The Salone del Gusto is yet another of the many reasons to organize a weekend in Turin and Piedmont. The Salone del Gusto is the most important international event that deals with quality food produced in an ethical way,
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- The where and when of the Salone del Gusto
- Who organizes the Salone del Gusto?
- Terra Madre Salone del Gusto
- What to do at the Salone del Gusto
THE WHERE AND WHEN OF THE SALONE DEL GUSTO
The Salone del Gusto will take place from 26 to 30 September, here in Turin. The main location of the Salone del Gusto will be Parco Dora. The choice of this area of the city certainly has very specific reasons: the Dora Park is in fact one of the symbols of urban regeneration in our city; A neighborhood where there is certainly a continuous contamination between different cultures.
WHO ORGANIZES THE SALONE DEL GUSTO?
The Salone del Gusto is organized by the City of Turin, the Piedmont Region and Slow Food. Slow Food is an international cultural movement founded in 1986 by Carlo Petrini, in opposition to the spread of fast food and junk food. Slow Food is a non-profit association that aims first and foremost to promote the idea of experiencing the meal as a pleasure, and not a practice to be done, as I saw many people do when I lived in the USA (but it certainly happens in other parts of the world as well).
Slow Food aims to ensure that everyone has the right to good, clean and fair food. This means that Slow Food activists are committed to protecting biodiversity, but also respect for the fundamental rights of producers and those who work to produce the food that we find on the tables every day. And on this, as the sad news reminds us, we know that there is still a lot of work to be done.
TERRA MADRE SALONE DEL GUSTO
In 2004, Slow Food founded Terra Madre, which is a worldwide network of all communities committed to advancing Slow Food’s objectives by protecting, each in its own geographical and cultural context, the quality of agri-food production. Terra Madre conferences have always been held in conjunction with the Salone del Gusto, making the event even more complete. That’s why the full name is Terra Madre Salone del Gusto.
WHAT TO DO AT THE SALONE DEL GUSTO
There are many events already scheduled (about 260 as I am writing this post) that will be held not only at Parco Dora, but also at Nuvola Lavazza, Environment Park, Eataly or other locations. They range from in-depth conferences, tastings, workshops, and table appointments.
Among the speakers there are some famous names, such as Don Luigi Ciotti, Lella Costa, Vito Mancuso, Michele Serra, and of course Carlo Petrini. There are three starred chefs: Caterina Ceraudo with her Calabrian cuisine, our Piedmontese Davide Palluda, representative of Langhe cuisine and Luca Marchini who will bring his Modenese cuisine.
However, if your idea is to visit the Salone del Gusto without participating in any event, the Italian and international market with 600 producers will be waiting for you. In a separate section of the Salone del Gusto you will find the Slow Food Presidia, i.e. Slow Food communities that work every day to save native breeds, varieties of vegetables and fruits, breads, cheeses, cured meats, and traditional desserts, from extinction.
For example, here in Piedmont, we have the Razza Piemontese (a breed of cattle with very fine meat, try it and you won’t regret it!), the Cardo Gobbo of Nizza Monferrato (very important to taste our Bagna Cauda), the Pesca Bella of Borgo d’Ale (I spent my childhood right there in the area and I can guarantee!), the Riso Gigante Vercelli (the most cultivated quality in the post-war period but then supplanted by qualities with a higher yield).
On the wine side we have the Carema (vine once cultivated in the village of the same name: it grows on terraces made with dry stone walls and pergolas supported by stone pillars). Today the skills to continue the cultivation of this precious red wine that has been DOC since 1967 are disappearing.
Inevitable then, at the Salone del Gusto also the food trucks, with polpette, focaccia, olive ascolane, hamburgers, fresh artisan pasta and everything else and the producers of craft beers, a recent passion of ours (if we think that in the 80s beer was a drink reserved for “laborers” in their “short” lunch breaks with a sandwich), which we now adore.
Mmm… my mouth watered…
So, see you all at the Salone del Gusto?
