Arte in Tavola Conference Highlights the Future of Olive Oil in Italy
“The ‘Oil Cart’” was the theme of a conference held recently in Puegnago del Garda and organized by the National Association “Arte in Tavola”.
Present, in addition to the association’s leaders, were Ezio Campagnola, national president, and Stefano Lizzeri, president of the Gardesana section, as well as the same mayor of Puegnago, Gianfranco Comincioli, and former president of AIPOL.
A very interesting topic that will certainly gain significance and visibility in various restaurants in the near future, not only in the Gardesana area, which produces one of Italy’s best extra virgin olive oils, but throughout Italy and the world.
The Message and the Importance of Olive Oil
Elevating this message is the very association that gathers members both in Italy and abroad.
Such a need, following the initial ‘cart’ of stews, which perhaps went out of use too soon, to the ‘cart’ of cheeses, the ‘cart’ of liqueurs, the ‘cart’ of wines—especially dessert wines served ‘by the glass’—also includes one linked to a fundamental gastronomic product.
The same Campagnola, a renowned expert in the sector, urged colleagues to reflect on the fact that “modern clientele is increasingly demanding and knowledgeable, so those working in the sector cannot rest on their laurels but must grow and adapt to keep up with their responsibilities. Arte in Tavola works with determination towards this!”
Initiatives and Recognitions
“Gratitude and appreciation also go to the ‘colleagues from Verona’ who recently created and implemented an ‘Oil Card’.”
Naturally, these and other topics will also be discussed and analyzed at the upcoming National Conference of “Arte in Tavola,” which will take place on the shores of Lake Garda, in Desenzano, from October 22 to 25. The theme will be “Talents and Treasures, Research in Brescia, Garda, and Surroundings.”
The Mayor’s Contribution and Future Directives
In his opening remarks, Mayor and viticulturist Gianfranco Comincioli stated that “the work you do aligns perfectly with us, as it aims to improve professionalism in the hospitality industry. Today, tourism means enhancing and showcasing the territory and its resources, where operators create integrated actions in harmony with institutions to present a territorial system that develops along with the natural environment and the landscape that surrounds it.”
Territory, environment, agriculture, art, hospitality, services, and infrastructure are the fundamental elements of the tourism offer.
“Knowing how to combine these elements effectively,” Comincioli emphasized, “is essential to compete in the global tourist market.”
The Theme and Challenges of the Meeting
Of course, a brief mention is also made of the meeting’s main theme: Oil Cart.
“Why? How? With what oils?” These riddles, as mentioned above, are questions that restaurateurs themselves have answered and will increasingly have to address in the future.
“The DOP system is a community guarantee for the protection of high-quality typical products,” Comincioli concluded. “And it can serve as the starting point for creating the olive oil cart.”