MasterChef Italia, which is the Italian version of the popular culinary talent show MasterChef, chose the Gulf of Poets – and particularly Portovenere – for an episode of its fifth season.
The opening scenes showed breathtaking views of Portovenere’s colorful harbor, St. Peter Church and the pristine nature surrounding the bay and Palmaria Island. A brief introduction explained how this territory has inspired poets and artists for centuries.
Next, the famous Italian professional chefs Bruno Barbieri, Carlo Cracco and Antonino Cannavacciuolo, accompanied by restaurateur extraordinaire Joe Bastianich (also a judge in MasterChef USA), briefed the contestants on their culinary challenge.
The amateur chefs had to cook creative dishes using typical local products – including the “muscoli” mussels that are farmed in the waters of Portovenere. The participants also had the chance to meet with local fishermen and hunters, and to learn about their century-old traditions. Other local products included the batti batti (a species of slipper lobster), the gallinella (tub gurnard) and the rabbit.
The cooking show took place in the piazza at the bottom of the flight of steps that leads up to St. Peter’s Church, with an amazing background alternating nature, sea and ancient buildings.
Enjoy the photogallery! (Photo Credits: masterchef.sky.it)
