Pestomania!

100 contestants will be taking part in the world pesto-making championship in Genoa this weekend.

18:00 14 April 2016

Roberto Panizza is one of the organisers of world pesto-making championship held in the Italian city of Genoa. First held in 2007 and every two years since 2008, its goal is to relive traditions and “very widespread memories.”

 

Panizza, who still uses mortar in making his pesto, said: "When I started, it was revolutionary to make pesto with a mortar. I've seen old people with tears in their eyes watching me make pesto. They would look at me and say, 'You took me back to when I was a little child.'"

 

He added that in the olden days, Genoese boys and girls, spend their time making pesto with their grandparents.

 

"The child could play at making pesto because he couldn't hurt himself, there are no knives and no flames. You put him there and he mashes in the mortar and helps you. This really is a very widespread memory - loads of people have told me. This Genoese love of pesto, apart from the fact that it tastes good, is that it takes them back to being children."

 

To keep the tradition alive, he set up the Palatifini Association with a group of like-minded friends and later on, decided to launch a contest to find the best pesto maker in the world. It proved to be successful with participants coming from all over Italy and abroad.