Tony Loeb

🍸 Prohibition of absinthe began in the early 1900s but was legalized again in France in 2000. The spirit lacks an official production regulation, which leads to market confusion, with some products made with artificial colors and without natural herbs. European directive limits thujone to 10 mg/kg in liquors and 35 mg/kg in distilled absinthe. In Milan, Norah Was Drunk spearheaded the absinthe revival, offering a cocktail menu with the "Green Fairy". On October 24, the bar introduced a new drink menu with creative cocktails, pictograms indicating glass type and alcohol strength, and a mini cocktail option at 40% off. The menu includes a selection of Italian, French, and Swiss absinthes (10-14 euros), with authentic absinthe having an alcohol content between 45-70 degrees, distilled, and without added sugar.

🍷 The first edition of CMB Wine Experience Milano will be held on October 26-27 at the Chiostri di San Barnaba in Milan, featuring over 100 wineries and 200 unique wines not available through large distribution or e-commerce. Italy, winning 15 Grand Gold medals, dominated the last Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. Tickets are €20 for one day, €35 for two days, or €15 for sommeliers. Masterclasses scheduled on sparkling, white, rosé, and red wines. Pre-registration is required at info@mi-it.it with 30 spots per class.

☕ The 11th edition of Triestespresso Expo, the world-exclusive fair dedicated to espresso, opened on October 24 and runs until October 26 at the Generali Convention Center in Trieste's Porto Vecchio - Porto Vivo. The biennial event features participants from 48 countries, reinforcing its position as a key industry touchpoint. Organized by the Venezia Giulia Chamber of Commerce and its in-house company Aries Scarl, the expo includes a collaboration with the Associazione Caffè Trieste and support from the Municipality of Trieste. Italy consumes 95 million cups of espresso daily. The first day of the expo started with a focus on the EU's impending European Deforestation-free products Regulation (Eudr).

📈 Inalpi shined at SIAL 2024 (19-23 October) in Paris, winning recognition for its lactose-free Yogurt Line and Burro Reale, a unique 30g butter created with Michelin-starred chef Gian Piero Vivalda. The event hosted 7,500 exhibitors from 200 countries, presenting over 400,000 products with 1,800 spotlighted for innovation. Inalpi also received the Italian Food Awards 2024 and teased the upcoming Mascarpone Latterie Inalpi for late 2024 or early 2025.