‘December Night’
courtesy of ‘M.V. Jantzen’
Hot on the heels of the announcement that Jose Andres would be awarded the Spanish Order of Arts and Letters medal last month, another international honor has come to Washington. Franco Nuschese, the owner of Georgetown’s Cafe Milano, was awarded the title of Commendatore dell’Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana. From a couple years of college-level Italian, I can tell you that means something-something-something-of the Republic of Italy. What it actually is, according to Wikipedia, is the highest ranking knighthood given to Italians.

Nuschese was honored for his career in the culinary world and the way he has promoted a positive image of Italian-Americans. Previous honorees include Giorgio Armani, Mario Andretti, and astronaut Umberto Giudoni. He received his award earlier this week from the Italian ambassador to the United States during a dinner at the Italian Embassy.

Ashley Messick

Ashley is a born and bred Washingtonian who left for college but came running back to the District as fast as her little legs could carry her. By day she is a Capitol Hill brat, but by night she is a lean, mean, eating machine. It’s her goal in life to steal Anthony Bourdain’s job…by whatever means necessary. Contact her at Ashley (at) welovedc (dot) com or follow her on Twitter.