This December 10, Slow Food Hong Kong hosted a dinner at Gia Trattoria in Wan Chai for an exceptional culinary celebration of Terra Madre Day.
This global day of action honored those who produce our food and promoted a better future for our food systems, uniting millions worldwide in celebrating sustainable food traditions.
Terra Madre Day, meaning “Mother Earth Day” in Italian, was Slow Food’s annual anniversary celebration where food communities worldwide celebrated local eating, agricultural biodiversity, and sustainable food production through gatherings, meals, and events. This year, we brought this global movement to Hong Kong with an exclusive dinner crafted by Chef Giandomenico Caprioli, which featured a specially curated menu that embodied the “Good, Clean, and Fair” food philosophy.
The Terra Madre Menu
Our Terra Madre Day menu took guests on a shared culinary journey through Italy’s regions, with each dish thoughtfully crafted to showcase sustainable, high-quality ingredients. The menu was priced at HKD 600 + 10% service charge per guest and was designed for sharing, reflecting the communal spirit of Terra Madre.
✨ A Special Highlight:
Guests got to learn about the exceptional Saline Culcasi Presidio sea salt from Sicily. For over four generations, the Culcasi family has harvested this precious salt according to traditional methods within the WWF-protected Salt-pans Reserve of Trapani—a true embodiment of the Slow Food Presidium’s mission to protect gastronomic heritage.
The Shared Culinary Journey Included:
- Antipasto: A mixed cold-cut platter from Parma, Vitello Tonnato from Piedmont, and DOP Mozzarella from Campania.
- Pizza: The delicious Ligurian Baciata Ligure focaccia.
- Primi: Creative Pasta alla Negroni and the classic Roman Pasta all’ Amatriciana.
- Secondi: Oven-baked Scamorza cheese and succulent Maiale con Polenta e Funghi from Lombardy.
- Dessert: Homemade Tiramisu and a rich Piedmontese chocolate Bonnet.
An Evening with Chef Gianni & The Slow Food Philosophy
Chef Gianni of Gia Trattoria, a member of the Slow Food Cooks’ Alliance Hong Kong, hosted the evening. This vibrant community of chefs is dedicated to defending biodiversity, preserving culinary heritage, and promoting sustainable food practices. Throughout the dinner, Chef Gianni shared stories behind the ingredients, explaining how each selection reflected the core Slow Food ethos.
It was a wonderful evening of community, conscious eating, and celebration. Thank you to everyone who joined us to make it special!