In the picture H.E Mrs. Brândusa Predescu, the Ambassador of Romania, H.E. Mr. András Kocsis, the Ambassador of Hungary, H.E. Mr. Jens-Otto Horslund, the Ambassador of Denmark, H.E. Mr. Nicolas Plexidas, the Ambassador of Greece, the co-host H.E. Mr. Andrea Perugini and H.E. Mr. Heinz Walker-Nederkoorn, the Ambassador of Switzerland.
Text and pictures by Naldo Peverelli.
He has only been ambassador to the Netherlands for Greece for two weeks, nevertheless, H.E. Mr. Nicolas Plexidas attended the Italian Charity Cooking Contest at the European Space Agency (ESA-ESTEC) in Noordwijk as one of his first official activities in the Netherlands.
At the event which was hosted by Mr. Franco Ongaro, Director of Technology, Engineering and Quality at ESA-ESTEC and the Ambassador of Italy, H.E. Mr. Andrea Perugini, during the Italian Gastronomy Week, H.E. Ambassador Plexidas won the first prize for his extraordinary moussaka!
He prepared his dish in a very friendly and relaxed atmosphere with his cooking colleagues, H.E. Mr. András Kocsis, the Ambassador of Hungary, together with H.E. Mr. Jens-Otto Horslund, the Ambassador of Denmark, H.E. Mrs. Brândusa Predescu, the Ambassador of Romania, H.E. Mr. Heinz Walker-Nederkoorn, the Ambassador of Switzerland as well as with the co-host H.E. Mr. Andrea Perugini.
Dressed for the occasion they were judged by the Chairman of the Jury Mr. Rajiv Mehra, the famous Dutch (Michelin star), Chef Marcel van Lier, from the Netherlands, cooking teacher Gisella Vandoni, from Italy, culinary journalist Marina Vizzinisi, Telegraaf chief editor, Willem Kool, from the Netherlands and of course Mr. Franco Ongaro, from Italy.
The Ambassador Mr. Perugini asked a number of his colleagues to participate in the gastronomy contest, however, only the bravest dared to actively take part, and enter the beautiful kitchen of ESA with ingredients specifically picked for the preparation of their dishes.
All of the guests present at the evening event enjoyed the courses, which they could see being prepared in the kitchen via a closed loop video system on several TV screens placed in the restaurant!
After finishing their dishes, the ambassadors presented them to the judges, who noted that they indeed tried to give it an Italian touch! This was of course very much appreciated by the Ambassador of Italy, Mr. Andrea Perugini.
What is more, the evening programme had a noble cause, as all of the proceeds from this event were subsequently donated to ESA Humanitarian Relief Fund.
