When Martina Liverani, writer and founder of Italian food magazine Dispensa (which means pantry in English) created the bi-annual publication in 2013, little did she know that it would eventually reach a global albeit niche audience. "It was only in 2015 during the Milan Expo that we came up with the idea to have a bilingual publication and today this is unique in that it brings many of Italy's beautiful stories to a wider audience," Martina told Food and Wine Gazette. In an age where food has become ubiquitous both online and on TV, it takes courage to go counter-current and launch a paper 'bookazine' as Dispensa is called. Martina explains that she has always been anti-conformist. "That is the reason why I wanted to create a magazine. We are living in a golden age for paper. Paper is showing that it can still compete with digital and inspire people even when people though that it was dead.' "The main difference between paper and digital is that people want to touch paper, … [Read more...]
Archives for April 2017
Everyone likes a bad review: the scathing restaurant review that went viral
Jay Rayner's scathing restaurant review of Paris restaurant Le Cinq has been the talk of the internet since the article appeared online on Sunday morning in the Guardian. It went viral pretty instantly confirming that there is nothing that readers like more than a bashing particularly if this has colourful language and has made the writer angry. Jay Rayner's website collapsed as visitors flocked to get the back story to the Guardian review. Readers on social media were urging their followers to read the article saying that this would be the best thing they read that day and the article instantly went viral. By the time of writing the article had over 2,700 comments on The Guardian. When the restaurant critic termed this his worst experience ever readers got curious. They were amused with the colourful language. It was no wonder with gems like "never did I think the shamefully terrible cooking would slacken my jaw from the rest of my head," or "my lips purse, like a cat's arse … [Read more...]
Weekly roundup of great reads on food and wine #110
Escape to Valletta: Culinary delights in the next European Capital of Culture: Valletta is one of Europe’s most diminutive cities. Bang in the middle of the Mediterranean, ravaged by extremes of weather and world war, Malta’s small jewel of a capital is also the furthest south – a historical comeback kid that continues to punch above its weight, as it has done for centuries. Le Cinq Paris: Restaurant Review: There is only one thing worse than being served a terrible meal: being served a terrible meal by earnest waiters who have no idea just how awful the things they are doing to you are. And so, to the flagship Michelin three-star restaurant of the George V Hotel in Paris, or the scene of the crime as I now like to call it. In terms of value for money and expectation Le Cinq supplied by far the worst restaurant experience I have endured in my 18 years in this job. This, it must be said, is an achievement of sorts. Food has replaced music as culturally central, at least for … [Read more...]
First international gastronomic congress of Wallonia to take place in Namur in July
The first international gastronomic festival of Wallonia will take place on 1, 2 and 3 July at the Citadel of Namur. The congress is being organised by Generation W, the collective of chefs from Wallonia led by chef of L' Air du Temps, San Degeimbre. The congress, which brings some of the world's best chefs to the southern region of Belgium will be held on Monday 3 July. During this unique seminar, professionals and students of gastronomy will be able to meet with their peers as well as people working in the field of gastronomy, the members of Generation W. They will discuss the latest trends in gastronomy. The focus will be on the human, on the importance of management, team spirit, creativity, social issues, women's place in gastronomy and the management of international restaurants. Among the confirmed speakers are Benallal Akrame, chef of Restaurant Akrame and Atelier Vivanda (Paris and Hong Kong), Bo Bech, chef of Restaurant Geist in Copenhagen, Denmark, Quique Da Costa, … [Read more...]
New York’s Eleven Madison Park named World’s Best Restaurant for first time
Eleven Madison Park in New York, the restaurant of chef Daniel Humm and Will Guidara has been named the best restaurant in the 2017 list announced today by The World's 50 Best Restaurants. This year’s winners were revealed at an awards ceremony at the historic Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne. Last year's number one Osteria Francescana of chef Massimo Bottura placed second while El Celler de Can Roca of the Roca brothers placed third. This year's list features nine new restaurants, six making their debut and three returning to the list as re-entries. France, Spain and the United States each could six restaurants on the 2017 list. The highest climber in the list is Blue Hill at Stone Barns which rose 37 places and is now in 11th place. Mauro Colagreco's Mirazur rose to fourth place continuing the Italo-Argentinian's chefs rise while Central, Virgilio Martinez's restaurant in Lima, Peru finished in fifth place. Martinez was recipient of the chef's choice award. Now … [Read more...]
Thousands rally to save Ron Finley’s urban farm in South Central LA from foreclosure
More than 21,000 people have signed an urgent new Care2 petition to save Ron Finley’s urban farm in South Central L.A. The petition, launched by two natural food giants - Actress Nell Newman, founder of Newman's Own, and John Foraker, President of Annie’s Homegrown - started the petition to save Finley’s “gangsta garden” after learning that Finley only has seven days to save the small strip of city land in front of his residence from foreclosure. The petition calls on Los Angeles Mayor, Eric Garcetti, and Strategic Acquisitions Inc, the company behind the foreclosure, to take action to save Finley’s organic farm, located in South Central L.A.’s food desert. “What Ron has done is incredible, really,” Foraker said. “His vision for a healthier world has not only provided nourishment, it has bolstered a community. I hope the support of my Care2 petition will convince the property owner that Ron’s project is valuable and ought to stay.” After the previous owner of Finley’s property … [Read more...]