Preserving agricultural traditions and the healthy Italian lifestyle for future generations, taking into account climate change and food safety: this is the mission of “Sirino in Transumanza”, the event promoted by the Luigi Diotaiuti ODV Foundation, created by the award-winning Italian-American chef , born in Lagonegro and ambassador of Lucanian cuisine in the world, who has been promoting Italy and Basilicata in the United States for over 25 years.
The eighth edition will start on 25 June, in the national park of the Lucanian Apennines Val d’Agri, in the locality of La Conserva, in the municipality of Lauria: the opening ceremony will be followed by a debate with the institutions on agriculture and the environment, followed by an in-depth analysis of the importance of outdoor and mountain physical activity together with industry experts, up to the awarding of community members who have distinguished themselves for their qualities. Also scheduled is a cooking show in which the making of caciocavallo podolico will be shown, with a nutritionist who will illustrate the nutritional values of the products used.
“Caciocavallo podolico, the fifth most expensive cheese in the world, is the protagonist of the relaunch of the economy of Basilicata, as is podolica meat. We must continue to make them in the same artisanal way, passing on our culture and our healthy lifestyle”, explains Luigi Diotaiuti. From the beginning, podolica has been associated with the production of the renowned caciocavallo but, thanks to the introduction of mechanized agriculture, the high quality of podolica meat was also discovered.
With the creation of the herd book in 1984, interest in Podolian cattle increased exponentially, so much so that in 1988 the first national exhibition of the cattle registered in the herd book of the Podolian breed was established and in 1996 the Podolica genetic center of the National Association of Meat Cattle Breeders (ANABIC) in Laurenzana. “Sirino in Transumanza” is a project that promotes the entire territory of Lagonegro and the Sirino promontory and enhances the products of the mountains, from handicrafts to medicinal plants, as well as dances, costumes and ancient games that have almost disappeared.
With the patronage of Coldiretti Basilicata, ARA Basilicata, Slow Food Basilicata, Municipality of Lauria, Proloco di Lauria, Unione Cuochi Lucani, NIAF National Italian American Foundation and other institutions. Luigi Diotaiuti, award-winning chef and owner of the “Al Tiramisu” restaurant in Washington, is considered among the most popular Italian chefs in America, so much so that Hillary Clinton wanted him in her American Chefs Corps when she was in office as Secretary of State. Among his greatest admirers are former Secretary of State John Kerry, George Clooney, Harrison Ford and Matt Damon.
World ambassador of Italian and Lucanian cuisine, sommelier, Diotaiuti is the founder and president of “Luigi Diotaiuti Odv”, an organization based in Italy that promotes tourism, employment and endangered customs to create food sources and sustainable income models for all.
