Conferenze e Fiere

🎨 "IMMAGINARIO" by Guido Piacentini, a photo exhibition curated by Morena Pedrini at Essse Caffè, Via Galliera 18/b, Bologna, inaugurated on February 1, 2025, 11:00 am (by invitation). Open to the public from February 2 to May 30, 2025, with free entry. Features a diverse thematic blend of photos and is part of Arte Fiera - Art City Bologna 2025. Also includes the presentation of Piacentini's book published by AnimaMundi. Special event: one photo on display at Santa Maria dei Carcerati inside Palazzo Re Enzo. Exhibit hours: Mon-Fri 9:00-14:00/16:00-19:00, Sat 9:30-13:00/14:00-19:30, Sun 10:30-13:00/14:00-18:30. Essse Caffè, established in 1979 by the Segafredo family, is known for its quality blends and local cultural support.

🌿 Food Truck Unconventional, offering 100% vegetable alternative meat, launched on January 24 in Verona, Italy, by a team of young Italian researchers. The tour will hit major fairs in Bologna, Verona, Milan, and Rimini, along with street food festivals and concerts. In 2024, fairs in Italy saw over 18 million visitors, a 6.3% increase from the previous year. Upcoming tour dates include Bologna's SANA Food from February 23-25 and Modena's Verdi Passioni on March 1-2. The Unconventional line, led by Granarolo Group, became market leader in Italy's meat alternative segment, with a 58% market share and 19.4% growth, reaching a total value of €204 million, a 20% increase. The product line targets flexitarians, offering items like the Unconventional Burger, which won "world's best vegan burger" for the third year, Salsiccia Vegetale, Cotoletta, and Nuggets. Follow the tour at https://unconventionaltaste.com/follow-us. Globally, 20% of people don't eat meat, and 25% identify as flexitarians, showing a shift towards plant-based diets.

🍷 Cantina Vignaioli Morellino di Scansano introduced "San Bruzio Vermentino Superiore Maremma Toscana Doc 2023" to their "Le Vigne" line, a wine demonstrating Vermentino's long aging potential. President Benedetto Grechi explains that the idea came from tasting old vintages of Vigna Fiorini. San Bruzio, named after an ancient church near Magliano in Toscana (Grosseto), is produced using Vermentino grapes with a third harvested regularly and two-thirds left for extra two weeks for fruity aromas. After cold maceration and fermentation, it ages for six months and is bottled in July post-harvest. Described with golden straw yellow color, notes of broom and yellow plum, and a finish of apricot, the wine pairs well with fish, white meats, or fresh cheeses. Available from March 2025, it is priced at 18 euros in wine shops and the company's e-shop.

🍷 Vinitaly 2025, set for April 6-9 in Verona, will introduce No-Low alcohol (NoLo) wines in its 57th edition. A significant step in the fair's development, announced during a masterclass in Jeddah, aims to enrich Vinitaly's offerings and promote Italian wine. The 'dealcoholized' program includes market expectations (April 8) and production innovation (April 9) sessions. A dedicated Enoteca and a Mixology pavilion will feature NoLo wines. Veronafiere President Federico Bricolo and General Director Adolfo Rebughini are leading the initiative.

🎂 Fiasconaro, a Sicilian pastry company, participated in its first Sirha in Lyon from January 23-27, 2025. At the event, a roundtable was held on January 26 featuring world champion pastry chef Angelo Musa, Pasticceria Internazionale's editor Livia Chiriotti, and Fiasconaro's brand manager Agata Fiasconaro discussing Sicily-France cultural exchanges. Fiasconaro's panettone symbolizes Made in Sicily quality. In 2023, Fiasconaro was recognized for its pioneering role in luxury pastry and was featured in the French publication "Les 101 mots de la Pâtisserie" by Anne and Caroline Debbasch.

🎉 MOG Mercato Orientale Genova, guided by event director Barbara Sanna, offers a diverse cultural and gastronomic program including mixology, cooking courses, family workshops, guided tours, and tastings. The third MHOPS festival, celebrating Italy's finest craft beers, is scheduled for February 20-23. “Esperienza GIN” (February 5) and “Esperienza Vermouth” (March 5) are upcoming mixology events. “Migrantour” (February 8) and “A Spasso con De André fino al MOG” (March 1) offer themed tours with tastings, priced at €30 for adults and €15 for children. Cooking workshops like “Ramen facile con ingredienti facili” continue, with the next sessions on March 18 and April 15. Preparations for VEGenova, a vegan cuisine festival, are underway with an event on February 26. Edu-Aperitivi, merging education and socializing, kicks off on February 19 with a focus on spring and wild herbs. MOG covers 2,000 square meters, featuring ten kitchens, an "Hostaria al Mercato," breweries, a spiriteria, and a vineria, besides event and cooking school spaces.

💘 Villa Agrippina in Rome offers a special Valentine’s Day menu by chef Alfonso D’Auria at €110 per person (excluding beverages), featuring a five-course meal with live music. Additionally, from February 10-16, the Spa provides a 3-hour couple's wellness treatment, including access to spa facilities and a massage with essential oils, plus two glasses of champagne, priced at €290.

🌽 EVOLIO Expo, international B2B fair, will take place at Nuova Fiera del Levante in Bari from January 30th to February 1st, 2025. The event, organized by Senaf and supported by the Puglia Region's Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environmental and Pugliapromozione, will host 22 foreign buyers from strategic countries including the US, Australia, and several European and Mediterranean nations. The expo features 161 exhibitors, 20 associations, and 100 conferences, training courses, and tastings. Keynote speakers include CNR researcher Mario Tozzi and neurobiologist Stefano Mancuso. The event aims to promote Italian EVO oil and facilitate networking and business opportunities within the industry.

🍴 In the Bocuse d’Or 2025 final on January 27 at Sirha Lyon, France won gold, while Italy secured seventh place. French team, led by chef Paul Marcon of the three-Michelin-starred Les Maisons Marcon, impressed with their gastronomic proposal. Italy, represented by chef Marcelino Gómez and supported by the Bocuse d’Or Italy Academy, showcased dishes highlighting Italian produce. Italy aims to climb the podium in future editions, with national selections for the 2026 European final on March 18, 2025, at Turin’s Horeca Expoforum.