Between aromas and flavors, the Messina Street Food Fest is like a large open-air laboratory where taste and solidarity meet. Chefs and master ice cream makers will animate the solidarity cooking shows hosted by Valeria Zingale, in a four-day event dedicated to the support of the Italian Red Cross, Cirs Casa Famiglia, Mensa di Sant’Antonio and ABC – Amici dei Bimbi in Corsia.
This year the Messina Street Food Fest joins the “Night of the homeless 2025”, in collaboration with the municipal department for social policies. The initiative, born from an agreement with councilor Alessandra Calafiore, also involves the street unit of the social cooperative Medihospes. This evening the operators will reach homeless people in the places where they are, or at the reception facilities, offering them a hot meal with the specialties offered in Piazza Cairoli.
«The Messina Street Food Fest – explains councilor Calafiore – is an event that involves the whole city, and this initiative also wants to include the most fragile part of our community, offering a concrete gesture of closeness and solidarity». A thought shared by the patron of the event, Alberto Palella: «Since the first edition – he underlines – we wanted to pay attention to the weakest. Today, with the support of the Municipality and Medihospes, we directly reach people in difficulty with our specialties.” A symbolic but profound gesture that transforms the energy of the Messina Street Food Fest into a tangible sign of inclusion.
The protagonists
This evening at 7pm Enzo Cannatà, president of the Calabria stockfish academy, and the master ice cream maker Giacomo Barone will propose stronnatura with Cittanova style stockfish and Cudduredda, ice cream inspired by the typical Calabrian biscuit. At 9pm chef Luca Miuccio with tomato umami, smoked amberjack with nitrogen-fermented tomato and master ice cream maker Serena Urzì with her Sicilian Cremino. Tomorrow, at 7pm, Roberta Caruso of “Bake Off Italia” and her “Ovum” followed by the master ice cream maker Daniele Bonansinga with the classic foam. At 9pm, chef Giuseppe Stilo will propose the “Treasures of Reggio”, while the teachers of the Antonello Institute, Nino Iannazzo and Giuseppe Porco, will close with the signature ice cream “Vento d’Autumn”.
Sunday 19th, at 11.30, space for the Ambassadors of taste Francesco Arena, Pasquale Caliri and Lillo Freni: the first with “My smile”, the second with “Risotto elixir di lemon”, the third with a limoncello semifreddo. At 7pm Fortunato Aricò and the master ice cream makers Salvatore and Pierluigi Ravese; while the closing, at 9pm, will be entrusted to Giacomo Caravello and Giuseppe and Nicola Arena with the Rubus sorbet.