Norton St Festa brings cooking stars to Little Italy

Leichhardt’s Norton Street Festa will return for its 28th year on Sunday, October 26. Over a kilometre of Norton Street Leichhardt will be blocked off to traffic and filled instead with stalls, entertainment and activities. Organisers estimate the festival attracts over 100,000 visitors each year.

This year, one of the highlights of the festival will be the Italian cooking stage. The stage will feature cooking lessons for lovers of Italian food from 10am-5pm. The stage will also feature stars of the cooking world, including Luke and Scott of My Kitchen Rules.

Local chefs Paolo Gatto and Christian Colognesi will cook regional dishes for the audience. Silvia Colloca from Made in Italy on SBS and Pina Pacialeo of “Pina Cucina” will also cook their signature dishes.

The festival will also feature Luca Ciano, Executive Chef at Barilla at founder of Casa Barilla cooking school.

“I was Born and raised in Milan by an amazing family from whom I inherited my passion for food and respect for people.  I started cooking with my Mum and Grandma when I was 8 years old, taking my first few steps with them in the direction of becoming a chef,” Mr Ciano said.

“In 2008 I joined Barilla Australia, where I developed and established the “Casa Barilla” cooking school, where I still offer regular hands-on cooking classes and demonstrations in Sydney. Based on regional Italian gastronomy, and showcasing the breadth of Italy’s cuisine, I have travelled with this concept around Australia, New Zealand and many Asian countries.”

Mr Ciano will be leading a cooking class on the day.

“This year will be a spectacular tasting treat for lovers of Italian food,” said Enzo Guarino, MC of the Festa cooking stage.

Norton Street Festa cooking stage, Norton Street, Leichhardt, 10am-5pm, Sunday October 26, ww.nortonstreetfesta.com.au