New York, a dinner to save the Garisenda Tower in Bologna
by Valeria Robecco
Mortadella, Parmigiano Reggiano, and tortellini on the menu of the fundraising event organized by chef Michele Casadei Massari. Governor Bonaccini: "Bologna was the Manhattan of the past." It takes 20 million to get it back on its feet.
"As custodians of Italian heritage and cuisine, we believe it is our duty to contribute to the preservation of an iconic structure that represents Bologna's past, the historic Torre Garisenda," says chef Michele Casadei Massari, describing the initiative he and his partner Alberto Ghezzi, both Bolognese and friends since school days, have devised to help preserve the recently spotlighted architectural gem, also highlighted by the American press for its concerning structural challenges.
The duo organized an exclusive fundraising dinner at their restaurant Lucciola on the Upper West Side of New York, turning it into a journey into the heart of the culinary tradition of the Emilian city where the flavors of Bologna came to life, paired with a selection of the finest Italian wines curated by Ghezzi, not only the co-founder but also the wine director of the establishment. As Casadei Massari explains, the evening was "a triumph of flavors and solidarity. Thanks to everyone's support, we have turned our love for our cuisine into a concrete bridge to the restoration of the Garisenda. It was an unforgettable experience that reflects the passion of Americans for our country as well." Parmigiano Reggiano and a Bolognese icon, mortadella, greeted the guests, in this case a 10 kg Ferrarini cut with a knife. And then a deconstructed lasagna pie, gorgonzola and guanciale gnocchi, tortellini, pot roast, and Parmesan cheesecake.
Meanwhile, the artist Skye Ferrante, famous for his 'continuous wire' sculptures, has created two small works that will be auctioned to raise further funds. The dinner "was our way of giving something back to Italy, a country that has given us so much in terms of culture, history, and culinary inspiration," continued the chef, emphasizing that 100% of the proceeds will go directly to conservation efforts for the tower. After all, no one better than him, an ambassador of the most prestigious Italian brands in Italian food and wine in the United States, and for years committed to bridging the physical and cultural distances between New York and his Bologna, could promote an event to save the Garisenda, one of the treasures of Italian architectural heritage, whose works, according to the mayor of the city, Matteo Lepore, will cost 20 million euros and will require at least 10 years.
"One cannot ignore the architectural destiny that ties Bologna to New York - wrote in a message the president of the Emilia Romagna Region, Stefano Bonaccini - The city of medieval towers, Bologna, was the Manhattan of a past time. It is therefore even more significant that tonight we celebrate, also in the name of this twinning, right there at Lucciola. A union for fundraising destined for our Garisenda, a symbol for the Bolognese but a bit for all Italians." Bonaccini recalled the "gesture of great generosity and friendship" primarily by Casadei Massari, who along with his collaborators led the guests on "a gastronomic journey to discover, or confirm, a culinary tradition that has few comparisons in the world." Then he remembered how Bologna is not only "a magnificent city but also the heart and capital of the Food Valley, an extraordinary food and wine heritage that is also an expression of the territory's history, as well as a driving force for tourism with products that are the history and culture of Emilia-Romagna." A Food Valley that "represents the agricultural heart of Italy and is among the first territories in the world, first in Europe, for the volume of food exports," he continued: "We are the region with the highest number of Dop and Igp geographical indications in Europe, a total of 44, and even this richness now comes to the aid of an emergency, that for the rescue of our Torre Garisenda."
Source: La Repubblica
