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Mozzarella making, fresh Italian food and a celebrity chef, are some of the key ingredients at Peterborough’s Italian Festival this year.   The guest of honour for the event, which takes place on Sunday September 11th, is the much loved Italian food writer and television chef, Antonio Carluccio.  

Antonio has created a dish for Peterborough that will be revealed at the festival, with help from local restaurant Riva.  If that wasn’t enough, Antonio has also prepared an original recipe for Peterborough’s twin town of Forli, which will be presented to dignitaries who’ll be flying over for the celebrations.

Antonio, who has written over a dozen cookery books and has most recently starred in the BBC2 series Two Greedy Italians, will be giving a talk about his lifetime love of food, as well as signing books at the event being held on Cathedral Square.  But he’s certainly not the only reason to go along!

An authentic Italian market will be open all day, with the best olives, salami, wine, cheese and olive oil that Italy has to offer.  You’ll also get to see how the Italians make their produce with live displays of wine-making, pasta-making and a demonstration of the fine art of mozzarella-making. 

The free event is open to all and starts in Cathedral Square at 12pm until 5pm.  With entertainment from Italian singers, opera stars and 20 traditional flag dancers.  Donalds car dealership will be putting on a classic car display, as well as providing an Alfa Romeo Giulietta to escort Antonio Carluccio to the festival.  You can also have a go at pizza spinning courtesy of Papa Luigi’s.

Carmella Cocozza from Peterborough’s Italian Community Association, who organise the festival with support from Peterborough City Council, said, “Everyone loves food so everyone has got a little bit of Italian in them – it’s free and we’d welcome anyone who wants to come along, meet Antonio and eat!”

Marco Cereste, leader of Peterborough City council said he’s especially excited about one aspect of the day, “I’ll be down there for the whole festival and I’m eager to have a go at making mozzarella from fresh milk in the middle of Cathedral Square.  If you’ve never eaten fresh mozzarella, you’re in for a real treat.  It’s going to be great and we hope to have more events like this in Peterborough in the future.”

Head of Commercial Operations, Annette Joyce said “We’re thrilled to be welcoming a star like Antonio Carluccio to our Italian Festival.  Every year the celebrations get a little bit bigger, and this year is going to be the best ever.  Along with the finest in authentic Italian produce and traditional music, we have one of Italy’s top chefs and he’s made a dish for Peterborough.  I hope his dish will be enjoyed in the city for many years to come.”

Peterborough has one of the largest Italian communities in the UK. It welcomed hundreds of workers from Italy in the 1950s as they emigrated to work in the city’s thriving brick industry.

Antonio Carluccio

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For more information or images steve@athene-communications.co.uk or 01733 207339