VENETO
SUMMER 2018 ITALIAN AMERICAN DIGEST
PAGE 19
Dr . Marc R . Matrana
Director , Ochsner Precision Cancer Therapies Program
Dr . Marc Matrana , 39 , is a ninthgeneration native of New Orleans , whose great-grandparents on his father ’ s sided hailed from the small village of Chiusa Sclafani outside Palermo . He grew up on the Westbank , where his family farmed for over 100 years .
Dr . Marc Matrana
A graduate of John Curtis Christian High School , Marc earned a bachelor ’ s degree in psychology and a master ’ s in human genetics from Tulane University . He received his MD from the LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans .
He served as Chief Resident at Ochsner Medical Center and Chief Fellow at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston .
Dr . Matrana currently serves as the Director of the Precision Cancer Therapies Research Program and Associate Director of Clinical Cancer Research at Ochsner Health System in New Orleans . He is a board certified medical oncologist . He is the author of 3 books and more than 100 journal articles , chapters , and abstracts . His work has been presented around the globe .
He is the recipient of numerous awards , including the Tulane University Young Alumnus of the Year Award , Gambit ’ s 40 Under 40 Award , and the New Physician of the Year for the entire Ochsner Health System . He serves as principal investigator for dozens of groundbreaking clinical research studies , and has raised millions of dollars for cancer research .
What ’ s your favorite Italian food ? Gnocchi .
What ’ s your favorite place in New Orleans ?
St . Charles Avenue / Uptown area . I love the architecture , the mossdraped live oak trees , the streetcars , and all that make Uptown so special .
Have you been to Italy ?
Yes , my wife Heather and I toured 14 cities in Italy shortly after we married eight years ago . One of my favorite experiences there was having dinner with a local Italian family at their estate in the Chianti Hills of Tuscany , a beautiful property which had been held by the same family for generations . Everything for the meal — from the wine we enjoyed on the veranda to main courses — was handmade from products of the estate . On our way back to Florence that night , we stopped at an amazing lookout to enjoy the enchanting and romantic vistas of the stars and the breathtaking views of the city and its illuminated duomo .
What are your hopes for the city ’ s future ?
I hope that the New Orleans of the future continues to address issues of crime and education , while continuing to preserve and celebrate our unique past . I also hope New Orleans continues its development as a healthcare destination . Our region is known as “ Cancer Alley ” because we are a hotbed for malignant diseases . My team and I work to bring breakthrough treatments to cancer patients of our region , often years before they are available anywhere else . We want to make the New Orleans of the future an epicenter of solutions for those who battle cancer .
Benjamin Mumphrey
Music Producer , Manager , and Chief Recording Engineer , Studio in the Country ; Attorney at Law
Benjamin Mumphrey , 44 , has already had a rich and varied career in music — as a producer and recording engineer , as a studio manager , and as a musician in his own right . He recently added law to his areas of expertise after earning
Benjamin Mumphrey
his J . D . from Loyola University College of Law in 2017 .
A native New Orleanian and Jesuit High alumnus , Ben earned his B . A . in English from Tulane University . As a twenty-something , he co-founded the Uptown New Orleans studio Magazine Sound , which boasted such clients as the Squirrel Nut Zippers , the Neville Brothers , the Wild Magnolias , George Porter , Jr ., Galactic , and Andrew Bird . He continued honing his music-production skills in Los Angeles at Sound City Studios , where he helped engineer Ben Harper ’ s gold album Live from Mars among many others . The next couple years took him around the world as a touring engineer for the beloved indie rock band the Pixies .
After moving back to New Orleans in 2005 , Ben became the manager and chief engineer of Bogalusa ’ s storied Studio in the Country , which counts among its clientele the Revivalists , Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros , Beach House , Eric Lindell , Jello Biafra , Frank Black , Ani DiFranco , Cyril Neville , Dash Rip Rock , and HBO ’ s Treme . In 2015 , he founded the Transylvania Music Company , a record label aiming to foster musical creativity in Louisiana and beyond . During his “ free ” time , Ben attended law school .
Upon being admitted to the Louisiana State Bar last year , he established the law firm Benjamin Mumphrey , LLC , which specializes in legal issues in the music business — including copyright , contracts , and termination rights — as well as providing general practice and consulting .
What ’ s your favorite Italian food ?
Stuffed artichokes , olive salad , sfinciuni , braciolone , fried cardoni , spumoni .
What ’ s your favorite place in New Orleans ?
City Park .
VINTAGE : 2016
VARIETAL COMPOSITION : Pinot Grigio
VINEYARDS :
Grape sourcing : The grapes for the 2016 Il Ducale Pinot Grigio were sourced from some of the most sought-after vineyards in the winegrowing region of Friuli .
VINIFICATION AND AGING :
Harvest : The 2016 harvest began at the end of August and continued through the first half of September .
Fermentation : The grapes were destemmed , crushes , and lightly pressed . The wine was fermented in stainless-steel vats at 61 ° F for 10 days .
Aging : After completing fermentation , the wine rested in stainless-steel vats at 61 ° F before bottling .
Alcohol content : 12.5 % by volume
SENSORY PROPERTIES : Color : Straw yellow with a hint of gold
Aromas and flavors : Fresh and fragrant with bright aromas of pineapple , white peach , and tropical fruit accompanied by delicate white flowers and sage , followed by flavors of apple and pear .
Tasting profile : The acidity is firm but balanced , working with the ripe fruit taste profile to confer freshness and a mineral touch to the wine .
Pairing : A perfect accompaniment to fresh seafood salsa , linguine , spinach gnocchi , tomato bruschetta , Parmigiano Reggiano , or Pecorino Romano .
FIRST YEAR OF PRODUCTION : 2016
Have you been to Italy ?
Yes , I ’ ve been to Rome , Florence , Venice , Milan , Turin , Corleone , and Palermo . I had the best meal of my life served in the back of a music club in Turin . The ingredients were familiar , but I had never experienced any of the dishes served — each one unidentifiable yet downright scrumptious . I refer to this as the greatest meal of my life !
What are your hopes for the city ’ s future ?
I hope to see New Orleans continue to grow as an international city , luring a greater influx of intelligent , creative people who maintain the city ’ s progressiveness .
Wesley Palmisano
President & CEO , Palmisano
Wesley Palmisano , 38 , grew up in a construction family . His grandfather founded W . J . Palmisano Contractors , a residential construction company , in 1950 after returning from World War II . Working alongside his grandfather and father instilled a tremendous entrepreneurial spirit in Wesley at a very young age .
After graduating from high school , he was ready to launch full time into
IL DUCALE PINOT GRIGIO FRIULI DOC
Trento
Belluno Udine Pordenone
TRENTINO Gorizia
VENETO Vicenza Treviso
Trieste Verona Padua
Venice
Rovigo
Future cont . on page 20
FRIULI
TRENTINO FRIULI
Fruili
Please enjoy our wines responsibly . © 2017 Ruffino Import Company , Rutherford , CA