The IV Week of Italian Cuisine, organized in Rio de Janeiro by the Consulate General and by the Italian Academy of Cuisine, in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute of Rio and the magazine “Comunità ‘Italiana”, focused on promoting, under the motto “Food education: the Culture of the Palate” and Italian premium gastronomy by paying tribute to Leonardo da Vinci.
A total of 16 promotional initiatives were organized: 6 gastronomic events with Italian chefs, 4 master classes, 2 conferences, a concert, an exhibition, a training internship, a tasting of homemade ice cream, Italian aperitifs, and lunches based on Italian regional recipes. The visitors, approximately 2000, expressed great appreciation for the various events throughout the entire exhibition.
There was a noteworthy presence of prominent names of Italian cuisine in the world including the starred chef Nello Cassese from the prestigious Cipriani restaurant at the Copacabana Palace, and chefs from Italy, among whom Marco Bechaz from the Aosta Valley, the Tuscan Maurizio Barbara and the Roman ice-cream maker Giorgia Proia. In particular, the participants appreciated two dinners: one by chef Marco Bechaz that promoted products from the Aosta and Alba regions – a first in Rio de Janeiro with a menu of typical recipes based on Fontina d’Aosta, Alba white truffle, porcini mushrooms and the tasting of typical dishes and wines from the two regions, brought directly from Italy, and the dinner dedicated to the genius of Leonardo da Vinci prepared by chef Maurizio Barbara who presented Renaissance recipes such as biancomangiare, the Vinci soup, and duck with apple and orange sauce.
The Conference by Prof Daniela Olivert on Leonardo Da Vinci and Renaissance cuisine and the Conference by nutritionist Gabriela Flauzino on the Mediterranean diet, aimed at promoting the Italian approach to nutrition, healthy diets and sound consumer information
The gastronomic review was accompanied by important cultural initiatives such as the concert by the Italian jazz group “Enzo Favata Crossing Quartet” and the exhibition “Cadernos da Italia” by the Italian-Brazilian artist, Ze ‘Dassilva.
