11th September 2017
HGEM Founding Director Sally Whelan visited Mercato Metropolitano, described as 'a vibrant space where everyone shares the same passion for food and social relationships', for the latest Arena event. Attendees heard from founder Andrea Rasca and enjoyed a guided tour of the Prezzemolo, Enoteca, Food Halls and Community Cookery Kitchen, conducted by Andrea and his team. Sally shared her takeaways from the event:
- The ethos of Mercato Metropolitano is to identify unloved, under invested areas in cities and create an environment that can bring both food and friendship to the whole community. The 2,400-capacity venue is both an incubator for innovation and an opportunity for artisan food producers to showcase their products.
- Cookery classes for children are hosted at the weekend, offering the chance to develop cooking skills and learn about great ingredients. Proceeds from the sale of the food are donated to local charities.
- Not just a varied and delicious food offering, Mercato Metropolitano is an environment that encourages sociability. From the shared tables to the cinema, it has a wide-ranging appeal and caters for all.
- The long-term vision of the project is to create a circular economy with zero waste. Steps to achieve this are already in operation, such as using coffee grinds for the farming of mushrooms, the implementation of an innovative water system and the trialling of hydroponics.
- As the venue approaches its 1st birthday - to be celebrated with a sustainable food event - the man behind the vision, Andrea Rasca, announced plans to create 10 more sites around the world in the next few years.
