13 Sep 2024
17 Sep 2024
The Queen of Taste 2024: a public and culinary success in Cortina d’Ampezzo
September 9, 2024 – Cortina d’Ampezzo – The eighth edition of “The Queen of Taste,” the gourmet festival that brought the excellence of mountain cuisine and beyond to the heart of the Dolomites on September 7 and 8, concluded with great success. Organized by Chef Team Cortina and Cortina For Us, with the patronage of the Municipality of Cortina d’Ampezzo, the Province of Belluno, and the Veneto Region, the event featured Michelin-starred chefs and young promises of Italian gastronomy. With tickets sold out and the satisfaction of over 500 attendees, this edition was a triumph of flavors and conviviality.
During the weekend, The Queen of Taste offered a rich program of events, including tastings, conferences, and roving dinners, all characterized by a special focus on quality and the promotion of the culinary tradition of Ampezzo. “This edition of The Queen of Taste exceeded all our expectations,” declared Gianluca Lorenzi, Mayor of Cortina d’Ampezzo. “It was wonderful to see our city brought to life by an event that celebrates the excellence of our territory and our gastronomic tradition. Cortina d’Ampezzo confirms itself as a prime stage for prestigious events, capable of attracting visitors from all over Italy and beyond.”
The event had a significant cultural aspect, with a conference dedicated to the candidacy of Italian cuisine for UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage status. “The Queen of Taste is not just a food and wine event, but an opportunity to reflect on our culinary identity and promote the region,” added Franco Sovilla, president of Cortina For Us. “We want Cortina to become a reference point for mountain cuisine, not just in Italy, but worldwide.”
This edition opened with the conference “Italian Cuisine: UNESCO Intangible Heritage. Knowledge and Flavors of the Italian Lands”, organized in collaboration with Ega Worldwide Congresses & Events, which took place on Saturday morning. The event brought together experts from the gastronomic, cultural, and institutional sectors of our country, offering more than 100 participants an in-depth discussion on the importance of preserving and enhancing Italian cuisine as an integral part of our cultural heritage. The debate focused on the importance of culinary tradition in the various Italian regions, as well as the new trends transforming the country’s gastronomic landscape.
Saturday continued with the StrEat Chef roving dinner, a unique experience that saw 160 participants moving between five of the most renowned venues in Cortina d’Ampezzo: Baita Fraina, Chalet Tofane, Al Camin, Lago Scin, and Pasticceria Alverà. Each restaurant offered tastings of three dishes, and the patisserie served two desserts prepared by local chefs Luca Menardi, Luigi Dariz, Luigino Anzanello, Federico Rovacchi, Carlo Festini, Fabio Pompanin, Graziano Prest, Nicola Bellodis, and pastry chef Massimo Alverà, accompanied by guest chefs: Valentino Cecconi, Denis Begiqi, Alessandro Favrin, Marco and Claudio Mandara, and pastry chef Sandro Maritani. Participants were able to enjoy local specialties, paired with fine wines served by over 40 representatives from the wineries present at the locations, in a convivial and relaxed atmosphere, appreciating not only the quality of the dishes but also the beauty of the Dolomites.
On Sunday morning, the festival introduced this year’s great novelty to over 50 attendees: the Breakfast at Altitude by Alma at Rifugio Col Drusciè. Guests had the opportunity to enjoy a gourmet breakfast made with fresh, local products, prepared by chefs from Alma – International School of Italian Cuisine and pastry chef Massimo Alverà. Surrounded by the magnificent peaks of the Dolomites, participants savored delicacies prepared with high-quality ingredients at sunrise, providing a complete and memorable sensory experience.
The weekend concluded with the StrEat Lunch, a gala lunch held in the heart of Cortina, in Piazza Angelo Dibona. The event saw 120 guests enjoying creative and refined dishes, the result of collaboration between chefs Marisa Maffeo, Claudio Sadler, Massimo Spigaroli, Graziano Prest, and pastry chef Luigi Biasetto, alongside members of the Chef Team Cortina. Each dish told a story of territory and tradition, reinterpreted with a modern touch, delighting the palates of those present and closing the event in grand style.
“We are extremely satisfied with the results achieved this year,” said Francesca Bocus, representative of the Chef Team Cortina. “We saw enthusiastic participation from both the chefs and the public, a sign that our proposal for mountain cuisine reimagined in a gourmet style has hit the mark.” The success of this edition is not a finish line, but a starting point. The organizers are already working on preparing the next edition for 2025.
The event was made possible with the support of Audi – main partner of Cortina d’Ampezzo – and UnipolSai Zandonella – premium partner of Cortina for Us.
Event partners: Lavazza, Coppini Arte Olearia, Acqua Minerale San Benedetto, Ninja Kitchen, Wellness Foundation, CortinaBanca, La Cooperativa di Cortina, Petra, Consorzio Formaggio Piave Dop, Heko Smart Kitchen, Bonaventura Maschio.
Technical partners: AIS Italian Sommelier Association, GiocHotel, Max Catering, Lis Industrial Laundry, Moser, Cortina Express, Api Dolomiti, and Bragard Italia.
Institutional partners: Regole d’Ampezzo, Cortina Marketing, Se.Am. Cortina, Cortina Hotel Association, Fondazione Cortina, and Valboite Comprehensive Institute.
Cultural partners: ALMA – International School of Italian Cuisine, EGA Worldwide Congresses & Events, Una Montagna di Libri.
Special mention to the wine consortia featured in the glasses of The Queen of Taste 2024: Consorzio per la Tutela dei Vini Valpolicella, Consorzio Tutela Vini Collio, Consorzio Tutela Lugana DOC, Consorzio Vini Bardolino, and Consorzio Prosecco DOC.