The 2nd European Food Summit was planned for March 2020 but was postponed in light of the coronavirus health crisis. It has now been announced that the awaited food festival will take place between 7 and 9 November 2020 in its hometown – Ljubljana.
One of the most important European culinary events will once again welcome the world’s most prominent culinary names and outstanding individuals in art and media, who are changing the world for the better. They will inspire us with their stories and encourage us to think and act for a better and sustainable future. Monday, 9 November is set to be the highlight of the event, with an all-day symposium led by Ana Roš, one of the best chefs in the world, recipient of two Michelin stars and ambassador of the World Tourist Organization. Ms. Roš will be joined by the project curator Andrea Petrini, who is considered one of the key gastronomy experts.
With the COVID-19 situation, it is more important than ever to start listening, talking discussing and evolving side by side while sharing experiences and trying to redevelop our relationship with the world around us.
This year’s summit will be upgraded with new ideas for a better understanding of the current difficult situation. Discussing the path to recovery and how to help everyone, especially small restaurants and tradesmen, who were hit hard by the pandemic will be at the forefront. Chef Luka Košir will address this in his speech on How to be different and John Lanchester will underscore the point under the title Marx, Smith and Chicken McNuggets or the food industry the days of the late capitalism. Lisa Abend will address the public with the speech entitled Margaret Atwood was right, criticizing the farce that the food system has become, while MariaCanabal will act out the forecasted end of the patriarchy in a theatrical performance called Yannicko Rex.Nicolai Nørregaard will also be inspiring us to change for the better with tips on how to bypass the male toxicity in the kitchens and our lives and how to declare the war on cliché.
And if all this is not enough, one of the most prominent Canadian journalists, Marie-Claude Lortie will present a special project on stage. She was recently invited by the European Union to study all aspects of the local shop Planika in Kobarid, Slovenia. It is a village grocery store, a local community, local cooperative that has been striving against the tide for decades.
Think local, act global. Reconsider our legacy, our common roots, our European identities.
Five months still separate us from the 2nd European Food Summit and by then the situation should go back to normal. But the dire reality is that no one knows for sure. More than 90 % of the summit speakers, including international chefs, writers, winemakers, theorists, activists and journalists have confirmed their presence at the autumn event. Despite the plans are now official, the summit organizers announced that since it is impossible to predict the situation come November, the event will only go forward according to the program health conditions permitting. In the case of new restrictions due to the coronavirus epidemic, the program and format of the event will be adjusted accordingly.
The full program and additional information can be found at www.foodsummit.eu.
