The Masters in Vico

June, it’s time for Festa a Vico, a ritual that has been taking place for the past 11 years and which even this year will dress up the village in Sorrento’s Peninsula from Sunday 8th to Wednesday 11th June. For this edition, the great director of the festival, Gennaro Esposito, has planned a programme very rich in events, activities and protagonists. He’s also thought of a theme that concludes those covered in the past, which were tributes to artisans and to family cuisine: this year there will be a celebration of the masters, the more or less famous chefs who pursue a high quality restaurant offer, in posh restaurants or trattorias, inside and outside of Italy.

As for the latter case, we highlight the participation of Gvci, that is to say Gruppo virtuale cuochi italiani [literally Virtual Group Italian Chefs] who work hard to keep all the Italian professionals at work around the world together. This, however, is also the pre-Expo 2015 season so the event organisers decided to also cover themes that are close to the World Fair, and its title “Feeding the planet”: the attention will be focused on the concept of waste, without demonising festive opulence around the table, which remains a constant at Festa a Vico.

Sunday 8th June will start with the participation of emerging chefs who will liven up the streets in the centre of Vico Equense, from inside the shops, with a unique form of restaurant offer: dishes will be tasted at the newsstand, the florist, in fashion boutiques. With a meaning: extending the concept that food is for everyone, even and especially the one that is signed by great chefs, to unusual circuits. In this case the minimum offer to participate is 15 euros for 4 dishes, one bottle of water and one glass of wine. The proceeds will be given to charity. On Festa a Vico’s website payment methods are explained.

Monday 9th is the great day with the charity dinner that will host many among the greatest chefs in Italy’s signature cuisine at Ristorante ‘O Saracino in Saracino. Andrea Berton, Massimo Bottura, Francesco Bracali, Antonino Cannavacciuolo, Moreno Cedroni, Bobo Cerea, Pino Cuttaia, Nino Di Costanzo, Antonio Guida, Norbert Niederkofler, Davide Oldani, Valeria Piccini, Fabio Pisani, Niko Romito, Salvatore Tassa, Kentaro Torii, Davide Scabin, Mauro Uliassi and of course Gennaro Esposito will cook one next to the other all the emblematic dishes of their respective restaurants, for 150 guest. It’s useless to try and participate today: the dinner is already sold out.

Tuesday 10th, at the Bikini resort, “La notte delle stelle” [the night of the stars] will take place: the dishes of 100 chefs awarded with Michelin stars, those of Gvci and the Pizza delle Stelle prepared by master pizza-chefs. In this case the price is 100 euros (and there are limited places available: be quick). The event will close on Wednesday 11th with a great Street Food parade in Marina di Seiano and a charity concert: at touristic resort Axidie in Marina d’Equa Stefano Bollani will perform and even in this case the proceeds will be given to charity.