The Italian Food and Culture Exhibition in Nairobi could not have a better location than the historical Sarova Stanley Hotel in the town center of the Kenyan capital.
And right there in the Thorn Tree Café, where from 1902 British traders and officers of every nation, and later also citizens of the new nation of Kenya, met to drink and to exchange messages, even put them on the tree that still stands even today at the center of the restaurant open bar 24 hours 24.
The week dedicated to gastronomy, lifestyle and Italian arts, organized by the Italian Embassy in Kenya with the Institute of Culture in Nairobi and the indispensable support of the Vohra family, owners the Sarova Group and General Manager of Stanley, the Neapolitan Paolo Marro, was opened on Saturday evening in the presence of the Ambassador Mauro Massoni and IIC director, Francesca Church.
To emphasize the interest for the good things of our country and for the events that link different disciplines, the presence of at least fifteen diplomats of other countries, as well as that of entrepreneurs, press, professionals and connoisseurs of taste from a variety of nations world.
The stars of the opening night, food and Italian wines, with the icing on the cake of the presence of Slow Food International and its Deputy Director, the kenyan John Kamau. One of the "presidi" of Slow Food in Kenya (that is, one of the natural products of traditional land use) is represented by the nettles of the Mau Forest. The chefs of Sarova Stanley have decided to prepare a classic "risotto" using nettles and serve within a wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano cut and carved out specifically.
Massoni, in his opening speech which was followed by the cutting of the ribbon, accompanied by notes of "O 'Sole Mio" interpreted with unexpected verve tenor by Maestro Marco "Sbringo" Bigi, recalled how much food, territory, culture and art in Italy has always are closely related concepts and the importance of preserving traditions and products of the earth, dear also the philosophy of Slow Food Italy and the Slow Food International.
While in two video streaming images of the Peninsula, with landscapes, tastes, characters and ideas, Freddie the Curatolo has been given the task of telling the story of Italians in Kenya and around the world to bring their culture, art the kitchen and being together.
Art that is expressed wonderfully when Freddie and Sbringo they sang the Italian song classics like "Azzurro" from Adriano Celentano, "Che sarà" written by Jimmy Fontana and sung by José Feliciano and "Quando Quando Quando" by Tony Renis. The apotheosis, with all the ambassadors to sing the chorus, with the version in Swahili of the Domenico Modugno "In the blue painted blue", the famous "Volare" which became "Kuruka oh oh, oh oh oh oh kuimba".
Speaking of Italians in Malindi, combining songs with anecdotes and stories, Freddie has involved those present.
The rest is part of the beautiful and evocative setting of Sarova Stanley.
The party has amused and convinced young and taste newbies and Italian pleasure and surprised many residents of Nairobi.
Throughout the week we will continue the combination of tastes, pleasures and music, with the Maestro Marco "Sbringo" Bigi every night on the floor to provide a fitting soundtrack of Italian delights. These days, on the ground floor of the historic hotel in Nairobi, also a taste of Italian works by the artist Gian Paolo Tomasi, the photo editing genius who spends several months a year in Kenya.