Carmen Vecchione
D-Limousine belly salad with puntarelle and mustard by Gian Pietro e Giorgio Damini
Dall'Italia Prato Nevoso, montagna & cibo. Viaggio nella località del Cuneese che cresce anche grazie alla gastronomia
Let’s meet in Kazakhstan
The exterior of the pavilion of Kazakhstan, one of the most beautiful and visited at Expo 2015. It presents Astana 2017, that is to say the next mini-World Fair, scheduled in two years time for 3 months
“A country so big, of which we know so little”: this statement marvellously sums up the reason that led Kazakhstan to participate in Expo with a pavilion rich of investments and attractions; it has a total of 2,496 square metres and aims at making visitors sensitive about the safeguard of agricultural and natural resources, the culture and the idea of a sustainable development.
Between Europe and Asia, previously part of the Ussr, this state is certainly little known in the West. Yet it is a giant that has been walking for some time now – with all the inevitable contradictions, especially in terms of democracy – towards economic development. It has a monstre dimension of over 2.7 millions of square kilometres (nine times as much as Italy, for example), but doesn’t reach 17.5 million inhabitants.
A rendering of the emblem-building of Astana 2017
Let’s return to the present day. In fact to the past because the pavilion of Kazakhstan aims first of all at telling the story of a young state with strong roots in the rocks, the same where incisions dating back to over 3 thousand years ago are inscribed. Then the first forms of state union between the nomad populations of the region occurred, with the Kazan’ khan, between the XV and XVI centuries. An experience that was interrupted by Ivan the Terrible, that is to say Tsar Ivan IV, who in 1552 ended their independence and opened centuries of Russian domination. Until freedom returned in 1991.
And then there’s the history of apples, which all derive from Kazak ancient varieties; an installation emanating the scent of wild tulips (they have 30 different varieties). It was from here that in the XVI century they got to the botanic garden in Leiden, Holland, giving origin to a tradition we know well). The exhibit ends with a 3D room, with dynamic chairs that respond to the stimuli given by the film: a beautiful experience, which is by itself worth the queue.
Lagman pasta, horse salad, a small dish with basturma echeburek: a very enjoyable meal at the Kazak restaurant
journalist born in 1974, for many years he has covered politics, mostly, and food in his free time. Today he does exactly the opposite and this makes him very happy. As soon as he can, he dives into travels and good food. Identità Golose's editor in chief
Our 2015 World Fair Hotline
Cuisine according to Elena
Will these be the fields of the future?
China at Expo between past and present