The annual Settimana della Cucina Italiana has arrived! To mark the 5th annual “Week of Italian Cuisine,” Italian consulates from across the US have planned exceptional events on the gastronomy and heritage of Italian food.
This year, the festival recognizes 200 years since the birth of Italy’s most renowned cookbook author, Pellegrino Artusi. Considered the inventor of Italian cuisine, his 19th-century work, “Science in the Kitchen and the Art of Eating Well,” remains a go-to recipe book in Italian households. In honor of Artusi, this year's virtual programs celebrate the World Week of Italian Cuisine by elevating Italian cooking, eating, and nutrition like never before.
Here's your guide for tuning in! (Helpful tip: make sure to check the time zones for each event!)
In Los Angeles, the Italian consulate launched events all week, involving Eataly LA and food writer Ale Bambini. Check out “DiscoveryItalyinLA,” a new mapping project that locates Italian restaurants across the city, and stop by Eataly LA, for food displays inspired by the movies of Federico Fellini, the late Italian film director. Get ready for a two-day gelato festival competition on Nov 17-18, and fun workshops, including “No Ketchup on Spaghetti,” Ale Gambini's session on the do’s and don'ts of Italian cooking. For more information, visit the Italian consulate website.
In New York City, the Italian Chamber of Commerce partnered with several Italian restaurants to fashion special menus for the occasion. The growing list of Italian restaurants includes:
And don't miss a chance to learn about the impact of Italian cuisine on the food of the Big Apple. Italian food specialist and cookbook author, Katie Parla will inaugurate a special episode on GOLA, the Italian food podcast she hosts with Dr. Danielle Callegari.
In Miami, Michelin-starred Chef Christina Bowerman will hold a masterclass on risotto with five tomatoes and Grana Padano DOP. Register here, the class starts Nov. 19.
In DC, the consulate planned a series of round-table discussions in partnership with Netflix dedicated to the Mediterranean diet. It’s been 10 years since UNESCO recognized those foods as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and there’s much to discuss. They will also dive into contemporary Italian cuisine with celebrity chefs, like Master Chef Carlo Cracco, Massimo Bottura from Gucci Osteria, and others. For more details, go here.
And in Houston, the consulate general invited physicians, academics, and nutrition experts to discuss the health and wellness benefits of Mediterranean-style eating. The day-long event on Nov 19 will be saturated with great eating tips and self-care, take a look here.