Authentic Italian fare LIKE NEVER BEFORE
Italian Trade Agency welcomes all to sample genuine products at the Speciality Food Festival 2017
The Italian Trade Agency is en route to showcase a refreshing array of authentic Italian ingredients and food preparation techniques that truly resonate with high quality at the Speciality Food Festival (SFF) this year. With 26 elite names present at the Italian pavilion, each organisation will showcase the real taste of Italy from September 20 to 26.
“We strongly believe in the potential to increase the exports of Italian high level products to the UAE. We feel that consumers here are highly sophisticated and appreciate the true quality. Awareness of healthy life and food is increasing, and that is why we are here to really provide the right food for the right people,” said Gianpaolo Bruno — Trade Commissioner to the UAE, Oman and Pakistan at the Italian Trade Agency, in an interview with Khaleej Times.
The Speciality Food Festival is an exclusive meeting point for local, regional and international businesses involved in the culinary and hospitality field, and will prove to be a stimulating base for those interested in sampling genuine Italian cuisine.
Bruno states that there will be two subsets within its initiative. The first is “Breakfast Made in Italy”, a special promotion that is devoted to products and appliances used to prepare real Italian breakfast. “This is aimed at promoting the Italian way of having breakfast. Italian tradition is very different from others; we often have breakfast with sweet cakes, cappuccinos and espresso coffee. We would like to promote the ingredients and appliances associated with this culture, as well as teach visitors on how to prepare genuine Italian delicacies for a real Italian experience,” Bruno said.
The second subset is the promotion of two renowned EU certifications — the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), and the Protected Geographic Indication (PGI) — that internationally rank Italian products high in the list of quality offerings from Europe. These seals can only be acquired after following a stringent set of regulations from production to packaging, which is what makes Italy’s products truly worth its authenticity.
The Italian Pavilion at the Speciality Food Festival aims to tantalise all the five senses. Showcasing its strengths, the Italian Trade Agency will host a fully-fledged programme with chefs, who will exhibit PDO and PGI products and perform culinary demonstrations with these products. In addition, three-star Michelin Chef Heinz Beck will host a masterclass on Italian dishes.
Taking into consideration the networking opportunities present at the event, a seminar will introduce international investors and businessmen to UAE regulations, as well as the technicalities involved in exporting products into the market, in order to encourage and promote the distribution of Italian delicacies.
Philosophy for the Italian way of life
When promoting the authentic art of Italian food, the Italian Trade Agency not only emphasises products and ingredients made in Italy, but also strives to instil love and passion for the Italian way of life. Food is one of the key elements in Italian culture, hence, indulging in the cuisine means embracing the richness of its history and tradition, and to surround oneself with people you love, taking the time to enjoy even the simplest things and prioritising the most important matters in life.