Central Asia, the Caucasus, Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine at Terra Madre Salone del Gusto

13 Jul 2018 | English

Organized by Slow Food in collaboration with the Region of Piedmont and the City of Turin, the 12th edition of Terra Madre Salone del Gusto, the most important international event dedicated to food culture, will take place from September 20 to 24, 2018, in Turin, Italy. Over 5,000 delegates from 140 countries, over 800 exhibitors, 300 Slow Food Presidia, and 500 Terra Madre food communities will gather in Turin.

Slow Food’s delegation from this area is composed of about 250 people including family farmers, producers, academics, chefs, activists and, above all, lots of young people, mostly from Kazakhstan. Indeed, it is no coincidence that Kazakhstan is the home country of 26 year old Aida Baimakova, member of the Slow Food International Council: she is passionate about Slow Food’s values and is working hard to expand the presence of young people in the Slow Food network.

Speaking about Terra Madre Salone del Gusto, Aida says, “I am extremely proud to be part of the international network that is Slow Food, and to represent a delegation that will take part in Terra Madre Salone del Gusto 2018, where even more young activists will be involved. This is an important sign of increased interest from young people toward Slow Food in our countries. Food for change is the theme of this 12th edition and I am sure that, through exchange and dialogue with people who differ in culture, language, and customs, every one of us will return home richer and with new enthusiasm for pursuing our activities and striving for a better future for our planet. The atmosphere of Terra Madre Salone del Gusto helps to make the voices of small-scale producers from around the world heard, and reminds us of historical gastronomic and cultural ties, such as the Great Silk Road. I firmly believe that the gastronomic diversity of our countries has not yet been fully revealed: it is still an unopened gift to the world, and this event gives Slow Food activists an incentive to share and preserving this heritage.”

Three young women from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan are the winners of a local initiative launched in Central Asia in the wake of the latest global Slow Food Eat Local Challenge, which promoted local food consumption on social media. Among the winners of the Eat Local Challenge at the global level, is Nadezhda Zhdanova from Russia. All of these activists will receive a return ticket to Turin to join us at Terra Madre Salone del Gusto.

Representatives of the following indigenous communities will also be attending this 12th edition, taking part in conferences and events: Chukchi, Nivkh, Tubular, and Eskimo from Russia; Pamirs from Tajikistan; Tushetians from Georgia; and Hutsuls and Crimean Tatars from Ukraine. The indigenous chef Yulia Fominikh, from the Tubular community, will present during the Terra Madre Forum Empowering Women, from Field to Restaurant (September 21 at 3:00 p.m. – Torino Lingotto Fiere) in which delegates, along with the public, will discuss both the challenges and the positive experiences of women in the food sector.

Another interesting opportunity to explore the customs and traditions of indigenous communities will be, within the Food and Health area, the Taste Workshop Milk Cultures of The East (September 23 at 2:30 p.m. – Torino Lingotto Fiere). Cultured milk is a key element of the cultural and gastronomic history of the Eastern European countries. It is used to prepare kefir, ayran or the Hutsul guslianka, Ukrainian Ark of Taste product that, according to many, is the secret to the longevity of the Hutsul people. Leading a tasting of the products and describing their culinary uses and therapeutic properties will be the ethnographer and researcher in the transnational history of milk and cheese Svitlana Zlobina.

Within the International Market, located in the Lingotto Fiere and Oval, four Presidia will be showcased: Rosson Wild Fruits and Infusions from Belarus, the Pamir Mulberry from Tajikistan, Amphora Wine from Georgia, and Bostanlyk Ancient Almond Varieties from Uzbekistan. The latter will also be one of the protagonists of the Taste Workshop Almond Sweets: From Asia to the Mediterranean (September 24 at 2:30 p.m. – Torino Lingotto Fiere).

About two hundred Ark of Taste products will also be displayed for the public to taste and procure. There will be a stand dedicated to showcasing the rich and biodiverse food heritage of Georgia. Since 2017 Slow Food, together with FAO, has had a project in Georgia to raise the profile of traditional dairy products. It aims to develop and promote so-called Geographic Indications (GIs) and other origin-based labels for such products to help the country preserve its rich food heritage, while also raising producers’ incomes and driving economic growth. Progress will be presented in Turin.

Russia is about to launch its Presidium, that is going to be recognized by the Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity, for Pomors Unferined Sea Salt, now on board on the Ark of Taste. The producer will take part in the Terra Madre Forum Salt: a History of Flavor (September 23 at 4:00 p.m. – Torino Lingotto Fiere) and the product will be used during the Taste Workshop, within the Slow Fish area, entitled Fish and Spirits of St. Petersburg (September 23 at 4:00 p.m. – Torino Lingotto Fiere). Olesya Drobot, from the Slow Food Chefs’ Alliance, is one of the rising stars of the gastronomic scene in St. Petersburg. Through her delicious fish-based creations, salted with Pomors Unferined Sea Salt, the public will discover the soul of the Russian North paired with  Polugar, an ancient beverage, considered the true spirit of Russia.

Thanks to incredible networking, the Slow Food Chefs’ Alliance is about to be launched in Ukraine. Three Ukrainian chefs will take part in the following Taste Workshops:

  • Ukraine: Cooking with Herbs (September 21 at 4:00 p.m. – Torino Lingotto Fiere) in which chefs Iurii Kovryzhenko and Tatiana Iablonska, from the Slow Food network, will illustrate the beneficial properties of herbs in a series of tasty recipes.
  • Ukraine: Vegetarian Borsh-Meatless Monday (September 24 at 2:30 p.m. – Torino Lingotto Fiere) during which a fresh and tasty vegetarian version of traditional dishes will be served by chefs Nika Lozovska and Yuriy Pryiemskyi.

“The most important thing is not to consider your work as an effort, but as your favorite task” according to Anton Kalenik. Executive chef at Minsk Marriot Hotel in Belarus, he has earned his stripes training in Italy and France. During the Taste Workshop Belarus: Freshwater Fish (September 22 at 1:00 p.m. – Torino Lingotto Fiere) Anton will let the public discover classic Belarussian cuisine with a central regional ingredient: freshwater fish.

To conclude, visitors will also have the opportunity to taste some fish prepared by Anatoly Kazakov, head chef at Selfie in Moscow which was ranked as the 70th best restaurant in the world in the “50 Best” list of 2018, during the Taste Workshop Anatoly Kazakov: Bringing Ethics to the Kitchen (September 21 at 1:00 p.m. – Torino Lingotto Fiere), and to immerse themselves in the world of fermentation during the Taste Workshop Russia: Tolstoy in a State of Ferment (September 24 at 1:00 p.m. – Torino Lingotto Fiere). Mikhail Lukashonok is the chef at the Mark & Lev restaurant in Privolye, adjacent to a historic botanical garden, which together with Tolstoy’s writings is a continuous source of inspiration. Mikhail’s story focuses on the techniques of vegetable fermentation so appreciated by the writer.

Taste Workshops and Cooking Schools are paid events and tickets can be purchased online; the Terra Madre thematic Forums are presented by delegates of the network and are open to the public as long as seats are available. Click here for the list of available events, which is constantly updated.

Aida Baimakova, International Councillor for

Central Asia, the Caucasus, Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine

[email protected]

Terra Madre Salone del Gusto 2018 Press Office

Slow Food, +39 329 83 212 85 [email protected] – Twitter: @SlowFoodPress

Region of Piedmont, +39 011 432 2549 – [email protected]

City of Turin, +39 011 011 21976 – +39 342 1100131 – [email protected]

To request press accreditation, please click here.

Terra Madre Salone del Gusto is an event organized by the City of Turin, Slow Food, and the Region of Piedmont in collaboration with MIPAAF (Italy’s Ministry for Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies). It has been made possible thanks to its many sponsors, including the Official Partners, GLEvents-Lingotto Fiere, IREN, Lavazza, Lurisia, Parmigiano Reggiano, Pastificio Di Martino and Quality Beer Academy; with the support of Compagnia di San Paolo, Fondazione CRT-Cassa di Risparmio di Torino, Associazione delle Fondazioni di Origine Bancaria del Piemonte, and Coldiretti; and with the contribution of IFAD, the European Union, and CIA (Confederazione Italiana Agricoltori).

Slow Food is a global grassroots organization that envisions a world in which all people can access and enjoy food that is good for them, good for those who grow it, and good for the planet. Slow Food involves over a million activists, chefs, experts, youth, farmers, fishers, and academics in over 160 countries. 

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