MASTERCLASS
WITH CHEF ANDREA RUISI
THE EDINBURGH NEW TOWN COOKERY
SCHOOL
21st May 2019
After two successful events
last year, the Scottish Branch of the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
for the UK has organised a new “True Italian Taste” event, the international
project which aims to promote and protect the authenticity and the quality of
100% Made in Italy products and to combat the diffusion of the Italian Sounding
phenomenon. The project, part of "The Extraordinary Italian Taste"
programme, is promoted and financed by the Italian Ministry of Economic
Development and Assocamerestero in collaboration with the Italian Chambers of
Commerce abroad.
Last Tuesday 21st May, a
masterclass with the well-known, passionate and visionary cook Andrea Ruisi,
Chef Ambassador from ALMA – La Scuola Internazionale di Cucina Italiana, took
place at the Demonstration Theatre of the Edinburgh New Town Cookery School, situated
in the heart of the Scottish Capital’s city centre. The main objective of the
event was to raise awareness and educate local journalists, bloggers, and
experts regarding the benefits of using authentic Italian products and how to
combat the Italian sounding phenomenon.
After a brief introduction
by Davide Bargna, Scottish Branch Manager, about the project and why is so
important for both the Italian economy and culture, Chef Ruisi started with an
interesting lecture about the history of food variety in Italy, focusing on
pasta and rice, explaining how pasta played a central role in unifying
Italians, under a common gastronomical and cultural flag. Then, he explained
the importance of the European Union quality schemes, protecting the names of
specific products to promote their unique characteristics, linked to their
geographical origin as well as traditional know-how, focusing on the Italian
products he would have used during the evening.
As per the masterclass, Chef Ruisi engaged the audience through hand-making four different past dough and showing how to create 25 different types of pasta, each of them from a different part of Italy. Guests were invited to join him in creating such little masterpieces, testing the past dough and their differences. After that, Chef Ruisi made and cooked green, fresh, hand-made tortelli filled with fresh ricotta and saffron risotto with Liquirizia di Calabria PDO and Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena PDO, to let the audience taste these two exquisite, traditional Italian dishes.
During the event, our guests also had the chance to taste a number of
PGI and PDO Italian products, including:
- Parmigiano Reggiano PDO
- Grana Padano PDO
- Aceto Balsamico di Modena PGI
- Mortadella Bologna PGI
Such products were compared with their Italian sounding counterparts. The
guests were quite surprised by the difference!
Finally, a tasting of the exclusive Bellavista Franciacorta Alma Grand
Cuvee was also organised in collaboration with Terre Moretti. Wine Expert
Ettore Maggi explained the audience the background of such a historical Italian
company and engaged them explaining the specific characteristic of the wine
they were enjoying.
Thirty, engaged guests attended the event, including journalists,
bloggers, restaurant owners, experts and professionals from the sector.
Different back-up materials were given to cover the agenda of the evening,
details about the masterclass and the speakers, specific information about the
project, the EU quality schemes and the products used during the night.
During the event, the guests asked several questions, took notes and
pictures, posted and tweeted on social media. The feedbacks have been
enthusiastic, especially regarding the pasta making and the comparison between
the authentic Italian products and their Italian sounding counterparts. The
Consul General of Italy for Scotland and Northern Ireland attended the event as
well, underlying the importance of such project.
A live coverage of the event was carried out by the Italian Chamber of
Commerce for the UK staff through Instagram. An official photographer and a
video-maker were present as well.
Special thanks to Chef Andrea Ruisi
(ALMA – La Scuola Internazionale di Cucina Italiana), wine expert Ettore Maggi
(Terre Moretti), photographer Ludovic Farine, video-maker Vicente Noviello,
Lara Thompson, Annette Sprague, and Camilla Zorzato for their collaboration. Thanks
also to our members Piccolino Edinburgh and Eusebi Deli, as well as to The
Roman Pizza Project, for their contribution.
#TrueItalianTaste
#IfFoodCouldTalk #ExtraordinaryItalianTaste
Contacts:
scotland@italchamind.org.uk
Twitter,
Facebook, and Instagram: @ItalianChamScot