Gino D’Acampo brought some Italian flare to Islington at the weekend.
ITV’s This Morning resident chef and a former winner of I’m a Celebrity…get me out of here! demonstrated his cooking skills at the Business Design Centre (BDC) on Saturday 10 March as part of La Dolce Vita – an event celebrating all of what Italy has to offer.
The 35-year-old Neopolitan stressed the importance of events like La Dolce Vita for local businesses.
He said: “It’s always important to make connections – between people, between ideas, between countries. Business and trade connects people and it’s interesting and pleasurable to see what the other person has to offer.”
Mr D’Acampo, whose inspiration is his grandfather, also spoke of the long history of Italians in London, saying: “Italians have been making important cultural contributions to London since the 19th century, catering probably being the most familiar.”
He added: “Travelling ice-cream sellers and friendly local cafes originally brought the life and soul of Italy to London’s neighbourhoods and today, every street has its trattoria and its pizza parlour.”
Mr D’Acampo prepared linguine con pollo e gorgonzola, tuna steak with garlic, olive oil and chilli sauce and baked ice cream in crispy meringue for the BDC crowds.
He said his favourite food is pasta because “there are so many different ways it can be prepared, so many combinations and sauces”.
He added: “I never get tired of it!”
The Business Design Centre opened its doors to over 100 exhibitors and other esteemed Italian chefs including Valentina Harris, Onzo Olivieri and Giancarlo Cardesi.
