Conferenze e Fiere

🎵 Costa Crociere unveils the C|Club 2025 Hit Parade Cruise powered by MTV, set to explore the Eastern Mediterranean with a departure from Savona on May 4th for a two-week journey. The Costa Fascinosa will feature exclusive overnights in Istanbul and entertainment reminiscent of the '80s and '90s. Live performance by Skunk Anansie on May 9th, and a DJ Set by Stefano Fontana on May 14th. From May 6-8, star chefs Hélène Darroze, Bruno Barbieri, and Ángel León will offer time-limited culinary creations inspired by famous songs.

🍸 Distilleria Alma in Modica, Sicily, founded in 2021 by Annalisa Spadaro, Hugo Gallardo, and Alejandro Lopez, is Italy's first dedicated rum producer, crafting Rum Mater. Two sugar cane types are cultivated: sweet, fruity viola and earlier-maturing yellow from Spain. Sugarcane is harvested manually from March to June, with juice fermented for 72 or 96 hours before distillation. The Mater line includes various rum profiles and Mater Gin from Panela raw sugar. The distillery began with an acre in 2022, expanding to three acres in 2023. Mater Rum is distributed by Rinaldi 1957 since February, a company with a €22.3 million turnover and a portfolio of over 130 brands.

🏦 Mia Hezi, president of Visit Usa Italia, commented on the first edition of the Forum Visita Usa, a spin-off of the Showcase Usa, in Turin. The event facilitated one-to-one meetings with members like Alidays, America World, Condor, and others, and featured presentations from six U.S. destinations, including New York City Tourism + Conventions and Visit California, plus the airline Condor, aiming to strengthen collaboration and promote U.S. tourism in the Italian market.

🍹 Stock Spirits launches Limoncè Aperitivo, marking a strategic move into the aperitif market with a multi-million euro investment. Limoncè Aperitivo, made with Sicilian Femminello lemons and without artificial additives, boasts a 14.8% alcohol content, pairing well in a Limoncè Spritz cocktail. The product will be available in France, Germany, Poland, Italy, Czech Republic, the Balkans, and Slovakia. The launch is supported by a large-scale marketing campaign, including digital ads, in-store activations, and experiential events, with branding by Milanese design agency Robilant. CEO Jean-Christophe Coutures aims for Stock Spirits to become the leading traditional alcohol company in Europe by 2027.

🍸 Over 850 million aperitifs served in Italy last year, with 75% of Italians indulging at least monthly. Coffee is a daily ritual for 80% of Italians, almost 3 out of 4 are regular or avid coffee drinkers. Starbucks Reserve™ Roastery Milano's exclusive Signature Cocktails list by Andrea Villa, a three-time Italian Coffee in Good Spirits champion, launched on March 10 at Arriviamo™ Bar. The list features six exclusive cocktails using the Milano Roastery Microblend and celebrates Italian flavors and aromas. A presentation event is scheduled for March 20 at the Starbucks Reserve™ Roastery Milano.

🎂 Easter 2025 at Chef Cannavacciuolo's pastry lab introduces three new "Colombe" cakes, joining five classic flavors. The new White Chocolate and Raspberry Easter Egg stands out with its white and intense raspberry contrast. A traditional tribute is the "Colomba alla pastiera," while the "Colomba integrale al cioccolato fondente e mirtilli rossi" caters to well-being. The "Colomba senza canditi" offers vanilla bourbon aroma without candied fruit. The "Dolce di Pasqua vegano" combines mango and candied ginger flavors. These Easter treats can be ordered from https://shop.antoninocannavacciuolo.it/lancio-pasqua-2025/.

🔔 In Milan, on March 10th, the Associazione Ambasciatori del Gusto hosts its annual Congresso annuale Futura 2025 with a special meeting on March 12th at Abbazia di Chiaravalle, where Grana Padano was first created in 1135. Around 100 participants will celebrate the world's most consumed DOP cheese, highlighting its territorial value. The Grana Padano Foundation, housed in the Abbey, supports social, cultural, and artistic projects. In 2024, the Consortium processed 5,635,153 Grana Padano wheels, a 3.27% increase from the previous year, involving 50,000 people in the production chain, with a 9% export increase to 2,694,882 wheels. Total sales reached €4 billion, with 48% (€1.85 billion) in Italy and 52% (€2.15 billion) abroad. Since 1954, the Consortium ensures the cheese's quality, and on April 24, 2002, was officially recognized for the DOP protection and promotion by the Ministry of Agricultural and Forestry Policies.

🍕 Chef Gaetano Torrente of "Al Convento" in Cetara (SA) will feature at Eataly Milano Smeraldo's Food&Pizza Theatre on Wednesday, March 12 at 20:00 for the Giovani Talenti event. The €68 dinner includes wine, water, and coffee, requiring reservation. Upcoming events include Valerio Serino on March 25 and Osteria Billis on May 7, showcasing the future of Italian gastronomy with a focus on sustainability and local producers.

🍸 On March 8, for International Women's Day, Rome Marriott Grand Hotel Flora's bar manager Alessio Mercuri created the "Flower Rain" cocktail, a spring-inspired drink for women to celebrate with. Made with Kingston dark rum (50ml), Bols Lychee liqueur (20ml), white melon cubes, pineapple puree (30ml), lime-flavored Oleo saccharum (15ml), lime juice (25ml), and a unique red caramelized sugar stalk garnish. The hotel's rich history dates back to 1905 and includes 129 rooms, 24 suites, 6 meeting rooms, a gym, and a "SPA suite.

🍷 Vini Selvaggi returns to Rome on March 9-10, 2025, at the new San Paolo District venue. The fifth edition will feature nearly 120 wineries from various nationalities. The 2024 event had over 4,000 attendees in two days. Organizers Lorenzo Macinanti, Giulia Arimattei, and Francesco Testa emphasize artisanal, low-intervention wine-making. Special sensory tastings and talks, including "Culture di Vigna" and "All Blinds Tasting," are scheduled. Entry to Vini Selvaggi is for adults only, with tickets at €25 (pre-sale) and €15 for horeca operators.