Delicious Italy

Artissima

Artissima is the International Contempory Art Fair being held in Turin from the 9–11 November 2007 at the Lingotto Fiere.

131 galleries from 16 countries will be taking part and together they form a showcase for the world's best young and upcoming artists.

Here is the full list:

1/9 Unosunove, Roma / 1000eventi, Milano / 41artecontemporanea, Torino / Albion, London / AMT, Como / Analix Forever, Genève / Paul Andriesse, Amsterdam / Art agents, Hamburg / Art: Concept, Paris / Artericambi, Verona / Alfonso Artiaco, Napoli / Artra, Milano / Astuni, Pietrasanta / Laura Bartlett, London / Bellwether, New York / bnd tomasorenoldibracco, Milano / Bortolami, New York / Isabella Bortolozzi, Berlin / Brancolini Grimaldi, Roma, Firenze / Canada, New York / Cardi, Milano / Charim, Wien / cherry and martin, Los Angeles / Ciocca, Milano / Citric, Brescia / Antonio Colombo, Milano / John Connelly Presents, New York / Continua, San Gimignano, Beijing / Raffaella Cortese, Milano / Cosmic, Paris / Guido Costa, Torino / Ellen de Bruijne, Amsterdam / de Expeditie, Amsterdam / Alessandro De March, Milano / de Multiples, Paris / Elizabeth Dee, New York / Umberto Di Marino, Napoli / domobaal, London / e/static, Torino / Feinkost, Berlin / Figge von Rosen,  Köln / Emi Fontana, Milano, Los Angeles / Fonti, Napoli / enricofornello, Prato / Foxy Production, New York / Fruit and Flower Deli, New York / Galerie Im Regierungsviertel, Berlin / Galica, Milano / Annet Gelink, Amsterdam / Glance, Torino / Vera Gliem, Köln / Goff + Rosenthal, New York, Berlin / Haas&Fisher, Zürich / Moti Hasson, New York / Reinhard Hauff, Stuttgart / Anna Helwing, Los Angeles / Hoet Bekaert, Gent / In Arco, Torino / Alison Jacques, London / Michael Janssen, Berlin, Köln / francesca kaufmann, Milano / Nicole Klagsbrun, New York / Klerkx, Milano / Christine König, Wien / Johann König, Berlin / Elaine Levy, Brussels / Magazzino d'Arte Moderna, Roma / Cesare Manzo, Pescara, Roma / Giò Marconi, Milano / Marella, Milano, Beijing / Franco Masoero, Torino / Maze, Torino / Francesca Minini, Milano / Massimo Minini, Brescia / Monitor, Roma / Pio Monti, Roma / Murata & friends, Berlin / Museum 52, London / Newman Popiashvili, New York / Franco Noero, Torino / Nogueras Blanchard, Barcelona / Noire, Torino / Lorcan O'Neill, Roma, OREDARIA, Roma / Palma Dotze, Vilafranca Del Penedès / francescopantaleone, Palermo / Alberto Peola, Torino / Emmanuel Perrotin, Paris / Giorgio Persano, Torino / Perugi, Padova / Photo & Contemporary, Torino / Photology, Milano / Pianissimo, Milano / Pinksummer, Genova / Postmasters, New York / Produzenten, Hamburg / prometeo, Milano / Reflex, Amsterdam / Rizziero, Pescara / Sonia Rosso, Torino / Perry Rubenstein, New York / Rubicon, Dublin / Lia Rumma, Napoli, Milano / Nikolaus Ruzicska, Salzburg / S.A.L.E.S., Roma / schleicher + lange, Paris / Mimmo Scognamiglio, Napoli, Milano / Suzy Shammah, Milano / Side 2, Tokyo / Silverman, San Francisco /Škuc, Ljubljana / FRANCOSOFFIANTINO, Torino / Reena Spaulings, New York / Diana Stigter, Amsterdam / Sutton, Melbourne / Jiri Svesta, Prague / Micheline Szwajcer, Antwerpen / Ermanno Tedeschi, Torino, Milano / Ileana Tounta, Athens / TUCCI RUSSO, Torre Pellice / Daniele Ugolini, Firenze / V.M.21, Roma / Georges-Philippe et Nathalie Vallois, Paris / van Gelder, Amsterdam / Vernon, Prague / Vistamare, Pescara / Wallspace, New York / Max Wigram, London / Wilkinson, London / ZERO, Milano / Zonca & Zonca, Milano

Mediterranean Cooking Prize

On the 29 June 2007 the 'Premio della Cucina Mediterranea' will be awarded to one of the best of Italy's upcoming chefs.

The event is being held at the Lloyds Baia Hotel in Vietri sul Mare and the competitors originate from the regions of Campania, Basilicata, Puglia, Calabria and Sicily. 

The Premio della Cucina Mediterranea is a prestigious prize and in its third edition, and the competition is a real opportunity for the trainee chefs of the country's Hotel Institutes to test their skills and talent against other students and professionals.

The winner will be offered a work experience contract by PromoSalerno at the renowned Academia Barilla.

The guest list includes many notable names involved in the promotion and preservation of Italy's DOP food industry from Chef Gian Paolo Belloni and televison journalist Lamberto Sposini to the Minister for Agriculture Prof. Paolo de Castro.

And in fact one of the aims of the Premio is to promote and remind us all of the quality and uniqueness of Mediterrenan cuisine and to firmly put local food identity and cultural tradition at the heart of a new Mediterranean eco-tourism, hence the presence of the Portuguese Ambassador to Italy.

So what will they be preparing?

From last years edition something like: Frittata di "Scàmmaro" magro, Risotto mediterraneo, Fusilli con vongole veraci e bottarga di muggine, Mazzola capperi ed olive con burrata e pomodori agli agrumi, Maltagliati alla barchettata and Gamberi con asparagi e zabaglione alle nocciole di giffoni IGP

www.premiocucinamediterranea.it

Organic Lazio

From 15 April to 15 May 2007, the bio farms of Lazio are opening their gates to the general public as part of an initiative to encourage us to think organic.

According to official figures there are 2500 such farms covering around 10% of the region who are involved in organic food production; cheeses, vegetables, wines etc.

A trend that's on the way up.

We've visited many such event across the Italy and you learn a lot about the roots, culture and history of the Italian regions.

In fact, you get the sensation that for this first time in 150 years there is a new generation of young people leaving the cities and heading back to the countryside. There are even magazines called 'Origin' and 'Vie del Gusto' reflecting this.

An employment model for post industrial Italy we're not too sure, but do check out this event. 

www.primaverabio.aiab.it

The Sweet Life in London via Abruzzo

Abruzzo Cibus Culinary Tours is the only full time cooking school in the Abruzzo region of Italy and founder Massimo Criscio has chosen the La Dolce Vita Fair, taking place at Olimpia, London, 8-11 March 2007, to launch his 3 day, 7 day and Pro programmes to a UK audience.

The cooking experiences take place in the family's exclusive Palazzo Tour d'Eau in Carunchio, province of Chieti, which also offers a private base and six rooms for a longer holiday in Abruzzo.

Your guides in the kitchen are the talented and experienced chefs Cheryle Molino and Dino Paganelli who will teach you the secrets of Abruzzo mountain cuisine, homemade ‘guitar’ pasta and exquisite ‘parrozzo’ dessert.

Unlike many culinary classes and food holidays in Italy, Abruzzo Cibus has built a special, modern demonstration kitchen. Nevertheless, all the delicious recipes can be easily made back home.

Say’s Massimo: 'In 2004, while working for a big company in corporate America, I decided to head back to my roots on the shores of the Adriatic Sea. As I have always loved entertaining guests and sharing my passion of good food and wine with friends and family, I decided to take the dream a step further. We have created a warm, welcoming, family atmosphere where guests can really feel at ease and have a real Italian experience far from the hassles of commercial tourism’.

Meet Massimo at La Dolce Vita at the official stand of the Regione Abruzzo (the homeland of Aldo Zilli) and add you name for a forthcoming educational tour by Abruzzo Cibus Culinary Tours.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Read about Abruzzo Cibus Culinary Tours 

Adopt a Camellia

A few years ago there was a project encouraging us to adopt a sheep from Abruzzo, or was it wolf.

For 2007, its the ancient camellias of Lucca in Tuscany.

As part of the 18th Exhibition of its type in Spring 2007, each plant adopted will be cordoned off with a label showing the name of the donor.

If you are interested in supporting this initiative, you can fill out a form at www.camelielucchesia.it.

The event is international and 2006 saw camellias from the Azores being shown as well as the world's oldest camellias from Pillnitz Castle, Dresden. They date from the late 1800's.

For 2007 representatives from Porto, Brussels, Nantes and Pontevedra will be present.

The event will be held in Pieve and S.Andrea di Compito Capannori.

It is a small and simple village where visitors can wind their way past ancient houses, stone walls, several delightful historic villas and frequent home-made statues to the Madonna that bear witness to an ancient and spontaneous religiosity.

The camellias are located in an unspoiled and peaceful landscape of gently rolling hills, olive grove, pines and camellia trees.

Where to Stay: Albergo Villa Marta, Lucca

Artistic Puns

If you are ever in Rome, head to the Angelica Gallery.

The Gallery is in the same building as the Angelica Library, part of the Ministry of Cultural Activities & Goods which conserves precious and rare relics in one of the few architectural works designed by Luigi Vanvitelli during his stay in Rome.

Over Christmas 2006 the works of London born artist Lorenzo Scaretti are on show.

Born in London and son of an Italian banker and an English writer and painter, his art is a tireless capacity to play with words and images: “... prose is obsolete, a play on words is the new form of expression, because a play on words immediately condenses an idea and an image”.

Some even say 'his artistic endeavours are an all-out Punic war against the conventional'

His works can be found in numerous private collections in New York, London, Paris, Washington, Los Angeles, Montreal, Houston, Brussels and Rome.

If you like Magritte, you'll like this.

Galleria Angelica
via di S. Agostino, 11
Rome

Museobazar in Rome

Until the 14th January 2007 our friends at ARCH, the new art gallery recently opened in central Rome off via Cavour, are holding a very modern Italian exhibition.

Inspired by the Suq al-Milh of ancient San'a in Yemen, the gallery is being transformed into a market museum full of an incredible number of objects and handmade items.

The artists themselves are almost all Italian and have taken their inspiration from the East or Near East and they include fashion, jewelery, photographs etc.

Strangest of all is the i-Dog.

The exhibition has the support of the Comune di Roma.

ARCH
Via G. Lanza 91A (Largo Brancaccio)
00184 Roma