some 5 years away, Dick feels the need to return to the UK to manage the supply side of the business. With offers coming in to buy the company, Ian completes the full circle and returns to Rome to consider all options. An underworld encounter emerges and a Mafia boss makes Ian an offer he must refuse... “Never sit with your back to the door!”. From a commercial point of view there is a straw that finally ‘breaks the camel’s back’. Our two  soldiers of fortune are enticed to sell the business and return to the UK. Fate plays its hand.Written & Presented by Ian McAlisterRead by Richard GreenwoodEdited by Stu Smith & Nigel Heath with Jamie AllenOriginal Music by Stu SmithProduction Music from Epidemic SoundRecorded and Produced by Tom Allom & Nigel Heath at La Cucina Studios for Xacutti ProductionsSpecial Thanks to Jamie Allen and Mike Hanson

Here we delve into the very toe of the Italian 'boot'…Reggio Calabria, where Ian’s team from Prato (near Florence) have come to play. Post-match, we  reveal the spectacular quayside lunch as a prelude to a long, return train journey to Florence. First class travel, dining car and couchettes all booked, what could possibly go wrong?  Well everything - but team members Lorenzo and Renato display a generous portion of that famous Italian ingenuity to save the day.Written & Presented by Ian McAlisterRead by Richard GreenwoodEdited by Stu Smith & Nigel Heath with Jamie AllenOriginal Music by Stu SmithProduction Music from Epidemic SoundRecorded and Produced by Tom Allom & Nigel Heath at La Cucina Studios for Xacutti ProductionsSpecial Thanks to Jamie Allen and Mike Hanson

'Big Teddy'  is back and alive and well. An intricate and exciting business deal is brought into play. A pair of somewhat intimidating players from New York come into the equation… Tony and Franco Coletti are two hard-nosed antique dealers. The best and worst of Ted is on display, but how and where does India fit into this story? Written & Presented by Ian McAlisterRead by Richard GreenwoodEdited by Stu Smith & Nigel Heath with Jamie AllenOriginal Music by Stu SmithProduction Music from Epidemic SoundRecorded and Produced by Tom Allom & Nigel Heath at La Cucina Studios for Xacutti ProductionsSpecial Thanks to Jamie Allen and Mike Hanson

The first section of this episode is subtitled  'Mammone – a Mummy’s Boy'  A new petulant character from New Jersey arrives on the Florentine scene but eventually gets his comeuppance. In the second section, 'The Years of Lead – Italy in Terror', The ex-Italian,  Prime Minister Aldo Moro is kidnapped and assassinated. Florence is on high alert and there is much tension in the air.  On a more relaxing note enter Mike Webb a colourful character from Liverpool who runs a good fun ‘American Bar’ in Florence. A coach load of Australian girls arrive in the bar and turn our Italian male predators into prey. This final section is entitled “Girls on top”.Written & Presented by Ian McAlisterRead by Richard GreenwoodEdited by Stu Smith & Nigel Heath with Jamie AllenOriginal Music by Stu SmithProduction Music from Epidemic SoundRecorded and Produced by Tom Allom & Nigel Heath at La Cucina Studios for Xacutti ProductionsSpecial Thanks to Jamie Allen and Mike Hanson

The boys make a ‘left field’ play…they move into the fashion business. They achieve some initial success… and then they pull off a major coup in Milan. There's talk of Ferraris now…but can they deliver? A trip to New York gives Ian a ‘light bulb’ moment for their next venture. Who has the worst postal service in the world? Italy is the answer…so why not start a mail order business the! The results might shock you.Written & Presented by Ian McAlisterRead by Richard GreenwoodEdited by Stu Smith & Nigel Heath with Jamie AllenOriginal Music by Stu SmithProduction Music from Epidemic SoundRecorded and Produced by Tom Allom & Nigel Heath at La Cucina Studios for Xacutti ProductionsSpecial Thanks to Jamie Allen and Mike Hanson

Ian arrives back from holiday and is shocked to find Dick languishing in Rome’s infamous prison, the brooding, terrifying Regina Coelli. But just how did it happen and on what charges? Now come and meet a frightening cast of cell mates lurking in the shadows. Written & Presented by Ian McAlisterRead by Richard GreenwoodEdited by Stu Smith & Nigel Heath with Jamie AllenOriginal Music by Stu SmithProduction Music from Epidemic SoundRecorded and Produced by Tom Allom & Nigel Heath at La Cucina Studios for Xacutti ProductionsSpecial Thanks to Jamie Allen and Mike Hanson

Ian has returned from a year on business in the UK  and is living in the magnificent city of Florence. Our heroes are gradually growing their business with Dick still operating in Rome. Florence provides the perfect back drop for an in depth look at La Bella Figura, 'The Beautiful Figure' .... a trait hardwired into Italian DNA.(With grateful acknowledgment to Italian writer Luigi Barzini for some of our paraphrasing in this section.)Written & Presented by Ian McAlisterRead by Richard GreenwoodEdited by Stu Smith & Nigel Heath with Jamie AllenOriginal Music by Stu SmithProduction Music from Epidemic SoundRecorded and Produced by Tom Allom & Nigel Heath at La Cucina Studios for Xacutti ProductionsSpecial Thanks to Jamie Allen and Mike Hanson

The regionality of Italy is unfurled during away Rugby matches in some rather glamorous locations. Regional food differences, local traits and idiosycrasies and the rich variety of landscapes and architecture come into play. Dick comes to terms with Italy’s often 'tactile' culture. We are shot at by the Mafia in Sicily and then get tangled up in a tense siege in the Colli Albani hills, where some ancient Roman military tactics save the day. “That’s another fine mess you’ve got us into.”Written & Presented by Ian McAlisterRead by Richard GreenwoodEdited by Stu Smith & Nigel Heath with Jamie AllenOriginal Music by Stu SmithProduction Music from Epidemic SoundRecorded and Produced by Tom Allom & Nigel Heath at La Cucina Studios for Xacutti ProductionsSpecial Thanks to Jamie Allen and Mike Hanson

Ian, our young dental student is in search of love in the Eternal City. This is proving to be a rather frustrating voyage, but then, one night, lightning strikes at a Roman nightclub…could this be love at first sight? Enter Kit, otherwise known as L’Americana, a sophisticated young lady born in Italy to an American family. A carefully planned first date takes place in some of the most romantic spots in Rome. What could possibly go wrong and why on earth did Ian have to closely follow the guidelines of a blockbuster fictional book?Written & Presented by Ian McAlisterRead by Ian McAlisterEdited by Stu Smith & Nigel Heath with Jamie AllenOriginal Music by Stu SmithProduction Music from Epidemic SoundRecorded and Produced by Tom Allom & Nigel Heath at La Cucina Studios for Xacutti ProductionsSpecial Thanks to Jamie Allen and Mike Hanson