The fourth World Week of Italian Cuisine whose theme this year was “Food Education: The Culture of Taste” has taken place from 18th to 24th November. Here in Scotland, the Consulate General of Italy, the Italian Institute of Culture in Edinburgh and the Scottish Branch of the Italian Chamber of Commerce for the UK, organised two main events promoting the regional cuisine of the Veneto region and the Garda Lake area. Other members of the Italian Chamber of Commerce for the UK organised side events during the week (and over) to celebrate with us real Italian food and promote Brand Italy.
But let’s have a deeper look at the main events. Both evenings, A Cena con Leandro Luppi: Variazioni Alimentari sul Lago di Garda, at Tony Crolla’s Divino Enoteca and Il Veneto e il suo Lago: Incontri Alimentari held at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, in collaboration with Victor and Carina Contini, have been a celebration of the very best of the Lake Garda area’s food and wine.
Lead by Michelin starred Chef Leandro Luppi, patron chef at Vecchia Malcesine Ristorante, Allegrini Wines, Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG, Pastificio Felicetti, Loison Pasticceri joined forces to provide their Scottish audience with the finest products and with a taste of Italy that many did not know until then.
During the first event, journalists, bloggers, buyers, have been enthralled by a short introductory showcase of each produce served during the evening. Michelin starred Chef Leandro Luppi, an unconventional food artist, capable of transforming food into sheer emotions delighted his guests both with his food and his wit. Every guest has been impressed by the innovative combination of delicate flavours and the reinvention of elaborate and sensational dishes, defined by the most as “the most delicious dinner had so far this year”.
During the second official event budding gastronomer Lucia Ortisi and representatives of the producers - Silvia Benedet, ambassador for Consorzio Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG, Federico Delvai for Pastificio Felicetti and Edoardo Loison for Loison Pasticceri – have enthralled an enthusiastic public of about eighty-five people with academic talks and curious insights regarding authentic Italian excellences. After the talks, our guests had the chance of savouring each of the products, thanks to a mouth-watering selection of authentic dishes prepared by Chef Leandro Luppi.
During this second event, Chef Luppi provided our guests not only with excellent delicacies but also with food for thoughts: “Although Italy is renowned for some iconic food products worldwide, such as pasta and pizza, it is essential to understand that each and every Italian region, as well as towns and even villages, has its own recipes and typical produce. What counts the most is not only the tradition and the recipes, which still are fundamental but also the genuine environment where each product grows. Only with an open mind and the willingness to explore what might at first sound unconventional, one can embrace the authenticity of Italian culture”.
The week has received an extremely enthusiastic feedback from the public and from media, with coverage from The Insider, The Edinburgh Reporter, Daily Business Group, The Scotsman, The Wee Food Blogger, Bite Magazine, ScotConnected and our events being really popular on Instagram!
We are already looking forward to next year’s events, but for now have a peek at some of the highlights of this year’s “Settimana della Cucina Italiana nel mondo” #ItalianTaste2019 https://tinyurl.com/seqftoe
