Paralympics 2016: Chef Rubio lands in Brazil to break barriers gathering together his Italian background to mix with o sabor brasileiro

September 6th til 17th, 2016 – RIO

August 2016

With a menu full of surprises and no limits for contents here are just a few hints of what Chef Rubio will be doing at Casa Italia during the Paralympic Games in Rio: the best regional Italian specialities made with fresh ingredients from Rio’s local food markets, weekly Q&A sessions and mini videos on Twitter; at Gazzetta dello Sport, most read sport daily newspaper, he will run a web special feature called Rubrioca as well as a photo reportage for the printed version with spontaneos clicks throughout his journey in Brazil.

Rubio is widely famous for his cult Italian tv show about street-food called ‘Unti e Bisunti’, aired in Italy in 2013 for the first time and now distributed over 80 countries by Discovery Networks. He was born in Frascati, just outside Rome. He is an ex rugby player. Today he is the very eccletic Chef Rubio, that never gets tired of travelling and is also a great star of the social media world.
Thanks to his constant commitment with social activities, the Italian Paralympic Committee designated Rubio as Casa Italia’s chef during the Paralympic Games.
His social task is to break barriers by promoting the idea of a “good cookery” as a way of nutrition to be served in all categories. “At the table as much as in life there should be no barriers. We all feed ourselves from the same form of satisfaction”. Without distinction of background, shape or gender.
His audience also praise a lot “Sign of Language”, the web-series of recipe videos spoken in sign language, produced by Chef Rubio himself available on www.chefrubio.it

The stoves of Casa Italia will be lit at Imaculada Conceição Parish, right at the heart of Rocinha shanty town, famously know for being the biggest one in Brazil, between the 6th and 17th of September.

His idea of social integration between people and cultures is to take them on a food ride around Italian traditional dishes such as: “pasta alla Norma”, “riso patate e cozze”, “parmigiana”, cacio e pepe”, “zuppa di pesce”, “lasagna”, “pesto”, “cotoletta alla milanese”, which will all be prepared with local, fresh ingredients from farmers markets in Rio de Janeiro. A total of 12 dinners for 150 people will be cooked and lunch is upon requests. To all Italian disabled athletes daily meals will be prepared and served fulfilling all diet requests and needs.

Chef Rubio will count with the help of Executive Chef Fernanda Longo and mixologist Edgardo Fontana with whom will also be presenting in exclusive preview a new project called “Miniatures”. A mini tasting of dishes that will be served at the beginning and conclusion of each dinner event. “Small bites of tastes put together to match in a complementary enhacement of all tradition, touch and sensibility bringing back to those tasting the idea of a new kitchen concept: all in one sip & bite.

Promoted by the Italian Paralympic Comitee, #joinus4rio2016 is a social concept that is based on gatherings and inclusion. That is why Chef Rubio with Casa Italia will be sharing with the public all the experience lived during the paralympic games thoughout their social media channels as well as printed communications. All funds will be in favor of Imaculada Conceição and São Geraldo Parishes.

Twitter, being Rubio’s official media partner, has given him two app as tools to help his media work: Challanger e Q&A.

With Challenger, Rubio will record a 30 second video every morning to post on Twitter, so to create his own digital diary and daily postcards from Rio to his followers. All at his official account @Rubio_chef. With Q&A app, using the hashtag #AskChefRubRio2016, once a week he will have a live chat with video with his followers where they will be able to ask questions regarding his experience in Rio and his work.

At Gazzetta dello Sport (www.gazzetta.it) website Rubio will feature on his column called Rubrioca, a daily appoinment lasting 2 minutes live from Casa Italia together with Gianluca Pasini, the famous pink newspaper Editor, sharing all the news, gossips and backstage information with all viewers.
For the printing edition Chef Rubio will have the opportunity to work with his passion for photography and do a photo reportage with all the special moments lived during his adventure in Rio.