The Consulate General of Italy in São Paulo officially presented the 13th edition of Settimana della Cucina Regionale Italiana, which takes chefs from each of the 20 regions of the “Belpaese” to the capital of São Paulo to cook special menus in 20 renowned restaurants in the city over the course of a week.
In 2024, the initiative will take place from October 21 to 27, with a new feature: the inclusion of São Paulo as the “21st region”, a way of paying tribute to the 150 years of Italian immigration in Brazil.
“Many Italian families have made a decisive contribution to the economic, social, cultural and political development of this wonderful country, and in particular of São Paulo, the most Italian city outside Italy,” said Consul General Domenico Fornara during the presentation event.
To celebrate this history, the century-old Basilicata bakery and restaurant will prepare an Italian-Brazilian menu with dishes that combine the traditions of both countries, such as the classic filet mignon à la parmigiana, one of the most beloved recipes by the people of São Paulo and created by Italian immigrants in Brazil.
“Basilicata is turning 110 in 2024, and we have created a menu inspired by this mix of races, with a Brazilian touch, so expectations are high,” chef Rafael Lorenti, the fifth generation of the family in charge of the bakery, told ANSA.
“Settimana” was created in São Paulo in 2012 and served as inspiration for the Italian Cuisine Week, organized by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in embassies and consulates around the world since 2016.
“But São Paulo remains the only place where we celebrate regional Italian cuisine, with 20 chefs, one from each region of Italy, working with local chefs in renowned restaurants,” added Fornara.
According to Gerardo Landulfo, delegate of the Accademia Italiana della Cucina, which organizes the event alongside the Consulate, the audience for each edition is usually around 7 people. “But I think we will have a bigger turnout,” he said.
In addition to Basilicata, the restaurants participating in the 13th edition are: Ristorantino (Abruzzo), Zucco-Jardins (Basilicata), Sensi (Calabria), Lido (Campania), Vinheria Percussi (Emilia-Romagna), Terraço Itália (Friuli Venezia Giulia), Ca'd'Oro (Lazio), Santo Colomba (Liguria), Maremonti-Campo Belo (Lombardy), Vinarium (Marche), Shihoma Deli (Molise), Piselli-Jardins (Piedmont), Supra di Mauro Maia (Puglia), Tre Bicchieri (Sardinia), Enosteria-Oscar Freire (Sicily), Temperani Trattoria (Tuscany), Zena (Trentino-Alto Adige), Casa Santo Antonio (Umbria), A Presto (Aosta Valley) and Gero Itaim (Veneto).
Three-course menus (starter, first or second course and dessert) range from R$130 to R$290, and full menus (starter, first and second course and dessert) will cost from R$170 to R$390. (HANDLE)
