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OFFICIAL SUMMIT PHOTOS BY: Dario Miceli

OFFICIAL SUMMIT PHOTOS BY: Dario Miceli

It was a wonderful event at the Emirates Academy of Hospitality, hosted by the Ambassador of Italy in Dubai Mr. Giorgio Starace and the menu and preparation was in charge of Guest Master Chef Emanuele Scarello.

OFFICIAL SUMMIT PHOTOS BY: Dario Miceli

Guest Master Butcher and Chef Simone Fracassi & Cesare Casella

Theme: Battuta di Chianina

Guest Master Chef Giorgio Locatelli

Theme: Fresh Pasta with Pesto alla Siciliana

Guest Master Chef Claudio Sadler and Tano Simonato

Theme: Paccheri al baccala

OFFICIAL SUMMIT PHOTOS BY: Dario Miceli

And the Winners are...

For the Pizza Napoletana s.t.g.: -

WINNER: Gaetano Buonocore of Rossovivo -

SECOND PLACE: Francesco Anita Rocco Fiola of Brandi Pizzeria UAE -

THIRD PLACE: Giulio Lombardi of Ronda Locatelli

For the Pizza Classica: -

WINNER: Daniele Capobianco of Prego's Restauarant .Media ROTANA Hotel -

SECOND PLACE: Francesco Anita Rocco Fiola of Brandi Pizzeria UAE -

THIRD PLACE: Gaetano Buonocore of Rossovivo

The Jury was formed by: Salvatore Bianco (Guest Master Chef), Mario Caramella (GVCI President), Davide Civitiello (World Champion 2013), Domenico Crolla (Master Pizzaiuolo), Patrizia di Benedetto (Guest Master Chef) and Paolo Monti (Guest Master Chef).

OFFICIAL SUMMIT PHOTOS BY: Dario Miceli

OFFICIAL SUMMIT PHOTOS BY: Dario Miceli

The Summit celebrated the return of Italian beef to the United Arab Emirates after the long ban due to the aftermaths of the mad cow. And it has been a return in style: the first Chianina, the queen of Italian meats, arrived in Dubai and was introduced to specialized media and discerning food lovers by two special Ambassadors: Simone Fracassi, Master of Italian Butchery and certainly the most renowned expert in Chianina, and Cesare Casella, Chef Patron of Ristorante Rosi New York, and authentic prophet of Tuscan cuisine.

The hefty Chianina animals yield surprisingly lean meat with a bold flavour that foodies across the globe cry for. One of the icons of Tuscan Cuisine, the famous Bistecca alla Fiorentina, is made with Chianina. The Bistecca is obtained by cutting the loin, the part corresponding to the lumbar vertebrae, that is, the middle of the back on the side of the tail. It has in the middle the bone-shaped "T" with the tenderloin on one side and the sirloin on the other. The origins of the “Bistecca alla Fiorentina” are not clear but it is certain that the Florentine cooking tradition of big quantities of meat (“ciccia”) on the open fire goes back to the period of the Medici. During the night of San Lorenzo, on the 10th of August.

The official launch of Chianina and Bistecca Fiorentina in Dubai took place at THE RITZ CARLTON HOTEL – CENTER CUT STEAKHOUSE during the “THE WONDERS OF THE TUSCAN GRILL” event with CESARE CASELLA, Ristorante Rosi New York and Master butcher SIMONE FRACASSI

Also... for those with further interest in this tradition and technique, both chefs presented a Workshop: “Introduction to the Chianina meat and the secrets of the real Bistecca alla Fiorentina"at the Emirates Academy of Hospitality.

OFFICIAL SUMMIT PHOTOS BY: Dario Miceli

If Dubai today is a city with a burgeoning Italian Cuisine, to the point of hosting its World Summit, the most important Italian culinary event outside Italy, it’s also due to people as Andrea Mugavero, Executive Chef of Roberto´s, the high successful Italian restaurant. For many years Andrea has been a pioneer of quality Italian Cuisine in Dubai and the UAE. Before Roberto’s he was the Chef of Bice in the Hilton Hotel, one of the first Italian restaurants in the Emirates, which opened in the first years of the current century.

”It was another Dubai, not the New one of nowadays”, remembers Andrea, “we had to introduce almost all the good Italian ingredients, there was very little here”. Chef Mugavero arrived here after four years in Istanbul and two in Marbella (Spain), always with the Bice group. He was still young but had plenty of experience: from the first jobs in his native Sicily he went to Montecarlo, where had the responsibility of the first brigades.

The Summit opened Wed 6 with an unprecedented Gala Party that had as a Special Guest Chef Massimiliano Alajmo,  chef of Le Calandre (Rubano – Padova), the world’s youngest three-star Michelin chef, is esteemed by both his clients and peers for his clever interpretation of traditional Italian flavors. Born in 1974, Max came into the world with an innate culinary and cultural curiosity. Together with his brother Raffaele (Raf), he is a part of the fifth generation of the Alajmo family self-employed as chefs and restaurateurs. His guests can experience his conceptual, yet playful cuisine in a multi-sensory context. Today, Max manages the kitchens of the Alajmo family’s three fine-dining restaurants – Le Calandre, La Montecchia and Quadri, as well as their three bistrots – Il Calandrino, abcMontecchia and abcQuadri.

As a very special feature during the Gala Party, the wonderful opera singer Monica De Rosa Mc Kay made a presentation. Disciple of Pavarotti himself Mc Kay had the opportunity of singing to celebrate Italian National Day in the UAE and stated: "Opera and Italy are one and the same thing. Celebrating our national day with opera is like putting on a display of one of the most beautiful parts of our musical culture."

From 7 to 10 November 2013 the Restaurants participating into the Italian Cuisine World Summit will feature in their Menus a special WHITE TRUFFLE dish that will be prepared by their Summit Guest Master Chefs. November is the Italian white truffles´ season so the Summit is a great opportunity to enjoy them at their best. Stay tuned for the list of restaurants and dishes featured in the event.

This year for the first time Dubai will host The Italian Cuisine World Summit – widely considered the world’s most exiting Italian food, drink and lifestyle event.Previously hosted in Hong Kong, his 5th edition of the Summit will be held from 7-10 November at some of Dubai’s most prestigious Italian restaurants.

The move from Hong Kong is thought to be a reflection of Dubai’s burgeoning mix of quality Italian restaurants and as a city that attracts discerning food lovers – both tourists and within its wide multicultural mix of residents. The Summit is also a celebration of Italian fashion and design.

It comprises top Italian Restaurants from across Dubai such as Bice, Bice Mare, Casa Mia, Bussola, Cavalli Club, Ronda Locatelli, L’Olivo, Positano, Roberto’s, Rococo, Certo, Sicilia and Alta Badia. There is also the participation of Center Cut, the Steakhouse of the Ritz Carlton Hotel DIFC and the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management.

“These restaurants all have extremely talented chefs who are the very best promoters of Italian cuisine globally,” said Rosario Scarpato, original creator and current director of the Summit. “They will host 15 Italian guest master chefs with a total of more than 25 Michelin stars. There will be a further 10 Italian guest master chefs from prestigious restaurants around the world including New York, Hong Kong and Singapore.”

Instrumental to bringing the event to the city has been Luca Signoretti, head chef at Roberto’s restaurant - Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), and culinary supervisor of the Summit. Luca is also a longstanding member of itchefs-GVCI. With a network of more than 2200 chefs, restaurateurs and culinary professionals across 70 countries, itchefs-GVCI is a big promoter of the event.

“With its huge premium hotel and restaurant infrastructure, and open multicultural society, Dubai is the ideal place to host a Summit such as this and I’m delighted it has now become a reality,” said Signoretti.

The Summit has an intense programme of events, including Master Cooking Classes, and the attendance of acrobatic pizza world champion and Master Gelatai. There will be also three exciting competitions – Best Italian Pizza in the UAE, Pasta World Championship and Lavazza Best Espresso Contest.

“Almost all master chefs coming from Italy will include a white truffle-based dish on his or her menu. November is the best month for white truffles in Italy – possibly the most sophisticated ingredient in Italian cuisine.” Scarpato added, “The objective of this Summit is to present the quality and variety of Italian cuisine. We are targeting the event to all those who love their food, are selective in what they eat and like to enjoy a quality lifestyle. The Summit is also a celebration of Dubai, which is set to become a gastronomy world capital.”

Barista Miss Maia Rondero (Delize) wins Best Espresso in the UAE Competition sponsored by Lavazza.

OFFICIAL SUMMIT PHOTOS BY: Dario Miceli

In the context of the Italian Cuisine in the World Summit Dubai 2013, we will be celebrating the BEST ESPRESSO IN THE UAE, an initiative of Itchefs-GVCI and Lavazza "Italy´s Favourite Coffee". The competition will take place on Saturday November 9 at Bussola Restaurant within the Piazza Grande Food Show event.

The competition is open to selected Lavazza Baristas and Baristas of the Restaurants taking part in the Summit. The competitors performance will be evaluated by four sensory judges and one technical judge. The competitors will serve one signature beverage that must be espresso based. Each of the signature beverages must contain a minimum of one traditional Italian espresso shot.

Participating Baristas

Café Julie Mr Gemar Sumalabe	Delize Miss Maia Rondero	Mamma Italia Mr Rocky Batanglawin	Café Divino Mr Fredrick Bejo

The Jury

Will be conformed by Michelin Starred Chefs participating in the Summit and a technical expert, nominated by Lavazza.

In the context of the Italian Cuisine World Summit, Dubai 2013 we will be celebrating the Best Pizza in the UAE Competition. It is the first time that a competition of this characteristics will take place in the UAE given the rather recent Pizza Boom that the Emirates are experiencing. Our goal is to award the best pizzaiolo and the best Pizza Restaurant in the UAE.

It will take place at Bussola Restaurant on November 9th, 2013, within the "Piazza Grande Food Show" event: A taste of Italy in Dubai.

Prize: the winner of the competition earns the right to participate in the finals at the 13° Campionato Mondiale del Pizzaiuolo in Napoli, Italy.