AICNY & Puglia Demo Chef Kitchen

In celebration of Italian cuisine and the Italian chefs of America, noted international and Italian chefs gathered to showcase a repertoire of authentic Apulian, or Puglian, recipes to be paired the most popular wines of the region, such as Primitivo, Nero di Troia and many more. The event, held on the evening of June 25th, was organized by the Associazione Italiana Chef di New York (AICNY) in collaboration with Puglia in Rosé, Cantine Due Palme and the Restaurant Associates (RA) for Scavolini.

Many flocked to the kitchens of the beautiful and distinguished Scavolini SoHo gallery to experience the flavors of Puglia through dishes from featured chefs such as Rocco di Spirito, Davide Oldani, Roberto Caporuscio, Stephen Yen, and Michael Lomonaco. The event also commemorated the great legacy of Anthony Bourdain, whose portrait stood in the corner of the gallery.

American and Italian food and wine bloggers and sommeliers worked their way from one kitchen space to the next, sampling charcuterie in between occasional stops by the bar for a glass of wine to pair with their plate. Every surface in the room was covered in food, spanning from whole wheels of cheese to platters of cured meats to olives, peppers, and fresh herbs. Favorite dishes included pasta served straight from a cheese wheel onto a plate, garnished with freshly grated summer truffles from Italy, and granchio burrata gnocchi. Desserts were also a big hit, including a tiramisu that was light yet rich and indulgent, calling for a sip of rosé to wash it down.

The evening came to a hallmark moment when all the chefs congregated outside in the middle of the street, halting traffic for a photo all together in celebration of food, wine, Puglia, and the art of cooking, with Anthony Bourdain’s picture at the center.