Salògolosa Brings Garda Products to Napa Valley Wine Region, USA
Salògolosa has arrived in the United States. Angelo Dal Bon, the event’s creator, trustee of Slow Food – Arcigola, and owner of the restaurant «Alla Campagnola», wanted to bring the Garda products overseas, presenting them on an exceptional stage: Neaubum Castle, in St. Helena, the home of director Francis Ford Coppola, renowned for masterpieces like «The Godfather» and «Apocalypse Now». Moreover, the castle is located in the heart of Napa Valley, California, the most prestigious American wine region.
This is a truly remarkable feat, considering that our small Garda producers were able to present their products to the world’s top winemakers, such as Mondavi, Mumm, Chapelet, Caimus, and others. The presentation of bottles of various Groppello, Chiaretto, Lugana, Franciacorta, and extra virgin olive oils, was also curious and theatrical, set among the «Oscars» won by the famous director, as well as among objects used in his most famous films, such as the desk from «The Godfather», costumes from «Dracula», and the cars from «Apocalypse Now».
The contribution of Kevin Croning and initiatives in California
Notable was the contribution made by Kevin Croning, owner of “Tra vigne”, the most famous restaurant in Napa Valley. Besides inviting renowned figures from the sector, he arranged for a pianist and a soprano to perform arias from operas, and also provided dozens of chefs, sommeliers, and waiters.
The 2001 edition, scheduled to take place tomorrow (Thursday, May 17) in Salò, had its prelude in the United States. The evening was preceded by three days dedicated to the presentation of Garda cuisine, paired with products from Valtenesi and Franciacorta, which Dal Bon was able to introduce thanks to importer friends, despite many difficulties due to customs restrictions.
These «Lakes Flavors Days», as called by the Italian-American chef Mariano Orlando, were held in Sonoma County, Carmel Valley, and at the Napa Valley Cooking School in St. Helena. Participants included chefs, restaurateurs, and Californian importers. It was an overwhelming success, exceeding all rosy predictions.
Industry operators showed great interest in the products, appreciated their richness of taste stimuli, the refinement of aromas, perfumes, and flavors. The entire area around San Francisco is considered the region with the greatest gastronomic culture, focused on quality, particularly Italian offerings, especially niche products.
Italian dishes and typical products in California
In fact, in St. Helena, there is one of the two campuses of the Culinary Institute of America, the University of Cuisine in the USA. Among the dishes served, we mention the pike perch alla barcaiola, for which oil and capers from Toscolano Maderno were brought, accompanied by polenta made from coarsely ground wholemeal flour in the ancient mill at Tignale.
Stuffed sardines with bagoss (a way of blending the flavors of the lake with those of the mountains of Valle Sabbia); tortelli with Borno pears, with local cheese fonduta; spaghetti alla torchio with zucchini and black truffle (Melanosporum variety, harvested in Valtenesi); veal cheek with cabbage; bagoss cheese with pumpkin jam; Malga foam with candied Garda cedars, a dessert made with Valvestino ricotta, which—like truffle—was carried in hand luggage by those arriving the day before the festival.
Today, at Salògolosa, there will also be a space managed by Mariano Orlando, elected trustee of the new Slow Food branch in Napa Valley by international governor Gilberto Venturini, present on this occasion. The Italian-American chef will offer Empanadas, Duck Breast Ham, and Crottin of polenta and flavorful mango, paired with Californian wines.
Bepi Ferrari, a Salò native who made a fortune at the Plaza in New York and other restaurants, will instead present the cocktail «The Legend». There will also be notable appearances by some foreign TV stations, in Brescia for the MilleMiglia start.
