‘Al mèni’ – A Gastronomic Spectacle in Rimini

This weekend (21/06-22/06) Rimini will host Al mèni, a gastronomic delight bringing together chefs from all across the world, organised by Massimo Bottura, chef patron of Osteria Francescana, the three Michelin star restaurant based in Modena which has been listed in the top 5 at The World’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards since 2010.

That opening paragraph, though, doesn’t begin to describe the event, much of which will be held in the Fellini inspired 8½ circus tent, appropriately enough pitched up in Piazzale Fellini, outside the Grand Hotel.

Al mèni is dialect, roughly translating as ‘the things made by hand’, and this festival is all about hand-made local food, supported by Slow Food and the various local authorities. The festival, part of the build-up to the 2015 Expo in Milano, celebrates the foods of Emilia-Romagna (and in particular the mythic and suggestive via Emilia, which runs from Rimini accross the whole region linking up major culinary cities like Rimini, Bologna, Modena and Parma). Amongst the stars of the show will be local wines, cheeses (like Parmiggiano Reggiano), Balsamic Vinegar, Prosciutto Crudo, Culatello di Zibello, Mortadella and the humble scallion.

There will be tasting sessions, slow cooking demonstrations, and conference events, workshops, music and chances to meet world famous chefs.

Programe :
Saturday
11,30 opening of the CIRCO 8 e ½, the circus of tastes and knowledge with Massimo Bottura
12.30-13.30 Takahiko Kondo (Osteria Francescana, Sous chef, Modena) Virgilio Martinez (Chef, Central, Lima)
13.30 -14.30 Isa Mazzocchi (La Palta, chef, Valtidone Piacenza) Simone Tondo (Chef, Roseval, Paris)
19.00-20.00 Max Poggi (Al Cambio, chef, Bologna) Dario Puglia (Chef, Gigi il Bullo, Antwerpen)
20.00-21.00 Max Mascia (San Domenico, chef, Imola) Sven Wassmer (Sous chef, Focus, Lucerne CH)
21.00-22.00 Sam Nutter (chef, BROR Copenhagen) Ricardo Chaneton (Sous chef Mirazur Mentone)
22.00-23.00 Fabrizio Mantovani (Ristorante FM, chef, Faenza) David Jesus (sous chef, Belcanto Lisbona)

Sunday
12.30-13.30 Silver Succi (Quarto Piano, chef Rimini) Matt Orlando (Chef, Amass, Copenhagen
13.30-14.30 Piero Di Diego (Don Giovanni, chef Ferrara) Piergiorgio Parini (Osteria del Povero Diavolo, chef Torriana)
19.00-20.00 Claudio Cesena (Osteria della Pesa, chef, Cadeo, Piacenza) Matthieu Rostain-Tayard (Chef, ex-126, Lyon)
20.00-21.00 Paolo Raschi (Guido, chef Rimini) Leandro Carreira (Chef Leo at OLS, chef London)
21.00-22.00 Riccardo Agostini (Il Piastrino, chef Pennabilli) Tomas Kavcic (chef Pri Loizetu, Vipava)
22.00-23.00 Alberto Faccani (Magnolia, chef Cesenatico) Cristian Puglisi (chef Relae, Copenhagen)

La déjeuner sur l’herbe
Another highlight of the festival will be a special picnic, where the gates of the Grand Hotel will open its gardens for a very special brunch, on Sunday from 9 to 12.00 noon. The brunch will be served by the expert pasticciere Roberto Rinaldini, and by the Grand Hotel’s own chef Claudio di Bernarod [ the cost for this is €30, with booking necessary – limited to 100 places. to book, email [email protected]

In addition to all the organised events there will also be a long space for a food market, specialising in top-quality local produce. Not to be missed!!