On 10 March 2011 at LA SCUOLA DE LA CUCINA ITALIANA (Italian Cooking School) in Milan, an invitation-only tasting was held exclusively for the press to celebrate the introduction of the Rococò Pop collection by Enrico Cassina. Guests were served a meal featuring an intriguing combination of shapes, colours, ideas and flavours.
The road from Rococò to Pop is certainly long. Enrico Cassina’s Rococò Pop collection was inspired by Louis XV and Andy Warhol, two men who personify their respective historical periods and cultures. Warhol – one of the most important exponents of Pop Art – and the French king are brought together in a collection that blends elements of mid-1900s Pop Art with an aristocratic style inspired by the sovereign who ruled France in the mid-1700s.Naturally, the diverse artistic influences apparent in Enrico Cassina’s creations can also be combined in the art of cooking.
The colour – or rather colours – of the Rococò Pop handles provided the theme for the event. Enrico Cassina and La Scuola de la Cucina Italiana designed a sophisticated, well-structured menu in which colour took centre stage.Chef Fabio Zago offered journalists a veritable cooking class, with a step-by-step demonstration of the preparation of two colourful dishes: rice balls with saffron fondue, representing the colour yellow, and tomato gazpacho, representing the colour red.The guests had an opportunity to admire the Rococò Pop handles first hand, while enjoying a lunch featuring recipes inspired by the collection’s colours.
The programme
11:30 am WELCOME COCKTAIL - "Pearl blue” oyster, Spumante
11:45 am Presentation of Rococò Pop
12:00 am COOKING CLASS Rice balls with saffron fondue, tomato gazpacho
12:40 am Enrico Cassina – Pure style for contemporary designs
01:00 pm Chef Fabio Zago presents: COLOURS AND CREATIVITY -
"Cast of Characters" in order of appearance:
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Blue
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BLUE DREAM
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Blue cheese cream
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Yellow
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YELLOW SUBMARINE
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Rice balls with saffron fondue
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Purple
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BORN TO THE PURPLE
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Sweet-and-sour purple aubergines and roasted shrimps seasoned with thyme
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Black
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MYSTERY
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Black Venere rice salad
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White
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WHITE RABBIT
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Cauliflower cream, roasted scallops
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Red
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PASSION
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Tomato gazpacho, buffalo mozzarella
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White
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WHITE RABBIT
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Panna cotta (eggless custard) with dark chocolate sauce
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Black
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MYSTERY
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Chocolate cupcake with Chantilly cream
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