Diano Marina. The 2024 edition of Aromatica, which starts tomorrow in Diano Marina, promises to be an extraordinary event, not only for the encounter between the fascinating world of gastronomy with nature, but for a new renewed collaboration which embraces the cultural and culinary roots of Piedmont and Liguria, testifying to Piedmont’s unbridled passion for the Western Ligurian Riviera in general, and for the Dianese Gulf and Diano Marina in particular.
One of the most significant notes of this inauguration will in fact be the presence of the delegation from Savigliano, a city in the Cuneo area which, since 1997, has hosted QuintEssenza, an initiative that shares many similarities with Aromatica and which will take place in the center of the Cuneo area throughout the day on Sunday May 19th, when flowers, plants, spices and aromatic herbs will be the protagonists in the squares and streets of the center. A representative space of Diano Marina will also be set up in the central Piazza Santarosa. The mayor of Savigliano, Antonello Porterawill be at Aromatica together with Andrea Colettipresident of the Ente Manifestazioni Savigliano Foundation, to officially sanction this new collaboration.
The renewed presence of Diano d’Alba, a municipality twinned with Diano Marina, which is once again present this year with some representative companies of the area, such as wine producers and hazelnut producers, underlines the importance of this interregional link. On Friday afternoon, there will also be a tasting of four labels from the Rolfo and Cascina Rossa companies of Diano d’Alba, an opportunity that will allow visitors to Aromatica to discover the Piedmontese food and wine excellences.
Still on the subject of links with Piedmont, one of the most interesting novelties of Aromatica 2024 is the Exhibition of spontaneous herbs, an exhibition of spontaneous, edible and poisonous herbaceous plants, which will be held on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th in via Milano , thanks to the collaboration with the Cebano Mycological Group of Ceva. The curator of the exhibition, Giordano Sciarra, founder of the Mushroom Exhibition in Ceva in 1962, will share his passion for spontaneous plants, thus transmitting an authentic experience of knowledge of nature which also involves his daughter Maritza.
The cooking show by Orietta Zaccaro – owner of “La Cucina delle Erbe”, a modern gastronomy/take away laboratory and catering services in Ceva – will tell a story of passion for simple and genuine cuisine, closely linked to garden products and the seasonality of raw materials.
Piedmont is also the birthplace of Oscar Farinetti, illustrious guest of the eleventh edition of Aromatica, born in Alba, capital of the Langhe. Entrepreneur and business manager, Oscar Farinetti founded the Eataly chain, which today is the most important global reality for high quality Italian food and wine.
Luca Andrè will also be in Diano Marina over the weekend, the mind behind Soul Kitchen in Turin and a genius of vegetable cuisine who is the spokesperson for the cuisine of the soul. Soul Kitchen’s cuisine is a mix of styles, defined by study and travel: it will write a new chapter at Aromatica.
Despite having Ligurian roots (he is originally from Savona), the starred Chef Flavio Costa, the creative mind of 21.9 in Piobesi d’Alba (1 Michelin star), also comes from Piedmont and will create dishes that reflect his warm, modern, instinctive, linear cuisine and immediate, who on Saturday will be the protagonist of a cooking show and will present his recipe book “Un mare nel Roero” (Trenta Editore).
Aromatica 2024 is therefore also an opportunity to confirm the union between different culinary traditions, celebrating the richness and diversity of the Ligurian territory, which has been linked to that of nearby Piedmont for centuries.
“Aromatics, aromas and flavors of the Ligurian Riviera” is the great exhibition dedicated to basil, aromatic herbs, the excellence of agri-food and food and wine, to typical local products, with producers’ expo, tastings, cooking shows, workshops, dinners 4 hands, themed dinners, conferences, book presentations, competitions, an area dedicated to quality street food, and much more. The event – organized by the Municipality of Diano Marina and Gestioni Municipali – is organized with the participation of the Department of Agriculture of the Liguria Region and the Riviere di Liguria Chamber of Commerce and thanks to the commitment of qualified partners: Arimondo Pam Supermarkets and Eurospin (main sponsor), Frantoio Venturino (gold sponsor), Il Giardino dell’Edilizia, Banca d’Alba, Rb Plant, Acqua Calizzano, Generali Assicurazioni Piazza Rossini Imperia and Intesa Grandi Impianti.
Aromatica also benefits from the patronage of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, the University of Gastronomic Sciences of Pollenzo and the Prefecture and Province of Imperia.
