Monique and I got an invitation to attend the I Love Italian Food festival last week. It was held at the Showroom Poliform Varenna on rue du Bac in the 7th arrondissement. What a great celebration it was!
Charline Dayer and Mary Kay Bosshart
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
We met a number of Paris bloggers there, including Mary Kay Bossart of Out and About in Paris.
Ferrari Maximum Trento DOC
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
We got there just a bit early. While we waited for the food stands to open, we sipped a bit of bubbly called Ferrari Maximum Trento DOC. Ferrari is a sparkling wine produced in Trentino, Italy. It’s not a prosecco—it’s produced according to traditional champagne methods, including second fermentation in the bottle. I enjoyed its dry, elegant flavor as much as any champagne that I have ever tasted.
Open-faced Sandwiches
Above: sun-dried tomato; Below: olive paste
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
Finally, the food stands opened and we went upstairs to sample a wide variety of Italian fare. I tried a couple of delicious open-faced sandwiches.
Parmareggio Brand Cheese
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
Parmesan cheese had been cut from the wheel in large chunks. This was the first time ever that I have been able to sample as much as I wanted—it was almost like being in a dream. I enjoyed its sharp, almost pungent, flavor and its gritty texture.
Beretta Brand Mortadella
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
Moving from one stand to the next, I tried several slices of Beretta brand Mortadella. I must have been in heaven, because nobody stopped me from taking as much as I wanted—for how long could this dream last?
Slicing the Sausage
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
The man at the sausage stand just kept that slicing machine a-whirring.
Michele Fanciullo
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
Michele Fanciullo, who works as a personal chef in Paris, prepared some wonderful pasta dishes. One of them was flavored with truffle.
Pouring Italian Wines
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
On the lower level, where the wine stand was set up, Monique got a glass of Nebbiolo D’Alba red from the Piedmont region of Italy.
Stephane Durot Preparing to Spritz
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
Returning upstairs, we went to see some food demonstrations. Bartender Stephane Durot (of Franco-Italian origin) demonstrated how to make the Spritz Lambrusco, a drink that he invented one day when he ran out of prosecco. His clients appreciated it so much that it became known as the Spritz Stefi (Stefi is short for Stephane).
Olga Urbani Talks about Truffles
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
Olga Urbani, fourth generation family member of Urbani Truffles, gave a presentation on truffles.
Rosanna Di Michele
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
Rosanna Di Michele of Cooking with Rosanna demonstrated how to make a pasta dish.
There were other specialists giving demonstrations, but we were not able to attend them all.
Stephane Durot poses with Nicoletta Bernazzani, the event coordinator
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net
Thanks to all of the people who worked hard to produce the fabulous I Love Italian Food festival. And yes, I do love Italian food!
Tags: Fuois Salone, I Love Italian Food
