An Italian in Budapest
Chef Cristina Bowerman – the one-and-only Michelin Star woman chef arrived to Budapest.
As to the opening of the 4th World Italian Gastronomy Week @ Budapest, Ms Christina Bowerman was invited as the guest of honor with VIP members and media representatives at the residence of HE Massimo Rustico the Italian Ambassador to Hungary on Friday, November, 14. As said by the HE, this morning she arrived direct from China to introduce, show the “technical know-how” and tasting of her special Risotto. As her presentation ended off she flew back to her homeland Rome.
HE summarized Cristina’s life activities in cooking whilst the cooking step-by-step carry on. As said it all stated after graduating in Law in 1990, in 1992 then she left Puglia to San Francisco USA. In California she alternated forensic studies and graphic design working at Higher Grounds whilst busy at a coffee house in San Francisco. She developed her passion for cooking, that she had always cultivated largely due to her mother’s and grandmother’s teachings. She graduated in 1998., then moved to Austin, where she earned a degree in Culinary Arts in 2004. She gain her experience in Texas US at the Driskill Grill a.k.a. world-class dining.
In 2005 she decided to go back to Italy. She gained first experience at the Convivio Troiani in Rome, before moving to the Glass Hostaria, which still to-day is her own restaurant in the heart of Trastevere, known as the famous and touristic areas of Rome. Also in 2005, she has implemented a bakery and kitchen together a.k.a. “Free Go”
Ms. Bowerman is the only woman selected as Chef Ambassador at Expo – Milano 2015, the principles are linked to the World Expo Theme: Feeding the Planet – Energy for Life.
In 2016 Ms. Bowerman was selected as President of the Association of Italian Ambassadors of Taste. Receiving the Michelin star as the owner became of the variety of titles, multi-awards, numerous accolades. Cristina has an emblematic career as she managed to emerge in an environment, such as haute cuisine … extremely biased towards males. She has been recognized at TEDxMilano Women. The Italian event was organized in the spirit of the Californian TED Prize. In 2018 signed an agreement at the Italian Ministery of Education “MIUR – Ministero dell’Istruzione, Università e Ricerca”, as to be President of the Association of Italian Ambassadors of Taste – and Re.Na.i.A. – Rete Nazionale degli Istituti Alberghieri in supporting of Italian Cooking Schools so called: “Adotta un Istituto Alberghiero”
She receives the “Love Life Italiana” Award 2018 in Dublin as the “Best Female Italian Chef in Europe”. The award was sponsored by Luxury Food&Lifestyle Worldwide. In the same year was awarded by Food Community the prizes as “Female Chef of the Year” and “Development and Culture of Made in Italy – Italian Association of Ambassadors of Taste.
Her developments never end, has been working on projects such as: Food-Act … Action Aid – Food for Everyone and also working on Ketogenic diet and “Taste Ambassador” program.
As the a’la Cristina’s Risotto was cooked and ready to serve, she pointed out some figures regarding how many Michelin star chefs are in Italy saying there are a total of 374 Michelin Star Chefs and within this number: 11., – 3 Michelin Star Chefs, 35., – 2 Michelin Star Chefs and 328., 1 Michelin Star Chef. Within these numbers added, she has high hopes she will not be the only woman to received Michelin star in the selection of future chefs. She is convinced there are woman in Italy with excellent cooking skills and they should show up and not stay home cooking for their family only.
During the presentation could followed her hands as they were full preparing her special “Risotto a’la Cristina” spiced up with valtellinese bresaola beef ham and cetarean anchovies. The cooking went hand-in-hand with the Italian students from the University of Gastronomic Sciences. Cristina talked about “rice” itself! The rice in Italy plays a central role within the locals in their the everyday gastronomy. Even although the pizza and pasta as favorit and primarily tied to Italian food and known worldwide., But about the rice only a few know interesting facts, as said it plays a central role in the Italian diet. There are over more than 100 different cultivated rice in the regions of Italy. The difference in these rice is the place where it is grown. For the better of Risotto a’la Italian it is in use of the “Canaroli rice” … The Carnaroli rice is Kosher/Gluten Free … it is a short-grained white rice featuring small, plump grains that are slightly larger than Arborio Rice. Carnaroli Rice is considered to be one of the finest white rice used to make Risotto because of its high starch content.
Follow ups will be continued …
Update and snaps Aggie Reiter
Rolling in Budapest 