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On Wednesday, November 15, 2023, the third edition of Dawn to Earth took place, with the Swiss chef being honored at the Culinary Academy of Alba, during a talk that engaged young aspiring chefs.
A winning format doesn’t change: once again this year, for its third edition, the International Alba White Truffle Fair presented the “Dawn to Earth” award, a workshop dedicated to culinary sustainability, launched in 2020 during the same fair. The goal of the project is to draw an imaginary line connecting the Langhe, Monferrato, and Roero territories to the rest of the world, identifying ethically-driven projects on a global scale—not only in terms of food, but also biodiversity, high finance, and ICT.
Thus, cuisine and sustainability are right at home in Alba: gastronomic curator Paolo Vizzari, with the support of the Fair, continues this project to give visibility to those who promote healthy eating without overlooking the crucial issue of environmental respect and sustainability. With Dawn to Earth, the International Alba White Truffle Fair honors individuals who have distinguished themselves in the field of environmental and social sustainability—true game changers capable of capturing public interest through specific actions aimed at transforming our relationship with the environment.
South Tyrolean chef Norbert Niederkofler, the first to receive the award (2021), has long championed a cuisine that highlights the unique characteristics of the territory—in his case, the Dolomite mountains—adapting his dishes to the seasonality of ingredients. His is not an easy challenge, but rather a shared journey that also brings farmers and producers closer to the world of taste. A holistic approach to sustainability, starting from the land and reaching the restaurant.
Chiara Pavan and Francesco Brutto of the Venissa Restaurant in Mazzorbo were the second recipients, in 2022. Their cuisine, also known as “environmental cuisine,” tells a story that captures the lagoon landscape and its flavors, while also being mindful of the environment. After them, this year it was the turn of chef Andreas Caminada.
Swiss-born in 1977, Caminada grew up in the town of Sagogn in the canton of Graubünden, beginning his training at the Hotel Signina in nearby Laax, where he completed a culinary apprenticeship. From there, he worked his way across Europe, eventually realizing his lifelong dream by opening the Hotel Restaurant Schloss Schauenstein in Fürstenau, Switzerland—awarded 3 Michelin Stars, 1 Green Star, and 19 Gault Millau points. Recognized as one of the world’s top chefs, he has published several books and, in 2023, served as a judge on the television show “MasterChef Schweiz.”
Caminada was welcomed on the morning of Wednesday, November 15, at the Culinary Academy of Alba, where he was honored during the third edition of the award. He was greeted by the Academy’s young students, as well as by the president of the Alba Fair Authority, Liliana Allena, director Stefano Mosca, and the award’s curator, Paolo Vizzari.