Prato, 2nd year of the "Artisans in the Classroom, Teach Me a Trade" Project

On May 7th, at the Datini Hotel and Catering Institute in Prato, we celebrated the conclusion of the second year of the project Artisans in the Classroom, Teach Me a Trade. A dinner event organized by the school's teachers and students, open to everyone. The proceeds from the dinner will be used to purchase kitchen and pastry equipment.

This year too, 17 artisans of the Pratese bread and pastry tradition — bakers, pasta makers, biscuit makers and pastry chefs — volunteered their time to run 28 workshops across various classes, covering both pastry and cooking.

These artisans are part of our city's heritage — and of our country's — since last December the entire Italian cuisine was recognised as an UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
But what is heritage worth, if we don't work to preserve it, to pass it on?
That is the purpose of this project: to build a direct relationship between the local artisan community and the students of the hospitality school. During the event, it was wonderful to see the students at work — both in the kitchens and in the dining room.

The dinner was accompanied by a projected slideshow — a montage of photos and short videos from the various workshops held across the classes: those from last year, joined by this year's new ones.

We deliberately kept the footage from the first year, because among the pastry chefs was Alessio Guastini: a remarkably talented young pastry chef who left us last August, at just 45 years old. I met him through this very project, and he joined with extraordinary enthusiasm.
Exactly one year ago, at that same end-of-year dinner, during a quiet moment between courses, he turned to me and asked: "Letizia, will the project continue next year?" Of course, I told him. We are here, Alessio. And we will keep going. As long as there are people like you — who turn their craft into Art, and who give their experience as a gift to others.

This is the secret that makes a tradition immortal — our tradition, that of the Pratese bread and pastry craft, and by extension, those who are its makers. At the end of the dinner, participation certificates were presented to the various classes. Each artisan received a certificate of thanks.

To Alessio Guastini's family, a plaque with a special dedication: "To Alessio Guastini, for the love and talent brought to the Art of Pastry, for the dedication given to it, for the example shared — with infinite gratitude." Istituto F. Datini and fellow Artisans.

A heartfelt thank you to the Istituto Tecnico Datini, to headteacher Francesca Zannoni, and to all the teachers who welcomed us into their kitchens. A special thank you to the artisans, and of course to all the students who worked so hard to bring this final dinner and event to life. Until next year!

Letizia Pandolfini