Calabria: Land of the Mediterranean Diet
with Giovanni Guido, general manager, Mercato delle Eccellenze di Calabria
and Luciano Salvadore, executive chef, Il Calabrese (Southlake, Texas)
moderated by food and wine historian Jeremy Parzen

Monday, March 6, 2023
Omni Hotel Houston
11:30 a.m.

Since the 1950s, doctors and nutritionists have been fascinated by the “Mediterranean Diet.” In the years immediately following the Second World War, scientists had begun to recognize that residents in certain geographic areas suffered fewer heart attacks than their peers in other places. They quickly realized that local diets were a main factor in this trend. Not only did residents in certain areas experience fewer cases of heart disease. An unusually high number of them lived to advanced old age — including many centenarians.

Calabria was one of those unusual geographic areas where people were living longer and suffering from fewer long-term illnesses.

In the second half of the 1950s, scientists like the legendary researcher Ancel Keys began to visit Calabria in their efforts to better understand the health benefits of the Mediterranean Diet.

In more recent years, Calabria has become a popular destination for food and wine celebrities like Lidia Bastianich, the celebrated television personality and cookbook author, and her son Joe, the pioneering restaurateur and wine expert turned pop culture icon.

That’s Lidia, above, with Giovanni Guido general manager of the Mercato delle Eccellenze di Calabria (Excellence of Calabria Market) during her visit last year with Joe.

On Monday, March 6, on the occasion of the Taste of Italy trade fair and festival, Giovanni will be joined by Luciano Salvadore (executive chef, Il Calabrese, Southlake, Texas) in a discussion of Calabrian gastronomy and the Mediterranean Diet. Food and wine historian Jeremy Parzen will moderate the panel.

Attendees will have the opportunity to taste a wide variety of Calabrian food products, including extra-virgin olive oils, cheeses, wine, and pastries.