IMPASTIAMO meets Angelo Mirabito: discovering life’s simple pleasures in Stromboli

When our IMPASTIAMO team decided to gather for a teambuilding trip, we knew it had to be somewhere special. We packed our bags and from Los Angeles we crossed the ocean to Stromboli, a vulcanic island in southern Italy. 

From the very first step off the ferry in Vulcano, we were greeted by the island’s signature smell of sulfur. It might surprise you at first, but soon it becomes part of the atmosphere, just like the black volcanic sand, the steaming fumaroles, and the quiet beauty that exists nowhere else in the world. Our journey then brought us to Stromboli, famously captured by Roberto Rossellini in the film Stromboli, Land of God, starring Ingrid Bergman. Here, time literally slows down. Stromboli is still a fishing village at heart. Cars are almost nonexistent, replaced by small electric golf carts that cover just a handful of routes. The real star of the island is the Volcano itself, alive and powerful, throwing sparks of lava, a constant reminder of nature’s strength (it feels like stepping into a page of German Romanticism, where beauty and danger coexist).

But Stromboli is not only about its volcano. It is also about its people, and for us, that person was Angelo Mirabito. Angelo is the heart behind the well-known restaurant Il Malandrino, but more than that, he is a man whose life is deeply tied to the island. With a bright, genuine smile, he welcomed us as though we were old friends. He told us his story: how he once left Stromboli to work as a builder in Modena for over a decade, only to return after his father’s passing. Since then, he has dedicated his days to his land, his restaurant, and his people.

Angelo didn’t just tell us about his life, he shared it with us. He took us to his grove of olive trees, teaching us how to pick the olives that would later be preserved in brine. It’s a simple recipe of water, salt, garlic, and chili pepper, yet in his hands it felt like part of an ancient ritual, a way of connecting to the land. Later that afternoon, Angelo, together with Bartolo and his son Antonino, invited us on his boat. We sailed out toward Strombolicchio and jumped into the deep blue water just as the sun was setting. The thrill of diving in at that golden hour is something none of us will forget.

As evening fell, the day turned into something even more memorable. Angelo showed us how to fish for squid, and by nightfall we had caught enough for a meal. Still inside the boat, he cooked pasta for us with the squid we had caught and the tomatoes from his own garden. It wasn’t just dinner: it was a celebration of simplicity, of authenticity, of being present in the moment.

In Stromboli, with Angelo as our guide, we learned that true richness is not found in what is grand or fast-paced, but in the small things: the taste of fresh tomatoes, the rhythm of the sea, the smile of someone who has given his life to his island. Our teambuilding trip reminded us not only of the joy of working together, but also of the value of slowing down, appreciating where you are, and remembering that life’s beauty often lies in the most ordinary moments.