For a few days, S.Pellegrino was protagonist of the American foodie scene as the sponsor of Identità New York and Identità Chicago: two of the leading fine food and drink events held in the United States.
Both gourmet appointments celebrate Italy and contribute to promoting the typical Italian lifestyle worldwide.
In New York, the excellence of Italian cuisine was spotlighted, interpreted by Massimo Bottura and Carlo Cracco. Each of the two Italian chefs paired up with an American colleague to stage exclusive master classes, each one based on the use of a simple ingredient elaborated with the maximum finesse.
For example, Massimo Bottura, together with Michael White, went to work on the most basic Italian ingredient of all, bread. The entente between the chef of the Osteria Francescana and his American colleague – boasting 5 Michelin stars between them – produced some amazing dishes of great refinement that revisit two classics of Italian cuisines: passatelli in broth and bread gnocchi.
Get the full story on the site of Identità Golose.
During the two days of the Identità Chicago event, greater focus was given to excellent wine and food pairings. The topic took the form of an authentic tour through 30 of the best Italian wine cellars selected by the prestigious Merano Wine Festival. The tasting sessions dedicated to the more structured wines were accompanied by S.Pellegrino sparkling mineral water, ideal for freeing the palate and emphasizing the pleasure of the ensuing sips of wine.
The high point of the event was the dinner hosted by Baffo, the gourmet restaurant of Eataly Chicago, signed by Heinz Beck, Cristina Bowerman, Giuseppe Tentori and Alex Pilas.
Lidia Bastianich, the guest of honour in the Windy City, took this opportunity to tell us about a singular experience in her career: when she cooked for two popes.
In fact, the Italian American chef prepared special menus for Pope Benedict XV and Pope Francis during their respective visits to the United States.
Read Lidia Bastianich’s story on the website of Identità Golose.
Relive Identità New York and Identità Chicago in the article by Fine Dining Lovers.