Jamie Hunt presents: The History, Culture, and Craft of Amaro.
Join us for an engaging presentation exploring the rich history and cultural traditions of amaro, Italy’s iconic herbal liqueur. We’ll dive into its origins, evolution, and the artistry behind its production, while also sharing the story of Fast Penny Spirits and the inspiration behind our Amaricano line. Along the way, we’ll discuss how this Italian tradition has influenced contemporary American craft spirits. The evening will include a guided tasting of Amaricano, offering a flavorful journey through its botanical complexity.
Jamie Hunt Biography
Jamie Hunt is the CEO and Founder of Fast Penny Spirits, a woman-owned, B Corp certified amaro distillery in Seattle. After a successful career creating innovative digital products for global companies, she left the tech world with a mission to build something with deeper impact. Drawing on her Italian heritage and passion for amaro, Jamie set out to craft a sustainable, world-class liqueur while fostering community and empowerment. Through the distillery’s Pretty Penny program, 3% of bottle revenue is donated to organizations supporting women, communities, and the beverage industry. She successfully launched Fast Penny Spirits during the pandemic and has led the award-winning distillery through steady growth ever since.
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WEDNESDAY
October 8, 2025
Greenwood Senior Center
525 N 85th St, Seattle, WA 98103
6:00 Aperitivo
6:30 Dinner
7:30 Presentation
$10/person
Bring your favorite antipasti, dolci, or vino to share.
Please RSVP by Monday, October 6 to be there for dinner.
RSVP (https://danteseattle.org/register-for-pasta-dinner/)
Gabriella Vagnoli was born in Pisa, Tuscany, home of the famous Leaning Tower. She grew up in a multicultural family thanks to her Brazilian mom and remembers teaching Italian for the first time as a child to her Brazilian cousins. She obtained a Laurea in English and Spanish Language and Literature at the Università degli Studi di Pisa and during her college years spent a year in the University of Reading, UK, studying mainly the works of Shakespeare. After obtaining a Certificate as a Teacher of Italian (DITALS II) at the Università per Stranieri di Siena, she has taught in a full immersion school in Florence, a children's full immersion program in Chicago and a Community College in Illinois.
Tiziana was born and raised in Sardinia, a beautiful Italian island in the Mediterranean Sea. She has always been passionate about foreign languages and cultures, and studied French and German at the Scuola Superiore Interpreti e Traduttori in Milan, where she obtained her first Foreign Languages and Interpreter BA degree. She then pursued her MA in English and German Language and Literature at IULM, one of the most prestigious universities in Milan, Italy for Language and Communication studies.
Nicla is a native of Napoli, Italy. She has a Laurea in Materie Letterarie (degree in humanities) and a Laurea in Pedagogia (degree in Education) from the Università degli Studi di Cassino. She earned her M.A in Italian and her PhD in Comparative Literature from the University of Washington. She has published articles and book chapters on gender and theater as well as politics and religion in Counter-Reformation Italy and in the last years, has been teaching Italian literature, language, and culture in different institutions. In addition to teaching in our program, Nicla is authorized to cover the role of esaminatrice and intervistatrice in our PLIDA Examination Board.
Born in the fabulous 80’s, Isabella was raised in Rome where she got her Degree in Teaching and Translation in foreign languages at the University ‘La Sapienza’.
Eric was born and raised in Como by an American mother and an Italian father. He holds a degree in Business Administration and Management from Bocconi University in Milan and a Master’s in Corporate and International Finance from Durham University in the UK. His international background led him to pursue a business career in the United States, ultimately settling in Seattle, where his wife grew up.