Known for his wild crop of white hair, gruff  voice and friendly smile, Antonio Carluccio  is one of the  U.K.’s  best-loved Italian food experts, chefs  and restaurateurs. 
The founder of the popular  restaurant and bistrot chain Carluccio’s Cafés, will be the special guest at the  Divingusto Festival  in  Ceglie Messapica on Saturday 24th  and Sunday 25th  2010. 
The Times defined him as one of  London’s institutions and the Sunday Telegraph wrote that his restaurant and café chain have made a difference in English restaurant cooking.

Everything began in 1975  when, in pursuit of a new love, Carluccio  moved to London. There he became a chef without having any past experience working in a restaurant  after taking  part in a competition for non professional chefs organized by the Sunday Times.  He was awarded the second prize for his salmon and sole fillets  on courgette barquettes topped with zabaglione cream. Within a few months,  Carluccio received many job offers  and appeared on BBC broadcasts on  food and drink. People liked his basic English and his looks  and  thus he was invited all over the UK. Carluccio  made the British  fall in love with mushrooms, usually considered  too refined, something  the French are partial to.  On tv Carluccio explained  how to find  mushrooms and ways to cook them. Even Prince Charles has sought his advice.
His television fame was followed   by the success of his  books that have sold about half a million copies. 
Since then Antonio Carluccio has become  the godfather of Italian Cooking in the UK , where he has received many honorary titles: in 1998 he was given the national honour  of “Commendatore O.M.R.I.”  from  the President of the Italian Republic for “ his services to Italian Gastronomy” and in  2007  Queen Elisabeth decorated him with the  Order of the British Empire.
 

The charm and excitement of Puglia’s Food and Wine Festival, Divingusto will continue after summer: Divingusto will be present at the  Abergavenny Food Festival, as an ambassador of our regional gourmet specialties. The Welsh food and wine festival, considered one of the “coolest” in the United Kingdom will  take place this year from 18th to 19th September, in the small and picturesque town of  Abergavenny, flocked to every year by more than 30,000 visitors who come for the festival  from all over the world. The festival is renowned for its  relaxed and informal atmosphere where you can find authentic gastronomic delights of Wales and  the United Kingdom, personalities of great prestige  (such as Tom Parker Bowles) not only from the food and wine scene, as well as  glamorous stars from the world of music and literature, in addition to brilliant performances and superb entertainment.   Divingusto is getting ready to share in the cheerful and friendly atmosphere of Abergavenny with the aim of  giving festival participants the chance  to experience the history and character  of Puglia and of Italy  through the best of its wines and food products.

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Territorio, identity, comparisons, exchange: if you are keen to share the excitement with the locals you can’t miss the second Divingusto – Puglia Food and Wine Festival.

So what’s different about the Divingusto Festival?
It’s a “storyteller” of its territorio.  And it has a passion for all that surrounds it, an understanding of its birthplace, and of the history of craftsmen who are able to express both  its history and its culture.

It is a festival with its roots firmly in tradition but with a strong desire to be open and enter into a dialogue with the rest of the world, to not only share its knowledge but to learn from others.

It is a new and fresh way to come together and relish all the good things about food & wine.  It’s a place where specialists come to meet, catch up and share their expertise but more importantly it has an open door and welcomes all those who love good food, good wine and the joy of sharing these together.  

The dates for your diary are Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th July 2010 in the beautiful town of Ceglie Messapica (BR) to enjoy this celebration of excellent food and wine.  You’ll find live cooking demonstrations by renowned chefs, reviews, and shows by world famous names on the Divingusto stage and much more.