There are just a few days left until the Extraordinary Dinner, the food and wine event which, on September 6th, will transform a long stretch of Corso Mazzini, in Catanzaro, into an outdoor gourmet restaurant, with a table of 1,000 seats.
While starred chefs and organizational staff are warming up their engines, today, in the Green Room of the Regional Citadel, during a press conference, the prestigious event organized by the “Città del Vento” association, which combines food and wine, valorisation of the territory and solidarity, was presented in detail.
«Three is the number that distinguishes this edition. The news is that, this year, the great event will be preceded, on Friday 4 and Saturday 5 September, by the Taste Paths: two evenings on the Terrace of the San Giovanni Complex, to tell what this event is through culture and the exaltation of food. Between book presentations, show cooking and an exhibition curated by Massimo Sirelli, we will show that we, as a region, have nothing to envy of anyone” is how Alessandro Astorino, president of Città del Vento, illustrated the event, focusing on the charitable purpose. In fact, the proceeds, net of expenses, this year will be donated to the birth of Pitta Pop, the first “popular pitteria” in Calabria, run by boys and girls with fragility. Representing the starred chefs Luca Abbruzzino, Luigi Lepore, Nino Rossi, Caterina Ceraudo, Antonio Biafora and Riccardo Sculli, was their spokesperson, Antonio Abbruzzino, who, declaring himself proud to coordinate the cooking of such an extraordinary event, reiterated «we have now become a fixed appointment, which allows us to enhance the territory, food and wine and professionalism. I’m very happy because many young chefs are approaching which gives me hope.”
Also present is chef Domenico Origlia, president of the Provincial Association of Catanzaro Chefs, who with an authoritative parterre of Calabrian chefs will take care of the preparation of thousands of finger foods, which can be tasted during the Taste Routes and before the Extraordinary Dinner.
Great satisfaction was also expressed by the institutions which, since the first edition, have grasped the validity of the idea and have been supporting the project with participation over the years.
«We need to identify territories also through events. Here the characteristics of our region and the excellence of our territory are exalted. In the field of food and wine we are second to none and this gives us enormous pleasure” declared Filippo Mancuso, vice president of the Regional Council. Also for Fulvia Caligiuri, General Director of Arsac, «These great events are fundamental for celebrating Calabrian agri-food, through teamwork between all social actors and the expert hands of Calabrian chefs, also aiming for solidarity».
The municipal administration was represented by the councilor for Economic Activities, Giuliana Furrer, who focused on the double soul of the initiative: «This year there is an added value: the two days at the Monumental Complex of San Giovanni and, above all, the social activity linked to Pitta Pop. It is a project that also reinforces the idea of pitta as the city’s quintessential identity product” he said.
The conclusions were entrusted to the regional councilor for Agriculture, Gianluca Gallo: «Two years ago I was presented with this challenge. Today we are at the third edition and we notice a great evolution. It is the sign of a Calabria that changes, grows and increasingly learns to tell its story with pride and awareness”” he declared, describing Pitta Pop as “a beautiful, extraordinary initiative, which enhances our identity products and has a social purpose. We will all need to be capable of maintaining an initiative that truly has national stature.”
Thus, with the right sensitivity, competence and creativity, this year too the staff of the Extraordinary Dinner is ready to delight participants with the genuine flavor of an Extraordinary Calabria.