Italian Cuisine Week, organised each year by the Consulate General of Italy, is being held this year under the theme “Health, Culture and Innovation”. As part of the programme, Michelin-starred Italian chef Andrea Canton was hosted at Metro Türkiye’s Gastronometro on 17–18 October. On 17 October, Chef Andrea Canton met high school and university students studying gastronomy at a demonstration event, sharing tips and techniques of Italian cooking with the young cooks. On 18 October he met the industry with a special menu that brought innovative touches to traditional Mediterranean recipes known for both health and flavour.
For 35 years Metro Türkiye has made it its mission to preserve Turkish cuisine, carry it into the future and contribute to the development of gastronomy in the country, and with Gastronometro, launched in 2015, it continues to create an inspiring space for meeting and discovery within the industry. In keeping with this vision, this year’s Italian Cuisine Week gala dinner was also hosted by Gastronometro. At the evening, organised for the fourth time by the Consulate General of Italy in Istanbul, Michelin-starred Chef Andrea Canton presented guests with a special menu reinterpreting time-honoured Mediterranean recipes through a modern gastronomic lens, in line with the theme “Health, Culture and Innovation”. Hosted by Ekrem Altın, Food Category Group Manager at Metro Türkiye, and attended by Elena Clemente, Consul General of Italy in Istanbul, the dinner was made possible by Metro Türkiye’s product contributions and the Gastronometro team’s comprehensive support, from preparation to service. The menu featured quick-cooked yellowtail; a vegetable “egg” with black truffle and vegetables; potato gnocchi with Montasio cheese fondue; and a tricolour bollito of beef shoulder with blueberries. To finish, honey ice cream and soft torrone with almond foam gave guests an unforgettable taste experience.
“Meetings with world-renowned chefs deepen the transfer of knowledge and culture in gastronomy”
Speaking at the dinner, Ekrem Altın, Food Category Group Manager at Metro Türkiye, said this year held special meaning for them: “In the tenth year of Gastronometro, which has hosted world-famous chefs and acts as a bridge within the food and beverage industry, we are delighted once again to bring young chefs together with a Michelin-starred chef. Over ten years, Gastronometro has become a hands-on platform that unites every discipline of the industry and places education, research and development at its heart, and it hosts many international events. Gastronomy education in particular has been at the centre of our work from the very beginning. One of the finest examples of this is being one of the stops of Italian Cuisine Week for the fourth time. By taking part in the demonstration with Chef Andrea Canton, tomorrow’s chefs had the chance to develop themselves in terms of knowledge, experience, cultural exchange, technique, recipes, use of ingredients and innovation. Drawing inspiration from one another’s cuisines is becoming ever more valuable. With all these steps, we are proud to contribute to our country, where gastronomic tourism grows stronger every year.”
Chef Canton meets the chefs of the future
As part of Italian Cuisine Week, which also includes events for students of culinary academies in Turkey, Italian chef Andrea Canton met 106 high school and university gastronomy students on 17 October at an event held at Gastronometro. Demonstrating two recipes, the “Vegetable Egg” with cauliflower foam, courgette cream and precious black truffle that he had prepared for the gala dinner, as well as a “Tomato Risotto”, the Italian chef also shared the secrets of Italian cuisine with the young aspiring chefs.
