MILAN: 30 chefs from Italy and outside Italy joined Viviana Varese to cook for over 800 guests who turned up for the inauguration of her new restaurant in Eataly Smeralda, Milan. VIVA is an acronym of the Chef’s name and surname and also substance, colour and life. “We created the project around 8 months ago. My idea was to name the restaurant Viva but the communication agency insisted it should be Viva Viviana Varese. I thought it was too ego centric but finally we agreed to the name.” “When we finally decided that the opening date would be 6 September, I created a Whatapp group and sent a message to around 15, 16 friends from Italy, Spain and the rest of Europe asking them if would cook 100 dishes during a party to inaugurate the restaurant. Most accepted including Lara Gilmore. Through word of mouth that list went up to 30 and from 100 dishes it went up to 150, 200 dishes per chef. I wanted them to also enjoy the evening so they cooked in two shifts. We ended up cooking … [Read more...]
Archives for September 2019
The Best Chef launches Area Talks to debate trends in gastronomy
BARCELONA: The Best Chef launches the first edition of Area Talks on 24 September in Barcelona. During this event, top chefs, foodies and experts will engage in a dialogue on contemporary trends in gastronomy. In addition to the already announced Food Meets Science conference that will be held on Monday, September 23 and the gala of The Best Chef Awards (on Tuesday evening, September 24), The Best Chef will organise the panel discussion Area Talks. The brand new event will take place on September 24th, 2019 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the University of Barcelona. Through discussions on current topics and testimonials from chefs and experts, Area Talks will offer a unique behind-the-scenes view on the daily life in the world of gastronomy. Cristian Gadau, Creative Director at The Best Chef Awards, said: "We have created Area Talks to bring our community and the new generation of foodies and chefs closer together by getting them involved in the event program of The Best Chef … [Read more...]
Austrian wine: Good quality and average volume reported for 2019 vintage
AUSTRIA: ‘Austrian winegrowers are looking forward to a good vintage with fully ripe grapes this year. Compared to the big harvest in 2018, an average volume of approximately 2.4 million hectolitres is expected. And after the record-breaking early harvest last year, picking will begin around Lake Neusiedl at the beginning of September. In other regions, the primary harvest will begin in mid-September’, explained Johannes Schmuckenschlager, president of the Austrian Winegrowers’ Association, with regard to 2019. No late frost damage this yearAfter a normal budding, late frost damage was avoided once more this year, despite a few anxious nights. In contrast to the previous year, flowering took place about two weeks later – at the normal time. The great heat in June 2019 with record temperatures over 30°C then led to rapid progress of the vegetation. The dry and hot weather conditions also provided the reason why very healthy grape material is available throughout Austria this year, as … [Read more...]
Western African restaurant Akoko to open in London in October
LONDON: Launching on Berners Street in Fitzrovia this autumn, Akoko will bring Londoners a taste of West African Cuisine combining British ingredients with vivid aromas and authentic West African spices, Akoko will offer a unique window on the still relatively unknown West African Cuisine in a polished and relaxed setting. The first project from a British West African group with Head Chef William JM Chilila, the team want to bring West African Cuisine to London with bold yet refined dishes. Akoko, which means ‘time’ and also ’the first’ in Yoruba will show Londoners that it is truly time to experience West African cuisine in a new and elevated way. Head Chef William JM Chilila will showcase an innovative menu combining British ingredients and African spices. With experience working with renowned restaurants such as Galvin at Windows, The Montagu at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, The Langham Hotel and the Orrery, William was a finalist on last year’s Masterchef: The Professionals and … [Read more...]
Gaufres & Waffles opens in Brussels on 6 September
BRUSSELS: On Friday 6 September, the first ever Gaufres & Waffles opens in the heart of the Belgian capital in the Galerie du Roi. Gaufres & Waffles is a new street food concept offering sweet and savoury waffles. It's a tribute to the Brussels waffle which has also been called the 'Belgian waffle' since the New York Expo of 1964. The concept is original as it takes the traditional waffle which is one of the most important sweets of the Brussels' culture and creates also a savoury version. At Gaufres & Waffles, the waffle is no longer a dessert or a sweet snack but rather a meal. The recipes have been created by Yves Mattagne, chef of Brussels 2 Michelin star restaurant Sea Grill. The savoury waffles which cost between 9 and 16 euros feature Veggie, Ham and Cheese, Chicken, Beef Tartar, Salmon, Duck and Foie Gras and Lobster. The sweet waffles cost between 6 and 10 euros and include the original Brussels waffle, a waffle with chocolate, a waffle with blueberries, a … [Read more...]
Vicky Lau to cook in Macau with Tam Kwok Fung on 5, 6 September
HONG KONG: Vicky Lau will join culinary forces with celebrated Executive Chef Tam Kwok Fung, and guest star in a two-night dinner series that highlights the use of coveted seasonal ingredients within an innovative French-Chinese menu. Savour an evening of “Edible Stories“, and discover the carefully crafted narrative of each dish that fuses Chef Lau’s innovative French-Chinese and Chef Tam’s authentic Cantonese cuisines. The dinners take place on the evenings of 5 and 6 September, one-Michelin-starred Relais & Châteaux member TATE Dining Room will take part in a highly anticipated four-hands collaboration at Cantonese fine dining restaurant Wing Lei Palace in Wynn Palace, Macau. Vicky Lau will join culinary forces with celebrated Executive Chef Tam Kwok Fung, and guest star in a two-night dinner series that highlights the use of coveted seasonal ingredients within an innovative French-Chinese menu. Savour an evening of “Edible Stories“, and discover the carefully crafted … [Read more...]
Muhr-van der Niepoort becomes Weingut Dorli Muhr
A few years after Dorli Muhr and Dirk Niepoort went separate ways in their private lives, they have decided to terminate their professional partnership. Dorli Muhr is taking over the fifty per cent holding from her Dutch/Portuguese partner to turn the former limited partnership into Weingut Dorli Muhr. It was in 2002, the year of their marriage that Dorli Muhr and Dirk Niepoort vinified their first Blaufrankisch red wines on the slopes of Spitzerberg in the Carnuntum region of Austria. They produced just 500 bottles and since then the estate has grown steadily. "It is a highly emotional moment for me to return the name Muhr to Prellenkirchen," said Dorli Muhr. "My grandmother spent her childhood and teenage years in Prellenkirchen and she always carried this village and the Spitzerberg with her in her heart. For me, the hours I spent with her in the tiny vineyard parcels on the Spitzerberg were always very special. They left an indelible mark on my relationship to this place and … [Read more...]