25-09-2021
Left to right, four new protagonists at Identità Milano 2021: Francesca Castignani from pastry shop Belle Hélène, Francesco Pompetti of pizzeria Impastatori Pompetti, Joe Bastinich of the Bastianich Hospitality Group and Roberta Ceretto of restaurant Piazza Duomo and winery Ceretto
Only a few days to go until the doors of the MiCo – Milano Congressi in Via Gattamelata will open, launching the much awaited International Chef Congress scheduled from the 25th to the 27th of September (here is the complete programme of Identità Milano 2021). In this rich edition, there will be many new entries among the speakers. Together with many others, they will spur the discussion on this year's theme Building a new future: work.
FRANCESCA CASTIGNANI of Pasticceria Belle Hélène, Tarquinia (Viterbo) Italiana Contemporary Pastry Making (in partnership with Petra® Molino Quaglia and Valrhona), Sunday 26th September at 3,30 pm
Pastry chef Francesca Castignani from Pasticceria Belle Hélène in Tarquinia (Viterbo) will talk at Pasticceria Italiana Contemporanea (in partnership with Petra® Molino Quaglia and Valrhona), on Sunday 26th September at 3,30 pm
It all began with Francesca's dream of becoming a pastry chef. After her studies, the real training was the experience she acquired working in some of the most prestigious brigades in the world: starting with La Pergola and Heinz Beck at Rome Cavalieri, 3 Michelin stars. She was in charge of starters until Heinz handed her the task of making desserts. This was followed by a trip to France, and what was meant to be an internship with Pierre Hermé turned into an opportunity: from pastry commis, Francesca became chef de partie. Hermé had such a great opinion of her that he says she's the best decorator of modern pastry making, the only woman to be awarded with 3 Cakes by the Guida Pasticceri e Pasticcerie del Gambero Rosso. Francesca then moved to London and refined her talent at La Delicatessen, and then at La Bottega del Sole, until she returned to Italy, to Prato, working with Luca Mannori at Pasticceria Mannori. But her heart beats in one direction only, where she wants to root her art, and hence she finally arrives in her hometown: Tarquinia. The pastry chef from Belle Hélène, whose name is a tribute to the famous French cake made with chocolate and pears, but also to her aunt Elena, is the temple in which Francesca gives shape to her idea of sweetness, bringing in every creation the goodness of the surrounding area in Lazio, and interpreting through French techniques the heritage of local recipe books and of the family recipes. An example? The crostatina with ricotta, chocolate drops, and alchermes which evolves in the hands of one of the greatest interpreters of sweets in Italy.
FRANCESCO POMPETTI of Impastatori Pompetti (ex Tropicaldue), Roseto degli Abruzzi (Teramo) The Future is Now, Sunday 26th September at 12,30
Pizzaiolo Francesco Pompetti from Impastatori Pompetti (ex Tropicaldue) in Roseto degli Abruzzi (Teramo): will take part in The Future is Now, on Sunday 26th September at 12,30
JOE BASTIANICH, Bastianich Hospitality Group Building a new future: work, Saturday 25th September, at 5,00 pm
Entrepreneur Joe Bastianich from the Bastianich Hospitality Group will participate in the session titled Building a new future: work, on Saturday 25th September at 5,00 pm
ROBERTA CERETTO, Piazza Duomo, Alba Identità di Sala, Sunday 26th September at 10,30 am
Entrepreneur Roberta Ceretto, President and communication manager at winery Ceretto and founder, with chef Enrico Crippa, of restaurant Piazza Duomo, three Michelin stars in Alba: she will participate in Identità di Sala, on Sunday 26th September at 10,30 am
Translated into English by Slawka G. Scarso
by
This article is curated by Identità Golose, the publication that organises the international fine dining congress, publishes website www.identitagolose.com and the online Guida Identità Golose, on top of curating many other events in Italy and abroad
René Frank, 38, since 2016 co-owner of Coda, 'dessert fine dining restaurant' in the Neukölln district of Berlin, 2 Michelin stars, with head chef Julia Leitner. Frank will give a talk at the Identità Milano congress, on Sunday 10th of March, 3.05 pm in the Auditorium (to register, click here). Photo Claudia Goedke
The poster for the 19th edition of the Identità Milano congress, 9/11 March 2024. This year's signature dish is Ravioli with bitter herbs and white turnip by Antonia Klugmann, chef and owner of restaurant L'Argine a Vencò in Dolegna del Collio (Gorizia)