The country’s Pavilion was a hotbed for fine delectable food fantasy
Visitors heading to Gulfood 2019 were given the unique opportunity to meet and sample offerings from popular Italian chefs and satiate their palates with food made from authentic ingredients from over 200 producers at the large Italian Pavilion.
The Italian Trade Agency’s pavilion was opened at Gulfood 2019 by Valentina Setta, the Italian Consul General in Dubai, alongside Gianpaolo Bruno, Italian Trade Commissioner to the UAE, Oman and Pakistan.
For the first time this year, over fifteen experienced, Italian chefs from Dubai and Italy’s best restaurants created a wealth of dishes catering to a range of dietary requirements, food contrasts and vegetarianism, alongside modern variations of traditional family-favourites and an array of eclectic and appetizing recipes.
Renowned Italian Chef Carla Brigliadori, showcased Sfoglina or ‘the art of fresh pasta making’ at the Italian Food Lab. Interested professionals and food lovers were invited to watch, learn and enjoy eclectic pasta recipes.
Also Chef Walter Potenza, a passionate and accomplished practitioner of traditional and historical Italian cuisine, was on hand alongside world-renowned, 3-star Michelin and master of innovative cuisine Chef Heinz Beck who presented modern, yet light and sensual recipes at Tastes of The World and at the Italian Food Lab Masterclasses.
The Italian Food Lab hosted Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI) in partnership with Italian Insurance group SACE and presented the seminar Business Opportunities in the UAE for the Halal industry. This informative seminar was targeted at Italian producers who wished to get conversant with Halal certification and procedures relevant to the food market in the UAE and Asian markets.
The Italian Pavilion was one of the largest at Gulfood and was supported by the Italian Trade Agency (ITA). It showcased a broad range of authentic ‘Made in Italy’ branded food products and crafted ingredients including grains, pulses, flours, pasta, rice, dairy products, canned produce, jams and juices, bread and baking, biscuits, sweets and snacks, seafood, oils and fats, condiments such as vinegar, coffee and beverages.
Continuing the food celebrations, the Italian Trade Agency also hosted the TuttoFood Event (an Italian phrase that celebrates and means all food!) at the Four Seasons Resort Jumeirah to promote and celebrate one of the most important food fairs being held in Milan later this year from 6 to 9 May 2019.
Speaking to www.logisticsgulf.com on the sidelines of Gulfood 2019, Gianpaolo Bruno, Italian Trade Commissioner to the UAE, Oman and Pakistan spoke of the growing trade relations between Italy and the UAE. The two countries are major trading partners and the trade volumes between two countries have exceeded €6 billion (AED26 billion) in 2017. The UAE ranks number one in the MENA region for Italy’s agriculture and F&B exports while Italy’s imports from the UAE have also been growing.
Bruno affirmed that Gulfood is a good platform to showcase the finest Italian cuisine and the country’s most sumptuous food offerings. “Although food products presently constitute a relatively small percentage of trade volumes between Italy and the UAE, there clearly is tremendous scope for growth and surge in this sector. I am confident this component will grow significantly in the foreseeable future as we continue to witness a steady upswing in trade between Italy and the UAE, Oman and the GCC region across all segments,” affirmed Bruno.
