Experiencing the 2017 ‘Food & Wine in Progress’

Interested in Tuscany’s locally sourced produce? Intrigued by new exciting flavours and tastes? The festival entitled “Food & Wine in Progress” may be just what you are searching for.

Returning for its third edition, “Food & Wine in Progress” will be hosted by the Stazione Leopolda on Saturday and Sunday, December 2 and 3. Tickets cost €20 at the entrance or alternatively the public can purchase early-bird tickets online for €15 per person.

Many events are organised by Confcommercio, one of Italy’s biggest business association that works with many enterprises as well as self-employed professionals to offer samples of most Tuscany’s traditional foods.

The festival will also feature workshops and cooking shows with Tuscany’s Regional Chef’s Society. The Associazione Sommelier Toscana (Tuscan Sommelier Association) will also provide generous tasting experiences.

“Food & Wine in Progress” will open its doors at 10 am on Saturday 2 but the scheduled events will kick-start at 11 am, starting with a food and wine talk. Entitled ‘Media Communication & Food, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,’ will deal with the media representation of food and the effect it has on people’s diet. Among those present will be Antonello Maietta from the Tuscan Sommelier Association, Rocco Pozzulo president of the Italian Cooks Society, professor Attilio Scienza and Valerio Visintin, a food critic.

Tuscany’s Regional Chefs Society will work together with the Tuscan Sommelier Association on both consecutive days during the cooking shows “Toscana Food & Wine Experience.” From 3 to 7 pm on Saturday and Sunday, the public can watch as well as try the cooking of the freshest of meals created by 25 of the union’s youngest emerging cooks. The wine producers will then pair the dish to the most appropriate wine.

Following this, at the same stall, Tuscany’s Regional Chefs will be found alongside their long-term partner Associazione Italiana Celiachia (Italian Celiac Association) dedicated to promoting healthy food choices. The two groups will conduct small workshops for those who are interested in an alternative way of preparing gluten-free tasty meals.

Ever feel disappointed when a meal doesn’t turn out the way you expected?  The event offers an opportunity to pick up tips from the professionals at featured cooking classes.

These classes will give the public the experience of cooking gourmet meals under the guidance of master chefs and associations. Work with Equipe di Alta Cucina della Toscana (food and beverage company) and Le Lady Chef (an association of female cooks specialised in creating hearty, family meals) who will alternate their time in the kitchen.

Professional barmen will be showing off their cocktail-making skills on Sunday at the “Main Event Cocktail Show.” The appointment will begin at 6:30 pm and will include master classes and a special bar with cocktails and food.

During the two-day festival, Confcommercio at its stall with local butchers will inform visitors about different cuts, their benefits and qualities. The public will also receive an inside look at how how butchers best prepare their meats.

Bringing flavours from around Tuscany with high quality local food and beverages, ‘Food & Wine in Progress’ will leave the visitor yearning for more.

For more information visit the Food & Wine in Progress webpage. (karen gee)