Ticino gastronomy shone in São Paulo, Brazil, thanks to an event that marked the beginning of an extraordinary culinary adventure. The 2025 edition of S.Pellegrino Sapori Ticino was presented at the Swiss Consular Residence, under the hospitality of Consul Pierre Hagmann. This year, the festival, now an international reference, will be entirely dedicated to Brazil's vibrant gastronomic culture and will be held in the fall, promising to unite two distant worlds through the universal language of food.
The event was attended by key figures such as Fabien Clerc, Director of Switzerland Tourism Brazil, representatives of SWISS Brazil, and the valuable support of Lugano Region, UBS Brazil and Sanpellegrino Group. A crowd of journalists, influencers, tour operators and Brazilian personalities crowded the evening, demonstrating the enormous interest in a project that goes beyond simple tourism promotion.
Dany Stauffacher's vision: Ticino gastronomy as a tool for dialogue
Dany Stauffacher, CEO of S.Pellegrino Flavours Ticino, did not hide his enthusiasm for this very special edition: “I am happy to have brought a bit of Ticino to Brazil,” he said. Relations between Switzerland and Brazil are historic and deep, with Brazil being Switzerland’s main economic partner in Latin America. This solid base offers significant opportunities to attract new tourist flows.
Stauffacher underlined how food and wine are the “beating heart of hospitality” and for this reason he committed to creating synergies between excellent cuisine, hotels, culture and landscape. Thanks also to the support of Ticino Turismo and of the Ascona-Locarno Tourist Board, in addition to all the Festival partners, this edition will further strengthen the link between Ticino gastronomy and tourism. An innovative aspect will be the prolonged stay of Brazilian chefs in Ticino starting from the end of September. This will allow them to fully immerse themselves in the local culture, becoming true ambassadors of the Ticino territory upon their return to Brazil.
Lugano Region: A Growing Market for Ticino Gastronomy
Massimo Boni, Director of Lugano Region, highlighted how this initiative represents a further opportunity to introduce Ticino to the Brazilian public. “We are determinedly continuing our activities in Brazil, which we consider a growing market opportunity,” Boni said, citing an 18,16% increase in overnight stays in 2024 compared to 2023.
Support for the S. Pellegrino Sapori Ticino Festival is a consolidated collaboration, and this year the partnership with Sapori Ticino and Switzerland Tourism in Brazil is particularly heartfelt. The goal is to create an event that gives maximum visibility to the destination Lugano. The expected Brazilian chefs are real stars in their country, boasting millions of followers on social media, a precious catchment area to reach even the segment of high-spending tourists.
A taste of fusion and culture
The evening in São Paulo was a true sensory triumph, offering a Brazilian-Swiss gastronomic fusion that delighted the palates of those present. The excellent wines of Ticino were not lacking, which accompanied the tasting, offering another window on local flavors. The atmosphere was enlivened by pleasant Brazilian music, performed by some members of the Banda dos Curumins, an educational project of the Casa dos Curumins. This non-profit association, founded in 2005 by the Swiss-Brazilian couple Alberto and Adriana Eisenhardt, bears witness to the profound intertwining of the two cultures.
Once again, Ticino gastronomy confirms itself as an ideal platform for communicating, developing cultural exchanges and breaking down borders. Starting at the end of September, six of the best Brazilian chefs will arrive in Ticino to bring their culinary art. The dinners will take place, as usual, in the most suggestive locations in Ticino, including iconic restaurants and hotels, with Ticino chefs welcoming their colleagues from overseas in an unforgettable relay of flavors and knowledge.
Pictures:
- In the cover photo, from left: Bruno Tenório – CEO of Pronto, agency for Lugano Region in Brazil in the Business to Business, media and social media segment, Pierre Hagmann – Consul of Switzerland in Sao Paulo, Dany Stauffacher, CEO Sapori Ticino and Fabien Clerc, Director of Switzerland Tourism Brazil;
- Dany Stauffacher, CEO Sapori Ticino with Melissa Vettore Finzi Pasca.
