Authentic Italian Table
ROBERTO D'ANNA
A Culinary Journey from Sicily to Brisbane
From the sun-drenched shores of Balestrate, a charming coastal village near Palermo, comes Roberto, a culinary artist whose passion for authentic Italian cuisine has taken him on an extraordinary journey across three countries and two decades.
Roberto's story begins at Milan's prestigious Istituto Alberghiero C. Porta, where he honed his craft among Italy's finest culinary minds. But his appetite for excellence couldn't be contained by borders. His talents soon carried him across Europe, where he perfected his skills in the bustling kitchens of France, the vibrant markets of Spain, and the traditional trattorias of Italy.
In 2014, Roberto brought his authentic Sicilian heritage and European expertise to Brisbane, where the city's discerning Italian dining scene embraced him with open arms. Today, he's not just a Chef, he's an ambassador of Italian culinary tradition, proudly serving as Queensland Coordinator for the Federazione Italiana Cuochi Australian Delegation.
Masterclass: 2.30pm
Masterclasses held in Pavilion 8
ANDREAS LACHMANN & PATRICIA EMANUEL
Travel to a kitchen in ancient Rome - making gnocchi without potatoes!
MAKING BUFFALO MOZZARELLA
Masterclasses:
12.00pm; 1.30pm; 3.30pm
ALESSANDRO
MOTTA
The Accidental Artisan: Alessandro's Cheese Odyssey
In the cobblestone shadows of Rome, young Alessandro Motta's lactose-intolerant belly led him away from conventional milk toward the earthy richness of goat's milk and the sublime pleasure of authentic buffalo mozzarella.
Word has spread through Brisbane's food underground, his fingers shape not just buffalo mozzarella, but the silky luxury of burrata and the delicate sweetness of fior di latte—each cheese a love letter to his Roman roots.
Today, Brisbane's finest restaurants and delis showcase Alessandro's creations, proof that a lactose-intolerant toddler from Rome could become Queensland's unlikely cheese whisperer.
