The Salone del Gusto
Where: Lingotto, Turin Italy
In the words of Slow Food President Carlo Petrini the Salone del Gusto is "More than a trade fair, the Salone is a great school of taste, a pole of attraction for established gourmets and for people curious to learn more about food and wine."
And there is no better way of learning than by means of active participation. Miles of stands of exciting and wonderful samples presented by family farmers and artisan producers filled the hall. Mouths watered and fingers dipped into olives from Calabria, Millefioro honeys and Parmigiano Reggiano as well as the multitude of salamis, prosciuttos and mortadellas, sliced into tastes and served with toothpicks. As a fairly novice culinary explorer, it was my first time introduced to the silky and delicious cured ham variety, Lardo. Indeed eggs with bacon in the morning will never be the same again. There were a few to choose from though, my favorite quickly became Lardo Val di Greve smoothered in rosemary and salt, from Toscona.
The Salone also featured Taste Workshops. Most of the workshops were dedicate to preserving the Ark of Taste and focused on culinary varieties and interesting parings. Just to name a few: The Goats Cheese Challenge, Cheese Discoveries, Ark Ice Creams, and Cook Your Goose-the Fois Gras World Cup with representation from France, U.S., Hungary and Italy. Carlo Petrini is correct in comparing the Salone to an education in taste, and if there could be phds offered, no doubt many would soon become academics.
Words and images by Jenine Lurie
