Time for Identità America, as usual planned in the autumn, in October, with an important news: the debut in Los Angeles. We’re going west, as in the classic American tradition. From Monday 1st to Wednesday 3rd October, 9th edition of Identità New York, again at Eataly Flatiron; then after a 24 hour travelling break, it will be the turn of Los Angeles and California. On Friday 5th and Saturday 6th, again in partnership with Eataly, we will debut on the opposite side, compared to Manhattan. From the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.
Two metropolises, two different worlds and hence two different themes. In New York we’ll focus on the Human Factor, the theme of this year’s extremely successful edition of Identità Golose in Milan. In an era dominated by intense economic and political tension, and by such a widespread use of communication on social networks that too often this leads to losing touch with people, nourishing human relationships, at work as well as at home and in one’s free time becomes more and more precious and revolutionary. No technology will ever replace a real relationship between people. Of course finding time to speak and discuss is becoming more and more difficult, because we easily escape reality and hide into the virtual, but when you do catch someone else’s attention, it’s incredible.
All this, as interpreted through food, will be discussed by Italian and foreign chefs. In Los Angeles, instead, everything during both the lessons and the dinner event will focus on
Fire, the most ancient source of heat known to man.
Before that, however, there will be New York and the Human Factor. For the first time, lessons will be held by one chef at a time, unlike the previous editions when we had an Italian and a foreign together. In our opinion, the Italian contemporary restaurant scene has grown so much that our speakers can act as main characters even when they’re far away from Italy, thanks to the strong interest paid to those who go beyond famous and old stereotypes.
On Monday 1st October everything will begin with
Franco Pepe and
Lello Ravagnan. Thanks to
Pepe in Grani and to his pizzas, the former has placed the small town of Caiazzo near Caserta on the map of the world; the latter, with
Grigoris in Venice Mestre, is constantly researching leavening. They are the right people to present the eternal magic of Italian pizza from the point of view of North and South Italy. Italian pizza, because this masterpieces now belongs to the world, and there’s no such thing as only one, sole school.
That same day,
Virgilio Martinez, the most acclaimed Peruvian chef in the past few years, capable of presenting Peru through all its facets and cultures, will also take part.
Tuesday 2nd Massimo Bottura, in his case it would be pointless to add anything. However, at
Identità we’ll never forget that night, in June 2016, when he won the
World’s 50 Best Restaurantsin New York. Returning to Manhattan with him, and Italy again at the top of the world, acquires a special importance, confirming the great work that many are doing to keep Italian beauty and taste up to date.
Rice, Risotto and Incredible Surprises will be the topic of the lesson held by
Cristina Bowerman,
patron-chef in Rome, and president of the
Associazione Italiana Ambasciatori del Gusto, a cook capable of interpreting tradition and innovation in every way and to every degree.
Wednesday 3rd October fifth and last lesson:
Carlo Cracco and
The Extraordinary world of Italian Pasta. Last winter he opened
his main restaurant in the Octagon of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, the Milanese sitting room by definition. Though
Cracco is a synonym of rice, when he works with pasta he can strike with as much vigour and competence.
On the same day, in the evening, there will be the Dine Around 2018 dinner event with a welcome by Massimo Bottura, followed by Virgilio Martinez, Franco Pepe, Carlo Cracco, Francesco Mazzei and Cristina Bowerman who will take care of the sweet conclusion. Lidia Bastianich will be the patron of the entire evening, an honour for all of us.
From one coast to the other,
on the 5th and 6th October, a journey to tame fire and give a contemporary approach to the most ancient form of cooking in the world.
Massimo Bottura,
Carlo Craccoand
Franco Pepewill join us in Los Angelestoo. Three speakers for as many lessons. The patron-chef from
Osteria Francescana in Modena will give a lesson by himself, while
Cracco will share the stage with
Corrado Assenza, the most surprising pastry chef in Italy, thanks to his constant celebration of nature.
Assenza and
Cracco will create a duet on the topic of
Sweet pasta and savoury pasta.
Pepe will instead duet with
Marco Stabile from
Ora d’Aria in Florence, famous for his steak which was defined as
La Bistecca Perfetta [The Perfect Steak] after taking part in a contest for the best possible Florentine steak. According to the jury, it was his.
Pepe and
Stabile will speak of
Pizza and Grill. A surprising but successful pair.
The event in Los Angeles will end on Saturday 6th October with a dinnerat restaurant Terra with Carlo Cracco, Franco Pepe, Marco Stabile and Corrado Assenza. Again, Lidia Bastianich, an ambassador of Italian taste in America, will act as patron.
Info and reservations for the New York events
Info and reservations for the Los Angeles events
Translated into English by Slawka G. Scarso
