Central Market Announces 2014 Passport Celebration

Central Market announces that the theme of this year’s Passport celebration will be Passport Italy, where the table is the centerpiece of life.

From fresh-made pastas to hand-stretched mozzarella, Central Market will create a genuine Italian experience during the two-week event.

In celebrating all things Italian, Central Market will showcase traditional foods and ingredients, along with hundreds of new items such as gelatos, breads, pastas, cured meats, wines, cheeses, oils, vinegars, and chef-prepared foods.

With over 40 winemakers and cooking classes with renowned Italian chefs, Passport Italy delivers eclectic tastings and Italian meals seldom found on these shores. Experience Italian cuisine in all its authentic and savory best at Central Market’s Passport Italy, without ever leaving home!

Central Market hosted the first-ever Passport event with Passport Argentina in May of 2010, followed by Spain in 2011, France in 2012, and Brazil in 2013. Passport is a larger-than-life two-week immersion in the cuisine, traditions, wine and culture of a select region or country, taking place at all Central Market stores across Texas. The celebration includes authentic products, native chefs, winemakers and culinary trendsetters, teaching hands-on classes in the CM Cooking Schools, extensive sampling and events.

Here’s a brief look at the top-flight culinary superstars appearing at Passport 2014:

Chefs

Fabio Viviani is an Italian chef, restaurateur, television personality, and a New York Times best-selling author. Fabio Viviani is perhaps best known for his appearance on season 5 of Bravo’s hit reality series Top Chef in 2008, earning the “Fan Favorite” title.

Domenica Marchetti is a renowned Italian cookbook author and food writer. Domenica authored “The Glorious Vegetables of Italy”, “The Glorious Pasta of Italy”, “Williams-Sonoma Rustic Italian: Simple, Authentic Recipes for Everyday Cooking”, “Big Night In: More Than 100 Wonderful Recipe for Feeding Family and Friends Italian-Style”, and “The Glorious Soups and Stews of Italy”. Marchetti curates a popular blog, Dominica Cooks.

Cheese and Prosciutto Makers

Paolo Tanara is the President of the Prosciutto di Parma Consortium and producer of Parma hams for Central Market. Paolo hand-selects and ages a 30-month ham exclusively for Central Market in addition to the 18 month and 24 month aged hams. For over 50 years, Tanara has been producing the best prosciutto in Parma.

Giovanni Parente comes from a long line of cheese makers who have been producing Mozzarella di Bufala for over a century just north of Naples, Italy. Central Market will have his traditional Mozarrella di Bufala Campana as well as his award-winning Tartufella.

Emanuela Perenzin brings four generations of experience to her family’s cheese business near Treviso, Italy. Latteria Perenzin offers unique and innovative cheeses like their aged San Pietro and their smoked dry ricotta, both of which will be at Central Market during Passport Italy.

Steano Sarti, co-founder of II Forteto, comes from the hills of Tuscany. He and 12 friends formed the Cooperativa Agricola II Forteto in 1977, and their award-winning cheese has spoken for itself ever since. His truffle cheese, Boschetto al Tartufo, has been a longtime favorite at Central Market and this year his sinfully decadent Tenerella will also be available.

Winemakers

Luca Bosio of Luca Bosio Vineyards brought in a wave of freshness and novelty to both the technical and commercial areas of his family’s vineyards, reinventing the way they do business. With a mix of technology and rural tradition, he blends his family’s grapes with grapes from hundreds of farmer organizations from different parts of Piemonte, giving them greater diversity in their winemaking.

Stefano Chiarlo oversees the cultivation of 110 hectares of vineyards, all while taking care to adhere to the most exact ecological requirements needed by winemaking. By focusing their vineyards on hilly zones and rigorously thinning out grape bunches, Michele Chiarlo Vineyards has ensured the production of highly elegant wines with excellent longevity.

Umberto Cosmo directs the Bellenda estate, located in the Vento wine region. Especially known for producing fantastic Prosecco, Bellenda is fresh and clean with delicate bubbles that enhance its subtle citrus flavor.

Franceso Daddi runs the Ormanni farm, which is ancient and deep-rooted in Italian history. Owned since the 1200s by the Ormanni family, mentioned in Dante Alighieri’s famous Divine Comedy, and at one point owned by the legendary Medici family, the Tenuta Ormanni Vineyards focus on tradition and detail. Tenuta Ormani wines have an artisan feel and clean taste.

Antonio M. Zaccheo Jr., the son of Carpineto co-founder Antonio Mario Zaccheo Sr., is the latest in a long line of family winemakers blending old world heritage with modern expertise. With an extensive bottle-aging program, Carpineto has ensured the production of elegant wines of approachable intensity, with the majority of their focus being on red wines aged three or more years.

Passport Italy takes place from Wednesday, April 30 through Tuesday, May 13 at all Central Market store locations: Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Plano, San Antonio, and Southlake. Go to www.centralmarket.com for store location information.