SCOTLAND was treated to a real taste of Italy from Italian masterchef Fabio Campoli at an event to showcase Expo Milano 2015.
Almost 400 guests attended a gastronomic gala event at the Glasgow Science Centre held by First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, and Italian Ambassador to the UK, H.E. Pasquale Terracciano, to hear how Scotland can join the global conversation showcased in the upcoming Exposition, which this year centres on ‘Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life’.
Food was high on the agenda, not only as it is one of the key principles of Expo Milano 2015, but because Italy’s top chef, Fabio Campoli, and his team from Il Circolo dei Buongustai (Circle of Foodies, of which he is the president) were masterminding the menu.
Il Circolo dei Buongustai was launched by Fabio in Italy in 2006. It focuses on the rediscovery of the ‘banquet’ around simple principles of good food, taste, quality, health, nutrition education, science, history, art and tradition – principles that are also reflected in Expo Milano 2015.
With this year’s global exposition taking place in Milan, the five-course banquet provided a taste of Italy with courses including, four flavours pasta featuring broccoli raab, PDO Piave cheese, crispy pancetta and fine herbs breadcrumb with mezzi rigatoni pasta and gently braised organic beef cooked in red wine with spices, served with saffron scented potato and fennel mash.
Fabio Campoli is in the UK having recently partnered with Italian restaurant group Tony Macaroni, sponsors of the Expo gala dinner. This is the first UK partnership for Fabio, and will involve him revising the restaurant’s menus over the coming months, working closely with Tony Macaroni’s chefs to share his famous philosophy on food.
The special gala also saw the launch of Il Circolo dei Buongustai in the UK – the first time the movement has been expanded out of Italy, which will also be headed up by Fabio Campoli. As well as sharing their knowledge and experiences of food at ‘culture and culinary’ events, Fabio will also be delivering training courses and internships and will be inviting budding connoisseurs to learn from his specialist team.
Commenting on the event, Fabio Campoli, said: “It was great honour to cook for the First Minister, Italian Ambassador and the guests attending the special gala event. To be able to cook for both countries dear to me at an event that helps raise awareness of Expo Milano 2015 is fantastic. Food and its provenance are very important to me and it is great to see the principles being communicated globally by Expo Milano 2015.
“It was a real honour to inform guests of the launch of Il Circolo dei Buongustai here in the UK and I am looking forward to working with talented connoisseurs up and down the country and sharing our techniques. This is the first time the club will be extended out of Italy and I am excited to share it with Scotland and the rest of the UK.”
Guests of the gala event were also treated to a concert featuring music from The Antonio Forcione Quintet, headed up by award winning Italian-born composer, Antonio Forcione.
Attendance included guests invited by the Scottish Government and Italian Consulate, those with an interest in food, drink, sustainability and renewables who may wish to take part in the global conversation of Expo Milano 2015.
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