Venice at Marina’s Tavernaki via the European Silk Roads
Venice
12 May 2018
/ 18:21
CORFU. The well-known Venetian chef Giuseppe Galardi, owner of the traditional Osteria Ai Assassini in the heart of Venice, was at Marina’s Tavernaki on Friday exploring the Venetian influences in Corfu and presenting dishes inspired by the common culture of both peoples.
Marina was happy to hand over her kitchen to the distinguished chef for one night. Corfu customers were eager to taste Giuseppe’s Venetian recipes, made from ingredients familiar to our taste buds - zucchini flowers in batter with fresh ricotta, small shrimps with raw artichokes, risi e bisi, liver a la Veneciana with polenta, strawberries a la Torcelana…
It was a special event organized, as part of the Corfu Food and Wine Festival, with MedTaste from the Marco Polo System, a European association with 20 years’ experience in organizing European and, in particular, Mediterranean cultural projects. As part of the MedTaste pilot project – the European Silk Road International Network - Marina travelled to several towns in Sicily last winter cooking at famous restaurants.
The Venetian Alberto Cotrona from Marco Polo - Med Taste, when talking to Enimerosi, stressed the need to promote the Corfu culinary tradition, as a necessary means of promoting alternative and quality tourism, as opposed to mainstream mass tourism. Alberto gave the example (to be avoided) of Venice, which is in danger of losing its unique identity, as the tourist hordes with their selfie-sticks have literally taken over the city, ridding it of 2/3 of its inhabitants.
“The Corfu cuisine has wonderful quality elements and is firmly etched in its own tradition,” said Alberto, taking The Odyssey out of his bag and reciting in Italian Homer’s verses referring to the Phaeacian’s hospitality.
Alberto Coltrona reciting verses from The Odyssey
Video from the 3rd and 4th days of the Corfu Food & Wine Festival
It was a special event organized, as part of the Corfu Food and Wine Festival, with MedTaste from the Marco Polo System, a European association with 20 years’ experience in organizing European and, in particular, Mediterranean cultural projects. As part of the MedTaste pilot project – the European Silk Road International Network - Marina travelled to several towns in Sicily last winter cooking at famous restaurants.
The Venetian Alberto Cotrona from Marco Polo - Med Taste, when talking to Enimerosi, stressed the need to promote the Corfu culinary tradition, as a necessary means of promoting alternative and quality tourism, as opposed to mainstream mass tourism. Alberto gave the example (to be avoided) of Venice, which is in danger of losing its unique identity, as the tourist hordes with their selfie-sticks have literally taken over the city, ridding it of 2/3 of its inhabitants.
“The Corfu cuisine has wonderful quality elements and is firmly etched in its own tradition,” said Alberto, taking The Odyssey out of his bag and reciting in Italian Homer’s verses referring to the Phaeacian’s hospitality.
Alberto Coltrona reciting verses from The Odyssey
The European Group Marco Polo System GEIE has a long association with Corfu, since it has previously been to the island with its cultural routes and has also signed a cooperation agreement with the Municipality of Corfu for activities based on the common cultural heritage that unites the two places and for the exchange of experiences regarding the promotion of culture and sustainable development.
See more photos here.Video from the 3rd and 4th days of the Corfu Food & Wine Festival
