The semi-final of MessinTavolawhich aired last night on RTP, offered emotions, technique and a lot of taste (reruns on Wednesday at 11am and 4pm and on Saturday at 9pm). In the last event before the grand final, Paolo Locurto prevailed, winning over the jury with his dish and securing his ticket to the final on Tuesday 14 October.
The cooking show hosted by Salvatore De Maria and the journalist Valeria Zingale took place as usual in the evocative setting of the Corte dei Mari, where the three semi-finalists – Paolo Lo Curto, MariaFrancesca Gioè and Floriana Riso (winner of the repechage) – challenged each other on the theme of pesto, reinterpreting it with creativity and technique.
The jury, composed of Salvatore De Maria, Alberto Palella (Confesercenti and creator of the Messina Street Food Fest), by prof. Nico Cicero of the University of Messina, by Antonella Ruggeri (owner of the Corte dei Mari) and by Saro Gugliotta, president of AssoCibo, was enriched for the occasion by the presence of Maria Pia Madaudo of Camporè cellars and Valeria Tomaso of Anasita Estate.
An exceptional jury that had no doubts in assigning the highest score to Paolo Locurto, capable of combining surgical precision and passion for cooking in an elegant, balanced dish with a strong character. A clear victory, the result of a constant path and an approach that is always measured but full of personality.
With his success, Locurto completes the list of finalists of MessinTavola(Mario Milano and Letteria Tomasello had already qualified) ready to battle in the grand final on October 14th, again on RTP. It will be the last act of a journey that has united territory, talent and conviviality, bringing the flavors and excellences of Messina cuisine to TV.