MILAN — Which better place than Italy to talk about food and fashion?
The third edition of the Fashion Loves Food Gala took place at Palazzo Parigi in Milan on Nov. 6. The event, cohosted by WWD, The Style Gate and Galateo & Friends, celebrated the union between fashion and luxury with food and hospitality.
The evening kicked off with a cocktail offered by two-starred Michelin chef Andrea Aprea and Veneto-based Cantina Pizzolato, known for its organic and bio wines. Guests and speakers — including Brunello Cucinelli, Tod’s chairman Diego Della Valle, Stefano Canali, Zegna’s artistic director Alessandro Sartori, Golden Goose chief executive officer Silvio Campara, Tom Ford Fashion CEO Lelio Gavazza, Caruso CEO Marco Angeloni, Marcolin CEO Fabrizio Curci , Stone Island CEO Robert Triefus, Aspesi CEO Alberto Camerlengo, Florence CEO Attila Kiss, 10 Corso Como owner Tiziana Fausti and CEO Gianluca Borghi, Cova’s CEO Paola Faccioli, Rossana Orlandi and Veronica Etro, among others — were game to pose for photos on the step-and-repeat carpet and enjoy a performance by the dance company Laccioland studio.
Later, in the next room, guests took their seats at candlelit round tables adorned with red anthurium, or flamingo flowers, courtesy of Fleur Milano, dotted by bottles of Galateo & Friends olive oil designed by American artist Burton Morris.
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Amanda Smith, chief executive officer of Fairchild Media Group, greeted the room alongside Marco Bonaldo, founder of Galateo & Friends, and Alessandro Maria Ferreri, owner and CEO of The Style Gate.
“Tonight we are celebrating the powerful union between luxury and hospitality; as a concept it’s not exactly new but it’s more important and more powerful than ever before. It’s an extension of your brand’s vision and attracts guests and brings the word to you,” Smith said, highlighting the importance of the event.
“Brands around the world are partnering with architects and designers and creating exceptional spaces for high-tech hospitality is key, and this is what we are going to talk about tonight,” she continued.
“It’s a great pleasure to welcome you to this evening, celebrating two of the greatest Made in Italy excellence, food and fashion,” said Bonaldo. “Two very different worlds, yet united by the same passion for quality and creativity, for beauty,” he commented.
“This evening reminds us of the powerful dialogue between fashion and food, two worlds that share the same obsession for creativity, quality and experience,” added Ferreri.
The dinner began with beef carpaccio with truffle served with crisp phyllo by Crazy Pizza followed by tortelli filled with cheese and black pepper offered by Giacomo Milano. The second course by 10 Corso Como featured a slow-braised beef with Saba wine reduction and pumpkin purèe infused with cardamom. Guests were served Katkoot white wine as well as Cucinelli’s red wine.
Da Vittorio treated guests to a leavened cake featuring orange zest, dark chocolate chips, and acacia honey. As the restaurant staff passed by, they filled small, crisp puff pastry shells with custard cream.
As the event came to a close, the sponsors presented guests with gifts, including beauty products from Kiko Milano, a panettone from Cova, a decorative plate from Crazy Pizza, a curated box from Makadamia, and a book on Leonardo da Vinci’s influence on fashion and style, published by Istituto Marangoni.
In a post shared on Instagram, Cucinelli stated “It was a truly delightful evening, marked by a gracious exchange of thoughts on the many affinities between the worlds of cuisine, fashion and hospitality, as well as on a contemporary lifestyle.”
