Federico Ciamei is a photographer based in Milano, Italy, where he work as a photographer for editorial projects both on assignment and self produced, collaborating with international magazines and independent ventures.
About Fridgescapes interno frigo – words by Federico Ciamei:
“All fridges are alike; every fridge is a fridge in its own way” L.T.
“Fridge is a fridge is a fridge is a fridge” G.S.
This series of photos depicts fridges’ interiors in Italy. I love to talk about food and to take photos in other people’s houses. A fridge seems like a private space, but when I ask to take a photo no one ever says no. It is very interesting to look at all the details, the food stored, the sauces and drinks, and imagine people’s lives. Are we what we eat? I don’t know but these photos sometimes feel like portraits.
Martina e Federico – Milan
Who: Martina 45 years old photographer and passionate pastry chef, Federico 47 years old photographer
Always in the fridge: asian sauces, bananas, pumpkin, carrots, aromatic herbs, ginger, maple syrup, lemons and limes, vermouth, vodka in the freezer, a cake in the weekends
Fav meals: thai curry, fish, everything with legumes or pumpkin, shakshuka, pizza, Ottolenghi’s recipes, cakes
We like to experiment cooking dishes from different parts of the world, trying new flavors.
Seth e Andrea – Milan
Who: Seth 40 years old english teacher, Andrea 39 years old journalist
Always in the fridge: yeast, barbecue sauce, maple syrup, pickles, asian sauces
Fav meals: pasta with pesto, pasta gricia, every kind of potato dish, ikea meatballs
Valeria – Milan
Who: Valeria 35 years old artist and teacher
Always in the fridge: precooked food, veg hamburgers, yogurt, various cheese, ricotta
Fav meals: vegetable soups
Not enough time to cook so the fridge is mostly empty, but when my mother visits me I have more food because she usually fills my refrigerator.
Vlada – Milan
Who: Vlada 29 years old artist
Always in the fridge: avocado, coconut milk, cucumber
Fav meals: oven roasted pumpkin with rosemary, curry, milkshake with fruits, porridge
Maela, Vins + Sante e Giovanni – Milan
Who: Maela 37 years old stylist, Vins 41 years old photographer and their two kids Sante and Giovanni (4 and 2 years)
Always in the fridge: No lactose milk, parmigiano cheese, fruits and vegetables, fruit yogurt drinks, butter, frozen pizza and frozen fish
Fav meals: meatballs, cooked vegetables, frittata (omelette like dish), torta salata (quiche)
After we’ve fed the kids is it always: and now what do we eat? Sometimes we have beauty masks and nebuliser’s vials in the fridge.
Anna e Alessandro – Anagni
Who: Anna 67 years retired teacher and horticulturist, Alessandro 70 years old art history researcher expert in Caravaggio
Always in the fridge: milk, eggs from their four chickens, seasonal vegetables from their garden, a big piece of parmigiano cheese
Fav meals: salmon, zucchini or eggplant parmesan style
We like to get ideas from cook shows on TV, especially sicilian dishes and pastries. We make a lot of sweets, Anna cooks and Alessandro eats.
Fiammetta – Rome
Who: Fiammetta 69 years old retired teacher
Always in the fridge: lemons, milk, green salad, tomato (only datterini, only the red ones, I don’t like the fancy yellow ones), cabbage, fennel, white wine, sauces, soy
Fav meals: I love lemons and I use the zest in all my favorite dishes: pasta with tuna, fish, chicken breast with burned lemon slices
The fridge is the most loved appliance in the house, but you can’t do without the washing machine. The worst thing about a fridge is that you have to clean it, otherwise it is gross.
Anna e Giusi – Anzio
Who: Anna 94 retired homemaker, Giusi 60 caretaker
Always in the fridge: Cheese, pastries and croissants, orange soda, Crodino (it is a non-alcoholic italian bitter aperitif), yogurt, kiwi
Fav meals: lasagna, pasta with oil garlic and chili pepper, pasta with legumes like lentils of beans, creamy cakes like the mimosa cake
Anna e Davide – Milan
Who: Anna 29 years old art director and stylist and Davide 29 years old fashion designer
Always in the fridge: green salad, broccoli, milk, soy, wine, garlic
Fav meals: pasta, vegetables cooked in the oven, risotto
We usually buy everything at the farmers market often from the same person, but this week we didn’t have time so at the moment our fridge is empty. Davide is the son of a family of winemakers so we always have wine.
Silvia – Rome
Who: Silvia 71 years old psychoanalyst
Always in the fridge: vegetables, green salad, white wine, beer, frozen fish and meat, frozen sliced bread
Fav meals: cooked vegetables, shelled ready to eat dried fruits like nuts, almonds or pistachio
Luisa – Rome
Who: Luisa 65 years old, recently retired public office worker
Always in the fridge: yogurt, kefir, cured meats,eggs, raspberries jam, seasonal vegetables, carrots, green salad, fennels, soy or oats milk, mustard, butter, parmigiano, fresh cheese like crescenza or primo sale, tomatoes
Fav meals: pumpkin roasted in the oven, belgian endive, breakfast with homemade toasted bread with ricotta cheese and raspberry jam, “picchiapo’” that is a roman dish of boiled meat, then cooked in a pan with tomato sauce, onion and chili peppers, risotto pie with pears and gorgonzola cheese