Prosciutto di Carpegna PDO gets Brisbane spotlight at OTTO dinner

More than 100 journalists, creators and food leaders gathered at OTTO Brisbane for a dinner promoting Prosciutto di Carpegna PDO and the EU-funded Gem Ham campaign. The event showcased the Italian cured ham’s origin, PDO certification and versatility in dishes ranging from focaccia service to saltimbocca.

Why it matters: - Prosciutto di Carpegna PDO is being positioned in Australia as a premium European cured ham with a clear origin story and protected certification. - The Brisbane dinner was designed to build awareness of PDO and PGI foods, which signal regional heritage, traditional production and quality controls. - Australia is an important market for premium European products with strong identity and certification.

What happened: - More than 100 guests gathered last Monday at OTTO Brisbane for an exclusive dinner focused on Prosciutto di Carpegna PDO. - The room included journalists, food writers, content creators, influencers and opinion leaders. - The event was part of “The EU Gem Ham: Prosciutto di Carpegna PDO,” a campaign co-funded by the European Union and promoted by the Consorzio Prosciutto di Carpegna PDO. - Cristian Tassoni, the Consorzio’s representative for the Australian market, introduced the product’s origin in the Marche region and its traditional production method. - Chef Andrea Vignali, Australian brand ambassador for the campaign, opened the dinner by hand-slicing the ham and serving it plain.

The details: - Guests tasted Prosciutto di Carpegna PDO in its simplest form first, highlighting its soft texture, delicate sweetness and aromatic notes. - Chef Andrea Vignali and OTTO Brisbane created a menu built to show the ham’s range across starters, first courses and main dishes. - The menu paired the ham with house focaccia and Aceto Balsamico di Modena. - Another course matched Prosciutto di Carpegna PDO with Provolone Valpadana PDO in gnocco fritto. - The dinner also used the ham with Queensland asparagus, Parmigiano Reggiano fondue and Acquerello risotto. - The meal ended with Saltimbocca alla Romana, where the ham was served with veal and sage. - The product was presented as sweet, slightly spicy and soft in texture. - The Consorzio says Prosciutto di Carpegna PDO is produced only in the municipality of Carpegna in Italy’s Marche region under strict rules and a slow curing process. - The PDO label guarantees origin, authenticity and compliance with the protected traditional method. - The EU Gem Ham campaign is co-financed by the European Union and aims to increase awareness of EU foods with PDO and PGI status. - The campaign describes those labels as symbols of guaranteed quality, regional heritage and artisanal craftsmanship. - More information is available on the official project website and on Instagram @consorzio_carpegna.

Between the lines: - The dinner was not just a tasting. It was a brand-building exercise aimed at showing the ham as both a standalone product and a kitchen ingredient. - The emphasis on hand-slicing, provenance and certification reflects a broader push to make protected European foods more legible to Australian media and consumers. - The menu strategy suggests the campaign wants chefs and diners to see PDO products as flexible, not niche. - Guest feedback was described as enthusiastic, especially around origin, craftsmanship and PDO certification.

What's next: - The campaign will continue using media, chef-led events and digital channels to raise awareness of Prosciutto di Carpegna PDO. - The Consorzio is likely to keep leaning on Australia as a key export and education market for premium European foods. - The project website and social channels will serve as the main reference points for additional campaign information and product details.