This project is founded on the belief that approaching a new market requires an understanding of its people, culture and local habits. If the new market is China, it is a brand new world for western newcomers to discover. How can Lombardy’s exquisite food products fit into China’s well rooted and delicious cuisine?
The three sponsoring entities (Consortium for the Protection of Grana Padano Cheese, The Region of Lombardy, The Union of Lombard Chambers of Commerce) of the Crossroads project asked ICIF, International Culinary Institute for Foreigners, a worldwide cooking school present in Shanghai, to blend Lombardy’s food products together with local cooking practices.

The task of carrying out this ambitious project was assigned to Giancarlo Piccarreta, chief of ICIF Shanghai School and a reknown chef himself. Out of his experience and knowledge he selected 8 talented Chinese cooks, from different Regions of the Country, so as to have a representative sample of the main Chinese cooking currents. The team, briefed and coordinated by Giancarlo Piccarreta, worked for three months giving birth to 40 surprising and mouthwatering “fusion recipes” that make the best of Chinese tradition and Lombardy ingredients addition.

The “fusion recipes” are currently being tested with a large sample of Chinese consumers, cooks and trend setters. The first results are very encouraging and confirm that the Project is on the right path. The Crossroads project will soon become an official recipe book and will be officially presented through a press conference, followed by a tasting party.