Italian food fest to help quake-hit Amatrice

The 'City of Joy' is set to become part of a global fund-raising effort when five high-end hotels will be channelising the money raised from the sale of every plate of pasta named after Amatrice, to rebuild the Italian town that was devastated by an earthquake on August 24 this year.
Amatrice is globally famous for its signature Spaghetti All'Amatriciana, a pasta dish with tomato-based sauce flavoured with guanciale, or cured pork cheek.
Italian Consul General Damiano Francovigh told PTI at the launch of a seven-day food festival here last evening, "In solidarity with quake-hit Amatrice, Spaghetti All'Amatriciana, the iconic Roman pasta dish associated with the town, will be served in five high-end Kolkata hotels.

"A significant part of the money raised from the sale of the pasta, each priced at Rs 150, will be channelised to rebuild Amatrice which was almost wiped out," Francovigh said.
Fried crispy pork cheek, garnished with fresh tomato sauce and onions, served with Spaghetti will be among 18 Italian delicacies, conjured by chefs from different parts of the country to be served at the food fest.
The Italian town was getting ready for its 50th annual food festival, Sagra, celebrating its famous pasta dish, when the earthquake of 6.2 magnitude had struck on August 24 this year.

A 13th-century clock tower with its hands frozen exactly at that moment was one of the very few structures that had survived the devastating earthquake.

Coordinated by the Italian Embassy and the consulate office, the event is aimed at promoting Italy's gastronomic culture in India which enjoys immense popularity and has gone up several notches in last few years, Francovigh said.
Mauro Ferrari, one of the five Italian chefs attending the meet, said, "This time there will be six starters, six types of pastas and six main course items in the festival, all bearing the distinct style, flavour and taste of Italian cuisine.
"We are amazed at the knowledge about Italian cuisine among Indians which has been increasing. This can't simply be attributed to Googling for info, but only due to more initiation into our cuisine," he said.

To a question, the Consul General remained optimistic that the demonetisation move won't affect the celebrations of Italian food here.
Francovigh further said he was in favour of culinary exchanges between the two nations in the coming years.
Taj Bengal, Hyatt Regency, The Park Kolkata, The Oberoi Grand and ITC Hotel, are part of the initiative where five celebrity Italian chefs will be supervising the preparations of Italian cuisine.