The alliance of women in the food sector
05-03-2015
The Parabere Forum took place in Bilbao. There were many Italian representatives, including Cristina Bowerman whom we asked to write about it
“The Parabere forum intends to create a powerful global network to strengthen the influence of women in the food sector”. I had read about this forum organised by Maria Canabal and thought I couldn’t miss it. So when Elisia Menduni called me and told me I was invited, I accepted without thinking twice.
“Amazing”. “Uncroyable”. “Splendida”… These are only few of the adjectives that can be associated with Maria Canabal and I could mention them in as many as 26 languages. 26 indeed, because this was the number of nationalities of the participants in this first event organised in Bilbao, Spain. Before speaking about the speeches, I would like to describe the atmosphere: magical. Women often do not connect right away with each other and they don’t do it in terms of cameraderie. Here, instead, everything was smooth, lively yet deep, (almost) never taken for granted. I spoke with many, many women, all of whom participated in a circuit that was hungry for knowledge and success.
I once again met chefs I admire greatly, such as Elisabeth Falkner and Anita Lo (where I did an internship years ago) and also Graziella Battista of Graziella in Montreal (with whom I had the pleasure to cook at a festival). And many Italians: Maria Cicorella, Marzia Buzzanca, Sandra Salerno and many more whom I forgot. It was a pleasure to see that Lara Gilmore found some time to tell us about the birth of a network for women and inspire all of us to enjoy the art surrounding us. Listening to her describing a walk among the works of Richard Serra at Guggenheim was beautiful.
“Everything is possible” is a statement I love and being able to listen to these stories and discuss them with their protagonists gives a solidity to what would otherwise remain just a motto. Yet everything is possible, indeed! One advice to large companies: support us, because we are the second wind in the wine and food world.
Women who, for a moment, leave pots and pans to tell us their experience and point of view
by
Glass Hostaria's chef (one Michelin star), located in Rome. President in charge of the Ambasciatori del Gusto association
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