The Semana MESA São Paulo is coming, from October 26-29 2017. On October 26, on the first day of the Congresso MESA Tendências 2017, we’ll welcome Carlo Petrini, the founder and president of the Slow Food movement. The theme of MESA Tendências this year is “Tropical Cuisine, the cry of freedom of Brazilian gastronomy”. Mr Petrini is set to bring the day to a close with a talk about the value of biodiversity for a new sustainable economy and the launch of the first edition of the Ark of Taste Brazil book, with a description of the gastronomic uses of 200 Brazilian products at risk of extinction.
Part of the event is the Third Brazilian Cheese Awards. where the country’s best master cheesemakers will be telling their stories and presenting their products to a jury, which will choose the best Brazilian cheeses.
Farofa and Sabor de São Paulo will feature food and products from São Paulo and 10 Brazilian states, several born and bred within the philosophy of the Slow Food movement, and we will have a space where Slow Food network producers and collaborators will be able to sell beer and good, clean and fair products for all.
Also on the agenda and bringing the Semana Mesa São Paulo to a close is the Jantar Magno dinner on October 29, promoted by the Slow Food movement, in partnership with Mundo MESA, with Slow Food’s founder, Carlo Petrini. The dinner is intended to showcase native ingredients at risk of biological or cultural extinction, as put together by chefs from Slow Food Chefs’ Alliance in Brazil, including Bela Gil, Bel Coelho, Ana Luiza Trajano, Claudia Mattos, Paulo Machado and Rodrigo Bellora.
All the recipes will be prepared using products from Slow Food Presidia, which work to help family farmers find ways around the difficulties they face, promoting their products and putting them in touch with alternative markets in a collective and meaningful way. The chef Caco Marinho, for example, has chosen goat ossobuco with licuri and Mandaçaia honey.
The event also features a short performance by Bem Gil, a chat with Mr Petrini and the launch of a book on the first 200 Brazilian products on the Ark of Taste, coordinated by the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo. The funds raised by the dinner will be invested back into the movement’s projects to defend food that is good, in that it is delicious; clean, in that it does not harm the environment or animal welfare; and fair, in terms of producers’ working conditions and remuneration.
Slow Food members can take advantage of a special discount to attend all ticketed events at Semana MESA São Paulo, such as the Congresso MESA Tendências, MESA Ao Vivo and MESA Vinhos.
The Farofa do Brasil and Sabor de São Paulo activities, as well as the workshops on October 28, are open to the public.
Chefs’ Alliance chefs and Slow Food members who do not have a ticket but want to attend the talk by Carlo Petrini at MESA Tendências on the 26th are invited and encouraged to arrive 45 minutes in advance at the Slow Food area of Farofa do Brasil, where they will be approved and accompanied to attend the talk free of charge. Other talks at MESA Tendências on the subject and with the participation of Slow Food are also open to Network members as guests if spaces are available. Simply head to the Slow Food area at Farofa do Brasil, where you will be approved.
We invite all Slow Food Network Brazil members to attend and hope to see you at the largest gathering and celebration of Brazilian gastronomy. See you there!