A Taste of the 2022 ‘Taste’ Food Festival

The festival of all things food and drink, TASTE, returns to Florence again for three days with a change of venue: the Fortezza da Basso instead of the Stazione Leopolda.

Sat. 26 – Mon. 28: TASTE. Fortezza da Basso.  Open to the general public Saturday & Sunday from 2:30 – 7:30 pm, Monday 9:30 am – 4:30 pm.  Admission: €20; children under 12 free.  Tickets must be reserved online.

Known for showcasing the widest variety and highest quality Italian products, TASTE this year will welcome 470 participating companies.  As the festival, now in its 15th year, grows and evolves, 130 new exhibitors join the event adding to the total of 470 exhibitors in all.  The event, now held in the much larger Fortezza da Basso, allows not only for more food artisans to meet with guests — buyers in addition to the general public in separate time slots — but also more space for safety and health.  TASTE will be spread out over 17,000 square meters (183,00 square ft.) of exhibition space versus the 5,000 square meters (54,000 square ft.) of the Stazione Leopolda, with stands set up with a separate area to conversation, information and packaged samples, while another offers the actual tastings comprised in the admission fee.

Visitors an find an array of culinary treasure, including breads, cold cuts, cheese, jams, chocolate, desserts, wine, craft beer, coffee and more in a mapped out “Taste Tour.”  From cooking to eating, “Taste Tools “displays innovative technical equipment for the kitchen, textiles and furnishings along with books, clothing, and designer items.

The final stop at the fair is the “Taste Shop,” where visitors can buy ingredients to prepare Italian specialities at home.

This year’s edition of TASTE has adopted a contemporary theme of “Zero Waste:  We Don’t Waste Food, We Don’t Waste the Environment.”  The events of the weekend pay special attention to the road to sustainability by producers as well as consumers.  Experts report that 30 kg. (66 lbs.) of avoidable food waste is produced by annually by each person resident in Italy.  Waste combined with intensive farming techniques negatively affects the soil and the environment becomes more desert-like.  One of Italy’s key economic sectors, agriculture, forestry and fishing, becomes more imperiled as the loss of valuable farming land and fisheries increase along with a decrease in Italy’s GDP (Gross Domestic Production).

Many events are planned, from free samplings to multi-course dinners with accompanying wines for a cost.  At the designated “Taste Ring,” visitors to the festival can attend talks by foragers, environmentalists, chefs and bakers to hear what food experts have to say on subjects as diverse as how to waste less food, how to make sustainable biscotti and making a good shopping list.  The schedule includes panel discussions by well-known chefs, Tuscan olive oil and wine tasting, a workshop on pizza and its ingredients as well as a master class dedicated to Tuscan gin.

The show highlights Tuscan cuisine at the Vetrina Toscana event on Sunday, March 27 at 11 am that will focus on organic farming and seasonal regional products and recipes.  Also thanks to Vetrina Toscana, a event showcasing Tuscan craft beers and locally-grown food will be held at the Manifattura Tabacchi on March 25 from 6 to 8 pm.

The organizers of TASTE, aware of the current Ukrainian refugee crisis, are urging companies and exhibitors to designate products for purchase at the Taste Shop to be contributed to the Florence chapter of the Red Cross to distribute to refugees now flowing into Italy.  Individual visitors can also donate goods and funds directly to the Red Cross by inquiring at any of the TASTE cashiers.

While gourmands and everyday food lovers visit the Fortezza da Basso exhibition halls to discover the delicacies of Tuscan food and beverages, daily tasting events for a fee are scheduled in restaurants and cafés in Florence.  Venues include FirenZen Noodle Bar, Momoyama, Harry’s Bar, Mercato Centrale di Firenze, Il Santo Bevitore, Obicà Mozzarella Bar, Angel Bar – Hotel Calimala, Procacci, Formaggioteca Terroir, Il Palagio – Four Seasons Hotel, Harry’s Bar The Garden – Sina Villa Medici, Ristorante Frescobaldi, Villa Cora, and Olivia Bistrot. See the “Fuori di Taste” program here.

A complete schedule of events can be viewed at https://taste.pittimmagine.com.  Tickets are required in advance and can be purchased online.  (rita kungel/additional reporting by rosanna cirigliano)