Category: Food world

Everything and anything from around the world of food.

Emporio Fasano

Gero Fasano has, at long last, opened the doors of his so longed-for emporio in São Paulo.

This project has been in the makings for years. First in his heart. Followed by potential partners that never took off. Then came his other dream of opening Fasano hotel in New York City. Extremely delicate health issues came along the way to put everything on halt. Including going through a world pandemic.

Come early 2022 with prospects of a glorious first semester. The Big Apple gets a stunning hotel and dining experience upgrade with the arrival of Fasano in town and São Paulo by late July with the brand finally opening its deluxe emporio doors.

You can sense every tiny detail of perfection put into that project as you entered the grandious 1000sq meters space. Gero is a renowned perfectionist with the best taste and so is his team.

On the ground floor you will walk around the bakery and fresh past counters along with a prime quality made on a exclusive kitchen site that delivers all Fasano freshly made products from their pasta to sauces, take away ready bowl salads and a selected range of fruits and vegetables. All harvested from small local farmers.

On the first floor you will find a wide range of wines and liquors from around the world. A very Italian cheese and charcuterie counter with a cheese lab next to it. All blended in a space with shelves of exclusive Fasano branded products like extra virgin olive oil, ready made sauces, arborio rice, dry pasta, seasonings all curated by Gero himself.

For those sweet tooth there is also some delicious options of jams, chocolate and delicacies to have home when welcoming friends over for coffee.

Speaking of which, when arriving on the second floor you will be welcomed by the roasted smell of coffee on site at the coffeeshop. Fasano Casa section offers a range of home products from gorgeous candles to linen to mention a few. After enjoying the tour you must take a moment to have a seat at their terrace. Sit back, order a coffee with pastry. After all this is all part of la Bella vita as Italians do.

R. Bela Cintra, 2245 – Jardins, São Paulo – SP, 01415-009
Monday – Saturday 7:30am – 9pm / Sunday 9am-7pm

Italian espresso is applying to become Unesco heritage

by marcelasenise

When we talk about Italian food and drinks two things comes to mind straight away: Pizza and espresso. Not just any coffee. Espresso.

That shot of creaminess with a perfumed and textured crema that tops the sip of espresso Italians drink from a porcelain cup.

Just like Neapolitans pizza makers having had their pizza added in 2017 to Unesco’s heritage list, now is the turn of Turin coffee makers to have a go.

“It is an authentic ritual, an expression of our sociality that distinguishes us around the world,” said Gian Marco Centinaio, agriculture undersecretary, confirming the application had been submitted.

Caffè Vergnano and Lavazza are two big international brands to come from Turin. A city that became the capital of espresso at the end of 19th century.

A great asset for the economy and a habit Italians do take it to their heart. Also a way to celebrate a ritual halted with pandemic days.

Let’s cross fingers.

Carluccio

by marcelasenise

“Italian men has two main functions, to eat and to make love”

Antonio Carluccio

Last week the world of food has lost a very important figure. He was considered the Godfather of Italian food abroad.
He was born in Salerno, in the region of Campania, the fifth of six children.
He moved with his father’s job when he was young and lived in Castelnuovo Belbo and Borgofranco d’Ivrea. Living in the northwest, an area with great vegetation, as a child he would hunt through the forest for different mushrooms and fungi with his father. After leaving school he did his compulsory one year of military service in the Italian Navy. After leaving the navy, he briefly worked as a journalist with La Stampa in Turin and then as a technician and sales representative for typewriter manufacturer Olivetti.
It was not until he moved again, this time to Vienna, to study languages and start his work life as a wine merchant. Thirteen years later he moved to London to become the Italian wine importer of that time. Thas was back in 1975.

In the restaurant business everything started when he became the manager at Terence Conran’s Neal Street Restaurant in Covent Garden. He married Conran’s sister. The rest is history.

If you visited London you must surely have come across the Carluccio’s sign from one of his restaurants, seen some of his 20 books in bookshops. It was under his supervision that UK beloved chef Jamie Oliver started working in London.

Credits David Loftus

That led to a life time friendship between them and Gennaro Contaldo, whom they made a hilarous tv series for BBC called “Two greedy Italians”.

: Credits David Loftus

: Credits David Loftus

A rather quiet and shy persona, I remember, during my London years when I visited his Deli back in late 90’s. Always present and smiling but reserved, making sure everything was up and running as he wanted. Food was good.

The United Kingdom surely is grateful to what Carluccio represented in the evoution and upgrade of quality of food when eating out over the years but mostly being the man who brought Italian flavors over the chanel.

In 2007 he was appointed an OBE by the Queen.

*extracts from Wikipedia

French butter crisis?!

by marcelasenise

It is an announced crisis for a while. Climate change, political issues, you pick your choice.
What is in question here is how will the French live without their fantasticly buttered croissants and all those jambon baguettes?
Prices are rising, supermaket shelves with apologetic notes for lackign supply, bakers not knowing where to find their tones of butter.
Let’s hope for the best!

here is a good article from The Guardian to get into more detailed explanation.

The story of a Syrian chocolatier

by marcelasenise

When speaking of Syria, war, refugees all I can think is how can these people rebuild their lives?
Back in Damascus Assam was a chocolatier but lost everything as we could all imagine.
When I came across the story of Assam Hadhad‘s family my joy was immense! How a wish of wanting to spread joy to show gratitude to Nova Scotia, the Canadian town that welcomed them one year ago when they flew away from the war, became their way of starting a new life.
Today, one year on, Peace by Chocolate has 10 employees and even Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has met the family enjoying bites of chocolate!
Never understimate the empowerment of food!

Shakespeare and Company Café

by marcelasenise

When George Whitman opened his parisian bookshop, together there was always a second part of the project that never came to life. The Shakespeare and Company Café. That was until 2015 when his daughter Sylvia and husband David decided to make her dad’s dream become reality.
With spring season right on, if you happen to be in Paris, do make sure to visit the location. Bookshop and Café are right next to each other, same place where Whitman started it all. A visit to their website is also well worth it! Not only impacably cool but full of historical information too.
Vogue magazine made a delicious article about it! Read it on…

Photo credits: Shakespeare and Company website

Flirting With Vegan

@guidemeto_

Emporio Fasano

Italian espresso is applying to become Unesco heritage

@jesselauzon