Cibo nostro: il contributo della Lucania all’Expo 2015.

Basilicata or rather Lucania, is a totally undiscovered region of Italy. The Universal Expositon which will take place in Milan in 2015 is a blessing sent from God not only to Italy – the country of food – but to Basilicata the land of genuine nutrition.

This opportunity to showcase our region is one we cannot afford to miss. Part of the longevity factor of Lucanians can be traced to good mediterranean food we feed ourselves with. The fertile soil used to germinate several crops of which we can be proud of in all senses.

So, how do we make the best of these blessings? Are our politicians and admin officers smart enough to be able to seize the opportunity to put us on the map? Giving the fact that food is, at least for now, the only factor which has to come from the soil and from cultivation, we still have an upper hand to beat other regions and other countries to the copetitiveness. No wonder the theme of the Universal Exposition is food. Where else can you hold a Universal Exposition on food if not in Italy? The rest of world envy us for our food. In most countries when you want to impress your guest, you take them to an Italian restuarant. If you have enough money to spend, your best choice anywhere in the world would be an Italian eatery. Many entrepreneurs in Italy have already understood this and have invested extensively on it. The latest advent is that of EATALY which occupied a beautiful old train station converted into multi events venue in the centre of the eternal city – Rome. A pride to the Italian culture and costume.

How can you blame Italians for complaining about food anywhere they go to? They are ‘’spoilt’’. Look who’s speaking: One of the reasons I got caught up – so to say – in Italy is food. Yes, I must confess that though I am happy to taste other types of foods during my several travels but when I get back to Italy the first ritual I do is get some spaghetti with tomato and tuna cooked specially for me. Simple as that: spaghetti, tomato and tuna. Delicious.

Going back to the rich Lucanian cusine, I would like to mention but few of the several dishes and food produce that can be found in our region. Our podolico cow meat which is well known all over Europe. Cattle graze and wet themselves with grass and water from our land. Even the Pugliesi –next door neighbuor – wet their mouth and quench their thirst with our water. The beans of SARCONI is yet to be exported all over the world, though the bread of Matera is already on the shelves of Harrods in London. People trave to taste our Peperoni crusc and stock fish and the Aviglianesi – a small town near Potenza – would be proud of that. Our pasta, such as fussilli and strascinati, our olive oil, our home made Aglianico wine of all types, the cheeses of Filiano, our fruits cultivated in and around Metapontum. I can go on and on listing our endless blessings in terms of food but I’d rather stop here. I’d rather wait for our local officers to do the rest. Wait for them to take these products to the Expo 2015 and show the world. Invite the world to taste and eat Lucania.

Let’s hope that the people who should be the ambassador of Basilicata taking our food to this exhibition play their role in putting us on the map and showcase one of the several hidden beauties and treasures of Lucania.

Enjoy!