The city of Lucca is gearing up to host a weekend dedicated to quality extra virgin olive oil. Introducing Lucca Olive Oil You, the flagship event showcasing excellent olive oil productions. On Saturday, February 1, and Sunday, February 2, the splendid spaces of the Real Collegio will come alive with this event.
It is part of Lucca 365, a project designed to promote the Lucchese territory throughout the year. The 2025 calendar features initiatives ranging from gastronomy to cinema, as well as art, music, and sporting events.
“Lucca Olive Oil You isn’t just a festival; it’s a cultural and economic challenge for our region,” emphasizes Remo Santini, Tourism Councilor of the Municipality of Lucca. “It’s an opportunity to promote Lucca’s culinary heritage and create a network for cultural and commercial exchange among all local stakeholders. Starting with extra virgin olive oil as an identity product of Lucchese tradition, capable of telling the world a story of quality, dedication, and passion.“
The heart of Tuscany through Olive Oil
Lucca Olive Oil You marks the beginning of this special year. Organized by Fausto Borella, founder of the Olive Oil Maestrod’Academy, this event aims to become a key gathering for producers, enthusiasts, and industry professionals. It celebrates extra virgin olive oil as an integral part of Lucchese history and a symbol of great Italian excellence.
Throughout the weekend, 33 of Italy’s finest producers will participate in the Extra Virgin Olive Oil Show-Market. They will offer tastings of 60 labels: best of local olive oil production, not only from Tuscany but from across the entire national olive-growing landscape. An opportunity for tasting and dialogue with producers, featuring a Mixology Space with bartender Mauro Picchi showcasing cocktails featuring EVO as the star.
“Lucca Olive Oil You is just the beginning of this exciting and ambitious journey,” highlights Fausto Borella, the event’s creator. “In this perspective, extra virgin olive oil, the soul and heart of this region, stands as one of the main drivers for promoting the city. We are thrilled to inaugurate the first edition of the Festival, a meeting point for producers, institutions, and industry professionals to celebrate the magnificent world of high-quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil.“
A full immersion into olive oil culture and taste awaits, with a diverse program combining tasting, information, and entertainment.
Saturday’s program
- 10:00 AM – Sala del Capitolo – Opening Ceremony
- 10:45 AM – Sala del Capitolo – Conference: “Extra Virgin Olive Oil: A Pillar of Health for All Ages” – Dr. Petersen, Penn State University
- 11:30 AM – Sala del Capitolo – Coffee Break with Master Chocolatier Domenico D’Affronto from Conca D’Oro
- 12:00 PM – Sala del Capitolo – Panel Discussion: “Integrating Olive Oil into the Modern Diet” – Dr. Petersen, Dr. Quadri Felitti, Dr. Farnetti
- 3:00 PM – Sala del Teatro – Opening of the Olive Oil Show-Market
- 4:00 PM – Sala lato cinta muraria – Pastry Showdown: “Olive Oil in Pastry” – Sandra Bianchi, Pasticceria Sandra & l’Angolo Dolce
- 5:00 PM – Sala lato cinta muraria – “The Art of Sashimi Meets Monocultivar Oils” – Chef Masaki Kuroda, NIDA Restaurant
- 6:00 PM – Sala lato cinta muraria – Masterclass: “Olive Oil: A Serious Matter” – Tasting of 10 EVO Oils with Maestrod’olio Fausto Borella
Sunday’s program
- 10:30 AM – Sala lato cinta muraria: “The Evolution of Extra Virgin Olive Oil in Cuisine: A New Concept for an Ancient Product”. Chef Fabrizio Girasoli, Ristorante Butterfly, Lucca
- 3:00 PM – Sala lato cinta muraria: “Variations of Pinot Nero: Italian Stories and Champagne” – Technical tasting of 5 classic methods in collaboration with Enoteca Vanni, Leonardo Taddei (Champagne Ambassador 2008). Moderated by Maestrod’olio Fausto Borella
- 5:00 PM – Sala lato cinta muraria : Show Cooking: “Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Connecting Generations of Great Tuscan Chefs”. Chefs Daniele and Andrea Zazzeri, La Pineta Restaurant, Bibbona
- 6:00 PM – Sala del Capitolo – Show Cooking: “From Garden to Table: Brassicas with Extra Virgin Olive Oil” . Giorgio Barchiesi, aka Giorgione, food critic and TV personality
More details here https://www.luccaoliveoilyou.com/en/
