We will do it in the way that makes us unique: through the products and excellence of the Food Valley , known throughout the world. Parma is a city that has never stopped planning its future, aware that it can make a difference when Parmesan people, companies and supply chains of the territory remain united as a team. Together with the project partners, in recent months we have started a dialogue to understand the way to respond, and therefore react, to the crisis situation caused by Covid-19: this is how the idea of involving restaurateurs in the historic center, the city and the province was born, launching a rich corollary of initiatives throughout the territory. The goal always remains the same: to make people appreciate the variety, the excellence, the scenic beauty and the culture of Parma and its province ".
The great novelty of “ September Gastronomic ”, which in past years had its beating heart in the center of Parma, at the Portici del Grano, will be its widespread format : the initiatives, in fact, in addition to the city, will involve the entire provincial territory . As Cristiano Casa , Councilor for Tourism of the Municipality of Parma, explains, « The premise is that food and wine tourism has proven to be an increasingly dynamic business in recent years: according to the 'Report on Italian Food and Wine Tourism 2020', so-called “omnivorous” tourists represent 50% of travelers. They are tourists who want to live memorable experiences of various types: and food and wine, which acts as a trait d'union between emotions and culture, best satisfies this need of theirs. From this point of view, Parma has an enormous competitive advantage compared to other Italian and European cities, as recognized by UNESCO: it is the cradle of excellence that the whole world envies us. With the other project partners, for some years we have been committed to promoting the Parma area through the marketing lever of food . This year we have faced objective difficulties, such as the Covid-19 health emergency, which forced us, for example, to postpone an eagerly awaited event such as the Cena dei Mille to 2021, as well as giving up the Bistrot space at the Portici del Grano. This criticality has become a stimulus for us: and the result is a “Gastronomic September” even more inclusive than in the past. We have managed to involve restaurateurs in the city and the province, in much greater numbers than in previous years, and to organize a rich corollary of initiatives throughout the area. I am convinced that, starting from food, Parma and its territory can return to being alive, dynamic and attractive for tourists : it would be a good omen in view of the restart of Parma Italian Capital of Culture 2020+21. Precisely to underline the link between food and tourism, we had the idea of paying homage with a ' Tasty Box' , the business card of Parma UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, to all tourists who choose to stay in one of Parma's accommodation facilities in September for a period that includes Saturday evening .
In her speech, the Housing Councilor wanted to thank all the project partners. What makes “ September Gastronomic ” unique is its chorality , historically the result of a collaboration between public institutions, food sector companies and restaurateurs . Acting as a trait d'union between such different worlds was Parma Alimentare, together with the Association “Parma, io ci sto!”. As Executive Manager Alessandra Foppiano explains: « The Parma Alimentare experience was an important model for the development of 'September Gastronomic': we are in fact an organization within which different souls coexist, from local institutions to Protection Consortia, through the Chamber of Commerce and trade associations. Actors united, however, by a single mission: to disseminate and promote the agri-food tradition and the quality of Parma-branded food . We worked hard to ensure that this work model and this spirit would also permeate 'September Gastronomic'. The guiding principle is that the food industry represents the spearhead of our territory's economy ."
Since its inception, “ September Gastronomic ” has been promoted by the Municipality of Parma and the Parma UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy Foundation , under the direction of Parma Alimentare and the Association “Parma, I’m in! ”. Fundamental is the contribution of the Parmigiano Reggiano and Parma Ham Consortia ; of Barilla , the most famous brand in the world in the pasta sector; of Mutti and Rodolfi , who carry forward the art of growing and processing industrial tomatoes; of Delicius, L'Isola D'Oro, Rizzoli Emanuelli and Zarotti , heirs to the tradition of anchovies in Parma. Completing this picture is Parmalat , leader in the milk market in Italy. Andrea Belli , External Relations Group of Barilla, spoke on behalf of the supply chains for the agri-food coordination table: «
But there are many other subjects who, in various capacities, make a complex machine like “ September Gastronomic ” possible. The gastronomic curation has been entrusted since the beginning to Parma Quality Restaurants , a Consortium that currently brings together 30 restaurateurs from Parma and the province, to whom, on special occasions, precious support is guaranteed by ALMA - The International School of Italian Cuisine , the most authoritative center in the world dedicated to training in Italian cuisine.
As Chef Andrea Nizzi , President of Parma Quality Restaurants, explains: « This year's 'Gastronomic September' is even more significant for the restaurant industry because it allows us to return to being protagonists inside and outside our restaurants , but to do so with even greater attention, to ensure the pleasure of the gastronomic experience in maximum safety , as the current moment requires. This is a choral and necessary commitment to allow us all, together, to start looking to the future with confidence and possibility. When I say "all together" I mean local restaurants in the broad sense , not only Parma Quality Restaurants, but also the other colleagues who will talk about the territory and the food supply chains, through dishes designed for the occasion and proposed weekly. This involvement clearly demonstrates the role that restaurants can assume as ambassadors of Parma both in the eyes of external tourists and when, as a Consortium, we participate in events in Italy and abroad, representing with cuisine a comprehensive system, made up of chefs, producers and associations, which Settembre Gastronomico puts online through various initiatives, designed to enhance our culinary and cultural treasures ".
“ Settembre Gastronomico ” is constantly evolving. The 2020 edition stands out for some important innovations , which make the project even more community-based. Starting with around ninety operators from the ho.re.ca. world (bars, delicatessens and restaurants), including numerous members of Ascom Parma with the FIPE group - Italian Federation of Public Establishments, CNA Parma , Confesercenti Parma with the FIEPET group - Italian Federation of Public and Tourist Operators: in these places, bartenders, bar owners, delicatessens and restaurateurs, as well as colleagues from the Parma Quality Restaurants circuit, will tell the story of Parma UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy's identity by interpreting Parma's symbolic products, through the proposal of appetizers, dishes, tasting menus or even cocktails. The activity will continue throughout the month of September and each week will have a specific gastronomic fil rouge : the tomato from 30 August to 5 September; Parma Ham DOP from 6 to 12 September; Parmigiano Reggiano DOP and dairy products from 13 to 19 September; pasta and anchovies from 20 to 27 September. Among the partners of “ September Gastronomic ”, Coppini Arte Olearia , the Consortium for the Protection of the Wines of the Colli di Parma DOC and Fonte Plose .
Another element that will characterize the 2020 edition of “ Settembre Gastronomico ” is the great attention dedicated to musical culture , always seeking contamination with the food universe. After all, Parma is a musical city par excellence: it was the birthplace of Maestros such as Giuseppe Verdi and Arturo Toscanini and great performers such as Renata Tebaldi and Carlo Bergonzi. And September, earlier than in the past, will also be the month of the Verdi Festival (from Friday 11 September to Saturday 10 October). The Teatro Regio di Parma , which had already collaborated with “ Settembre Gastronomico ” in previous years, will be the guarantor of the musical shows. In particular, the Teatro Regio di Parma will contribute to the event with the dinner-show " In Cucina con Verdi ", with the director (and chef) Gianmaria Aliverta, and with performances of historical dances and the show “ Rigo-letto e narrato ”, for a total of eight events in September. " Verdi OFF is happy to renew its collaboration with Settembre Gastronomico - says curator Barbara Minghetti - and in this difficult year it increases the pleasure of bringing the culture of beauty to an ever wider audience , in the desire to enhance our territory and in the will to stay close to the different realities of the city, especially the most fragile ones. This year, in our city that historically combines the pleasure of music with that of good food , we will present events that intertwine opera, theater and gastronomy in an original way and that will see the Teatro del Cerchio of Mario Mascitelli and the actor, director and chef Giammaria Aliverta as protagonists; new and different opportunities to experience the taste of music, which we will announce in more detail in the press conference on September 3rd and to which we already invite you to participate ".
Last but not least, “ Settembre Gastronomico ” is a project that has a solidarity component . In fact, the three dinners “ Parma meets Bergamo ” on September 1st, “ Parma meets Genoa ” on September 15th, and “ In Cucina con Verdi ” on September 24th will help raise funds for Emporio Solidale Parma , an organization born in 2010 from the joint effort of a dozen associations, which today lives thanks to the voluntary commitment of about sixty people and the generosity of businesses and private citizens. With goods distributed for a figure exceeding three million euros per year, Emporio Solidale Parma is among the first organizations of its kind at a national level. The twinning between “ Settembre Gastronomico ” and Emporio Solidale Parma has continued since 2018: what has been collected so far has allowed the cold chain to be implemented in the city headquarters of the Emporio in via Veterani dello Sport. The new collection aims to expand the range of products and increase their availability, given that in recent months, due to the economic repercussions of Covid-19, the number of people forced to turn to Emporio Solidale Parma for daily needs has unfortunately increased dramatically: from 1,040 families in March 2020 to around 1,300 today.
The choice of Bergamo and Genoa as the cities to host two dinners - the first at the Reggia di Colorno, thanks to the patronage granted by the Province of Parma , on September 1st, with guest chef the three-starred Chicco Cerea; the second in Parma, at the Portici del Grano, on September 15th, with guest chef Matteo Losio - also has a very specific meaning, in the name of solidarity. In the midst of the Covid-19 lockdown, the chefs of Parma Quality Restaurants and local companies contributed to collecting food supplies: in the case of Bergamo, for the field hospital managed by the Cerea Brothers, in the case of the Ligurian city for the “ San Martino ” Polyclinic Hospital and the “ Villa Scassi ” Hospital.
