The two pioneering events organized by the Municipality of Thessaloniki successfully concluded, bridging culinary tradition with the principles of sustainable development, recycling, and the “No-Waste” philosophy. At the heart of the events was the collaboration between Thessaloniki and the Italian city of Bergamo (members of the UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy Network).
- Wine & Culinary Dialogues at the Urban Vineyard
The first event took place at the Urban Vineyard of the Municipality of Thessaloniki. In an atmospheric outdoor setting, Thessaloniki’s Chef Ambassadors, Giannis Katsantonis , Sofia Teftsi and the pastry chef Alexandros Alexiou, alongside the guest chef from Bergamo Morris Sigismondi, performed live cooking demonstrations centered around wine. Attendees had the opportunity to taste creative food pairings inspired by the local wine of the urban vineyard as well as fine Italian wines from the Bergamo region, showcasing the cultural and gastronomic richness of both destinations.
- Live No-Waste Cooking Workshop & Recycling at City Hall
The second event was held in the courtyard of Thessaloniki City Hall, focusing on the circular economy and food waste reduction (Zero / No-Waste). The chefs from the two cities hosted an interactive cooking workshop, demonstrating how ingredients can be fully utilized without leaving leftovers.
In parallel, the initiative actively promoted environmental awareness through key activities:
- Recycling Cookware: Citizens were invited to bring old metal cookware for recycling.
- Cooking Oil Collection: An informational campaign and collection drive for used cooking oil were conducted to help protect the environment.
- Raffle & Giveaways: To reward participating citizens, a raffle was held featuring eco-friendly cookware from Nava company as prizes.
The Municipality of Thessaloniki warmly thanks the delegation from Bergamo, the Chef Ambassadors, and all citizens who embraced these recycling and gastronomy initiatives.
Municipality of Thessaloniki & UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy Network
