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Serendipity: il piacere di lasciarsi stupire con #foodfest17



Il termine "serendipity" viene usato soprattutto nella lingua anglosassone, ma altro non è che la sensazione di quando trovi qualcosa di imprevisto, piacevole e importante, cercando altro. Ed è quello che mi è successo durante il press tour "Obiettivo Sapore" organizzato dal Festival del Giornalismo Alimentare

Infatti, è stato molto più di un semplice press tour dedicato all’assaggio di alcuni prodotti tipici e a un breve workshop sullo scatto food.
E’ stata un’occasione per conoscere alcuni piccoli produttori di eccellenze italiane, da quelle più tradizionali e rare, come la ricotta Seirass, al nuovo concetto di succo di frutta raccontata dal giovane fondatore di Suqqo. E’ stata una giornata di apprendimento, di gusto e di scoperte inaspettate. Ma iniziamo per gradi.

 Grazie al Festival del Giornalismo Alimentare, giunto alla sua seconda edizione, lo scorso sabato 25 febbraio, alcuni mediatori dell’informazione (giornalisti, blogger, youtuber) hanno partecipato ad uno dei tanti press tour organizzati dal festival. La scelta non è stata per nulla facile, ma quando ho letto che la giornata si sarebbe divisa tra L’Angolo dei Sapori di Torino, bottega gastronomica storica che da oltre 20 anni fornisce il capoluogo sabaudo con prodotti freschi di qualità, e un workshop Nikon sulla #foodphotography, non ho aspettato oltre e mi sono subito iscritta.

All’Angolo dei Sapori di Torino, siamo stati accolti da un arcobaleno di colori e di profumi, e da un’atmosfera calorosa, tra sorrisi e gentilezze. Qua abbiamo incontrato produttori locali e nazionali, assaggiando alcune loro specialità: Alessandro Ravarino del birrificio Leumann di Collegno, Giovanni Testa, produttore di riso del novarese che ci ha raccontato l’unicità del suo riso Baldo riserva (lasciato fermentare 12 mesi dopo la raccolta), il giovane Edoardo di Suqqo (succhi di solo frutta e verdura, niente acqua, niente conservanti o coloranti), la ricotta piemontese Seirass (seirass sinifica proprio siero in dialetto e sta ad indicare quanto sia la scelta di questo ingrediente a fare la differenza), dai sapori dolci di una volta, del Caseificio Stella Alpina, lo zafferano di qualità superiore coltivato dall’Azienda agricola La Lumaca (allevatori di lumache) di Montalto di Roero e il Prosecco di Valdobbiadene dell’Azienda vitivinicola Andreola. Come sempre succede quando ci si diverte e ci si ritrova nel proprio habitat naturale (quello degli study trip UniSG style), il tempo vola. Le domande che vorrei fare ai produttori, con il risotto allo zafferano in una mano e un calice di Prosecco nell’altra, sono troppe; mentre salutiamo e ringraziamo l’incredibile e appassionato staff dell’Angolo dei Sapori, ognuno di noi sceglie un ingrediente offerto dal negozio, pronti per dirigerci alla Cookin’ Factory dove ci aspetta la chef Claudia Fraschini.


Claudia ci dà il benvenuto nella sua “umile” dimora con un sorriso luminoso e coinvolgente. La sua scuola di cucina è un open space a tutti gli effetti, dove non solo è possibile apprendere i segreti della cucina, ma anche organizzare feste, cene e brunch, senza barriere di alcun genere: corsi di cucina per bambini, dai 3 anni in poi, e un’architettura studiata perché sia accessibile anche ai disabili, che possono così godere di una giornata tra i fornelli in compagnia di Claudia. Dopo aver consegnato a Claudia gli ingredienti scelti poco prima (tutti di terra), ci armiamo delle nostre macchine fotografiche e seguiamo Roberto Bechis, training specialist di Nital, per un workshop sulla food photography. Chiaro, disponibile e appassioanto: Roberto in poco meno di due ore riesce a spiegarci i fondamentali della fotografia che, come un vero e proprio linguaggio, necessita delle sue regole per poter comunicare un messaggio. Insomma, è tutta una questione di diaframma, tempi e ISO, ovvero di trovare la giusta esposizione. Creatività e pratica sono poi le armi segrete per migliorare e trovare il proprio stile.

Un ultimo scatto sotto i riflettori ed ecco che Claudia ci chiama a tavola per scoprire e assaggiare le sue creazioni, preparate con i nostri ingredienti: carpaccio di rapa rossa, con crumble di grissini, pistacchi, toma di pecora e zest d’arancia; frittelle di crema di cavoletti di Bruxelles con acciughe; mono dose di maccherone alla norma (ps: rivoluzionaria la conserva di pomodoro preparata con l’estrattore!); e infine “A bite of Spring”, ovvero il dessert finale realizzato con la ricotta Seirass, gelatina di succo d’uva e acqua di rose, su una base di biscotto. L’ho chiamato così, perché sembrava di assaporare l’aria di primavera. 

Una giornata ricca di sorprese, fino alla fine. Come il Monviso abbracciato dal tramonto, mentre guidavo verso casa in autostrada, così bello e inaspettato che non ho potuto che fermarmi per ammirarlo (senza rischiare la vita).



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Making of Salami - A Day in Cascina

Unisg (University of Gastronomic Sciences) has created close relationships with local producers and farms.
For instance, our mensa (canteen) uses organic ingredients in each meal provided to us.
Thanks to GAS (Gruppo di Acquisto Solidale, so Group of Solidarity Purchase) it's possible to buy fresh products such as fruits, vegetables, fish, eggs, beer, directly from the producers, no freight brokers, except for a few students who organize the purchase and the meeting in order to take our food booty.



That's not all.
Making food experiences outside the university sphere is important as much as theoretical lessons and it's still part of our gastronomical education. So, why don't take advantages by spending a Sunday morning in cascina (Piedmontese farm)?
The short trip aimed to show how an artisanal salami or a fresh Salsiccia di Bra is made.
I was ready to wake up early on a non-working day, I was ready to take hundreds pictures and film crucial moments of the preparation, but I wasn't ready to wear a butcher apron and get my hands dirty.



Don't misunderstand me, I'm not complaining, in fact, joining the meat preparation in first person has been surprising and instructive, mostly after recognizing my natural incapacity to remove the "bad" fat from the pork meat with a knife.
Let's clarify: industrial salami are made with no concern about providing a product enjoyable from all the 5 senses point of view. Slaughter the pork, cut the meat parts and VOILA', basically you are ready to mince. Meanwhile, in our case it took time to cut off those filaments of fat that you can find in some salami, not palatable at all.



But, hey, let's move on.
While my friends kept helping the butcher boss, I decided to take my camera and do what I'm good at: filming, taking pictures and.. tasting!
Salsiccia di Bra is made with 2 parts of veal and 1 of bacon, and that's the reason why it can be eaten raw with no risk for the health. After seasoning the minced meat with salt, pepper, white wine and water, it's ready to be stuffed into the guts (usually made from small intestine for sausages).
A process harder than you think. Finesse and manual skill are fundamental qualities to obtain an uniform and smooth salsiccia, but my fellow students have aced the test.


Meanwhile, in the courtyard the left-over fat is being boiled to make strutto (lard), a dietary fat used in a few traditional Italian recipes such as Gnocco Fritto. After playing with a sweet kitten (for the records: I go crazy for cats and, whatever happens, as soon as I see one I just want to cuddle him/her) and being present at the plucking of a few hens (already dead), I went back inside to join the salami preparation.
The cold white room turned out to be a massage therapy saloon: two of my friends were gently massaging 92 kg of minced meat while a mixture of Nebbiolo red wine, nutmeg, cinnamon and juniper was spread on it.


After watching all this food in a cold room we started to feel hungry (or hangry?) and fortunately in a blink of an eye we've been called to reach the common room where a delicious homemade Piedmontese lunch was about to be served. Long wood tables full of fresh vegetables from the garden welcomed us, and along with bagna cauda (a Piedmontese dipping sauce made with garlic and anchovies) made the perfect combination.
Our lavish feast ended with a slice of bunet, a sort of pudding made with cocoa and amaretti. Well, in my case, I had more than a slice. Impossibile to resist it!



To see all the pictures took at La Cascina di PiediXTerra, click HERE.

You can find also a short video about this amazing day "All About The Pork":


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Eating is also a matter of choices.

Eating is also a matter of choices.
Thus, as consumers, whenever we go to the supermarket we have the right and the duty to be aware of what we are about to buy.
Most of the times I go to the grocery shops, I spend about 2 minutes on each product (vegetable, fruit, milk, eggs, etc.) that I wrote on my list in order to choose the right one.
What do I mean by ''right''? Since we are in Italy, I think it's fair to help my own country's economy by buying the local or national products. It's not a matter of 'Ítalian food is better and tastier', but rather a issue of supporting those producers who decided to keep working in this land, long all the production chain, regardless of the crisis and the difficulties.
It's common to find well-established Italian food companies that recently started to use raw materials come from abroad. And it's even more common to find misleading labels.


Therefore, it has been a delightful surprise discovering that one of the biggest supermarkets in a little town as Bra actually makes the consumers' life easier.
While there are people intent to choose among ready-made fresh pasta and frozen vegetables, it's possible to see clearly 'km0' labels standing in the milk, eggs, fruits and veggies sections.



One of the funniest things about these local products is the price. Comparing to the most popular ones, they are really cheap and as good as the others, sometimes even better.
Fortunately, the farm market takes place three times a week and there is a wide range of fresh products among which choose. However, it's not always possible to be free on a workday and, moreover, we end up at a big supermaket to buy also something more than fruits and vegetables. Living in a fast society, being busy and thinking that a simple consumer cannot make the difference in this money based world are just excuses not to be responsible of our own decisions.
Consumers are getting more aware about their rights and duties, but the average still includes those people who do not care about this issue. For these reasons, a supermarket that seems to protect small and local entities should inspire other department stores and make people understand that our daily food choices can save the future of a pears or milk's producer, even if it's easier to behave like the majority.

After all, oceans are made by millions and millions of small drops.

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A Small Foodie Community

So, the first week is gone.
The master's classes officially got started and I can't find any dark sides so far.
Impossible? Well, I'm gonna explain what I mean.


1. Every morning I wake up and this is the view from my kitchen balcony while I'm having breakfast.
Ok, rainy and foggy days are not contemplated, and I've to admit that we had just a few sunny days so far.. but, come on, I'm about to touch the mountains!

2. Even before beginning the university, my friends and I joined a few foodie events in the city, all organized by students, a way to know new people in the name of food. OF COURSE!
Jessica (my flatmate) and I went to our first Dinner Society that took place at Sebastian (from Argentina) house, just the day after her arrival. We made a tropical dinner together with Bianca, Riccardo (both from Italy), Stephan (from Guatemala) and Luis from Mexico. I don't know if I made you realize how much international the atmosphere is here in Bra.
After a few days my classmates and I went to McJam dinner: two brilliant students organized the second edition of an entire high-quality homemade menù inspired by McDonald's.





Last, but not least, we had the wonderful idea to organize a pre-master dinner at Boccondivino, the osteria founded by Carlin Petrini in 1984.
I think it was during that dinner that we all understood what is the glue between us: food passion. And it's when you feel comfortable to take pictures of every courses before eating that you know to be already a family.

Pre-master dinner
3. My master's family loves food (just to remark the concept) and we are trying to organize short study trips on our owns. An example?
The truffle kingdom AKA the International Truffle Fest held in Alba every year.
If only had been possible I would have taken a picture of the truffle smell at the entrance of the pavilion.



4. I've already told you that Bra is a small city, isn't it? Well, for some people it could sound boring, but for me meeting friends at every street corner is just exciting and lovable. There is the certainty to find them during the town market (MERCATO), intent to buy some fresh and local veggies and fruits, or at one of the three main pubs in Bra, maybe for a wine or cocktails tasting.


5. Any excuse is good to eat delicious food.
Why don't meet for a brunch at Maya and Megumi place to practice Japanese language? DONE.
Why don't join an aperitivo organized by the other master's students to welcome us? DONE.
Why don't invite a few friends to eat homemade tagliatelle with Alba's truffle? DONE.
Why don't celebrate the Thanksgiving with your classmates and eat as if it was your last day? DONE.
And if you prefer to refuse these invitations, well, you can, of course. But then here what happens: you got a 6 hours class about "cured meat". History, production's process, animal's breeds.. TASTINGS.
For the records, we HAD TO taste 14 types of salame (vegetarians and vegans are relieved), Italian and Spanish ham, mortadella, lardo and, YES, there will be an exam about it.

Megumi and Maya homemade crepes' brunch
Me kneading pasta dough for tagliatelle
Welcome Aperitivo Unisg FC16, FC17, FC18
Thanksgiving dinner (plus Cinzia the turkey)
I've just mentioned the fifth reason why I barely find a negative point in this new adventure that I might figure it out: FAT, I think I'll get fat!
Well, I guess I'll need it to face the great Piedmontese winter. 
Meanwhile I think I should also look for a gym.

Thanksgiving dinner

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Where Food Brings People

So, finally I'm here. In Bra, Piedmont, Italy.

It's not the first time, let me say it. 


I lived here for a whole month 2 summers ago, when I did my internship at Slow Food Italy offices. And from that moment I've come back a few times because I felt it would be my place one day. 
Well, I wasn't wrong.

I spent the last 5 years studying Japanese language in Venice, at Cà Foscari University and I don't have any regrets about my past studies. I couldn't meet so many wonderful people and collect lovely memories if my choices were different, but it's true that it had been also 5 years that I was dreaming this university, the Gastronomic Sciences University in Pollenzo, a small town (about 700 people) close to Bra. 


Why Gastronomic Sciences after studying Japanese language? Is there any link between them?
No specific reason, but the deep interest into two completely different fields: food and Japanese culture.

When someone asks me 'why did you want to study Japanese?' I always say that everything begun when I was 11 years old and I started reading manga (Dragon Ball was the first). 
Then, 'why are you studying Gastronomic Sciences?'. 
I don't know, maybe because I was born in Reggio Emilia and, you know, parents bring up their children with Lambrusco wine and cured meat. JK! (just kidding)
The truth is that I've always felt close to the food's world and to our traditional gastronomy, and my grandma Mari's death (2008) roused something inside me.


She was what we call "una perfetta rezdora" (a perfect cook of traditional food) and starting a new chapter of life (university) without her has been weird. Analyzing it now, I think I needed to find out a way to feel close to her and FOOD was the answer.
So, that's been the reason why I've opened a YouTube cooking channel almost 5 years ago.

In that period my certainty was shaking. Japan and an hypothetical life in that country scared me, I believed that I couldn't be happy there, and I discovered a wonderful University in Piedmont where foodie people like me seemed to live in the heaven, but I also knew I couldn't give up so easily on my Japanese studies and so I kept walking on my path 'til the day I went to Tokyo for 3 months (September 2011).
Then those 3 months became 6 (plus 3 in South Korea). Maybe the best time of my life.


Meanwhile I got my bachelor degree (3 years) and I started my master degree's course (2 years), because you might get it if you want to see a real job opportunity in Italy (I've been told...).
However, I've never, never lost my foodie passion. I always tried to get my university internships related to it, I've never left my small YouTube world and that Piedmontese University stopped in my mind.

After my internship at Slow Food Italy, I had to talk to my parents. While I was feeling I should looked for a job after my master graduation, I also thought life is one and I should get the risk: a master course in Food Culture and Communications, with Representation, Meaning, and Media track.
Only one condition: get the degree on the first graduation Summer session.
Guess what?!


It's been two weeks in my new place in Piedmont and tomorrow the master course gets started for real.
I don't know what I want to do, where I want to live and who I want to be in the future, but I'm pretty sure that it will be an amazing year, full of food discoveries, hard work and new friends from all over the world.

All this is to inaugurate an English diary and try to write about my experience at the University of Gastronomic Sciences.

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