These events are, in fact, part of the three-year campaign “Arigat-EU, the authentic deli meat from Europe”, that combines together three Consortia for the protection of Italian and European cured meats, Consortia Mortadella Bologna PGI (in the role of head institution), Cacciatore Italiano PDO and Zampone and Cotechino Modena PGI. The campaign, co-funded by the European Union, aims to increase the level of knowledge and recognition of these products among consumers and promote them in the Japanese market
The gala dinner held on July 3rd in Yokohama, at the restaurant Cruise Cruise, hosted 20 selected journalists, food bloggers and influencers, involved in an incredible experience that pleased their palates. The Chef Ishihara orchestrated a creative menu enriched with the PDO and PGI cold cuts, starting with a classical Italian appetizer including Mortadella Bologna PGI and Salamini Italiani alla Cacciatora PDO accompanied by an assortment of breads. Another traditional dish that arrived as an appetizer was the Cotechino Modena PGI with lentils. The first course was rice with vegetables and Salamini Italiani alla Cacciatora PDO, drizzled with traditional Balsamic Vinegar. Then, for the second course, a puff pastry cake with mousse of Mortadella Bologna PGI and pistachio, served with baked potatoes and courgettes. The dessert that made the grand finale was tiramisù.
After a successful year, the campaign Arigat-EU came back to Tokyo to the Shangri-La, for a gala dinner held on July 4th, dedicated to 25 selected journalists, influencers and food bloggers. The executive Chef of the Piacere, Andrea Ferrero, who had already amazed the guests with his culinary creations last year, presented a new and unique menu with mouthwatering combinations that included the Italian PDO and PGI products. To start the evening there was a live station, serving Mortadella Bologna PGI and Salamini Italiani alla cacciatora PDO, along with Cotechino Modena PGI with lentils and potatoes puree. Creamy cheese tartelettes, fava beans pesto and Salamini Italiani alla Cacciatora PDO were also part of the appetizers.
For the first course, the Chef proposed stracchino and Mortadella Bologna PGI ravioli with walnut oil and endive. Following, as the main course, a Cotechino Modena PGI accompanied by black truffle carrot puree and braised savoy cabbage in apple vinegar was presented. To give a sweet ending to a perfect dinner, oven baked figs, homemade short bread biscuits with rosemary and vanilla salted ice cream was served.
The guests of both the gala dinners were welcomed by the Director of Consorzio Mortadella Bologna PGI, Gianluigi Ligasacchi. For these occasions the Director, in Yokohama and Tokyo, explained the role of the Italian cold cuts in each dish of the menu and presented the project “Arigat-EU, the authentic deli meat from Europe”, that aims to promote the added value of the PGI and PDO products, in terms of authenticity, safety, traceability, and labelling.
“We are honored to be here for a second year and grateful for the warm welcome that Japan has given us. With our three-year project Arigat-EU we have been organizing a variety of activities and events with the objective of promoting and increasing the recognition level of our PGI and PDO products among consumers. Helping the public to recognize these
deli meats by simply looking at the logo, is a way to protect them from the unwanted counterfeit products. The precious Italian PDO and PGI cold cuts are being discovered not only for their superb taste, as you have all experienced this evening thanks to the talented chefs, but also for their excellent nutritional values. In fact, one of our continuous efforts is to improve the nutritional values in our products, with less salt, fat and cholesterol; good presence of proteins, better vitamins and mineral salts profile. For this reason, it is important to be aware of the original PGO and PGI deli meat”.