Il May 24, 2026 Lugano will enter the international circuit of contemporary gastronomy with the first edition of THE GLOBAL TABLE LUGANO, an initiative sponsored by The Best Chef, a global platform known for its work promoting haute cuisine and new visions in the sector.
The event will take place at LAC Lugano Art and Culture It will offer a day entirely dedicated to meetings between professionals, creatives, producers, and enthusiasts from the world of food. The organizers' stated goal is to create a forum for international discussion, bringing together diverse experiences, cultures, and territories through the language of food.
According to Joanna Slusarczyk and Cristian Gadau of The Best Chef, the event represents "an important opportunity to explore cuisine as a universal language, capable of uniting cultures, regions, and people." This approach aims to understand gastronomy not only as a technical expression, but also as a cultural and social phenomenon.
Lugano chosen as an international crossroads
The choice to host the event in Ticino is no coincidence. The organizers emphasize Lugano's cosmopolitan character and its strategic position between different worlds and sensibilities. In this context, THE GLOBAL TABLE LUGANO aims to transform the city into an international hub dedicated to contemporary haute cuisine and the themes that permeate the sector: sustainability, identity, innovation, and regional development.
The project was born with the intention of fostering authentic connections between professionals from various countries, creating opportunities for dialogue and exchange. Cuisine is interpreted as a tool for cultural interaction and a common ground on which to develop new ideas and collaborations.
The organizers also intend to give space to an increasingly broad and diverse profile of the chef: not just a gastronomic interpreter, but also a cultural promoter, a narrator of the local area, and a key figure in contemporary creative processes.
Masterclass between technique and gastronomic identity
The heart of the day will be the masterclasses, scheduled from 9:30 am to 16:45 pm. Five chefs will guide the audience through live demonstrations, technical insights, and opportunities for direct discussion.
Among the announced protagonists are:
- Marco Campanella
- Happy Lo Basso
- Francesco Dibenedetto
- Nino Ferreri
- Niki Pavanelli
The program was designed to combine educational content with moments of inspiration, with particular attention to culinary innovation and the relationship between technique and gastronomic identity.
A talk dedicated to the human side of the profession
From 17:15 to 18:00 PM, there will be a talk moderated by Joanna Slusarczyk and Cristian Gadau. The event will focus on the personal journeys of the chefs involved, recounting their sacrifices, personal quest, and professional passion.
The discussion will focus on the values that guide the daily work of signature kitchens: attention to raw materials, respect for the customer, and the ability to innovate without losing touch with tradition.
The organizers describe this moment as a collective reflection on the contemporary meaning of the chef's profession, today called upon to confront increasingly complex expectations and a growing focus on environmental and cultural responsibilities.
Dinner party with twenty protagonists of international cuisine
The day will conclude at 19:30 PM with a dinner party bringing together twenty leading figures from the international food scene. This format is designed to foster meetings and networking among professionals from diverse backgrounds.
From Ticino the following will participate:
- Felix Lo Basso Restaurant with Felice Lo Basso
- The Two Souths with Marco Veneruso
- Meta with Arturo Fragnito
- Osteria del Centro with Piero Roncoroni
- Osteria dell'Enoteca with Jacopo Rovetini
From abroad the following will arrive:
- The White Room with Tristan de Boer
- Aimo and Nadia with Alessandro Negrini and Fabio Pisani
- Abba with Fabio Abbattista
- Gong Oriental Attitude with Guglielmo Paolucci
- Villa Naj with Dario Fisichella
- Serene at the Lake with Raffaele Lenzi
- At the Padovanino with Stefano Mocellin
- Ineo Restaurant with Heros De Agostinis
- Idylio by Apreda at The Pantheon Iconic Hotel with Francesco Apreda
- Limu Restaurant with Nino Ferreri
- Saccharum with Gioacchino Gargano
Among the announced guests there is also the bartender Domenico Lombardi.
Information and tickets
Access to the masterclasses costs 90 francs, while the dinner party will cost 125 francs. The afternoon talk will be free upon reservation, subject to availability.
Complete information and pass purchase are available on the official website:
THE GLOBAL TABLE LUGANO – information and tickets
