Chef Gena Iodice in Oslo for a Slow Food cooking show

(ANSA) - OSLO, 21 NOV - Inspired by the theme of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World (SCIM) 2024, 'Mediterranean Diet and Roots Cuisine: Health and Tradition', promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Italian Embassy in Oslo chose this year to present the food and wine tradition of Campania to the Norwegian public.
    Yesterday evening, the Embassy welcomed around eighty food importers and managers of restaurants and pizzerias, tour operators as well as journalists and food bloggers to an evening in Campania, which began with an aperitif based on Pizza and Falanghina sparkling wine, and continued with a seminar on typical products from Sannio and Cilento and a presentation of the territory and the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park. This was followed by a cooking show and dinner, skilfully prepared and commented by chef Gena Iodice of the Slow Food Alliance, in which buffalo mozzarella from Campania, EVO oil from Sannio, Piennolo cherry tomatoes, slow-dried pasta, Vatolla onions and Falanghina del Sannio all took pride of place.
    In his opening speech, Italian Ambassador Stefano Nicoletti invited those present 'to discover the gastronomic culture at km 0 of the splendid territories of Sannio and Cilento and to rely only on the authentic productions of the Campania region, distrusting those such as San Marzano tomatoes or mozzarella 'Made in Norway' that are unfortunately sometimes sold in the Norwegian mass distribution.
    Tonight the Italian Cultural Institute in Oslo will host the inauguration of a photo exhibition with images of the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park, Italy's second largest protected park. The event will include a presentation of the Park and the Mediterranean Diet, also included in the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List since 2013, as well as refreshments for the Norwegian public with a tasting of typical products from the Campania Region.
    During the three days of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World 2024, the numerous producers from Campania who landed in Oslo met with local importers and distributors of wine and food products, as well as representatives of Vinmonopolet, the state-owned company that has a monopoly on the retail sale of spirits with an alcohol content above 4.7°.