La Cucina Italiana will be there in Rome, on Friday 18 November 2022, 12pm, to take part in the event hosted by the Italian Foreign Ministry for the seventh annual Week of Italian Cuisine in the World: “Convivialità, sostenibilità e innovazione: gli ingredienti della cucina italiana per la salute delle persone e la tutela del pianeta” (Conviviality, sustainability, and innovation: The ingredients of the Italian Cuisine for people’s health and the safeguard of the planet”).
“We are delighted and honored to be participating as media partner in this year’s Week of Italian Cuisine in the World. Our culinary heritage is a perfect representation of Italian identity, to the point that we can confidently say that Italian cuisine is Italy,” says Maddalena Fossati Dondero, Editor in Chief of La Cucina Italiana and moderator of this event.
The session will be opened by General Director for Promoting the Italian System Lorenzo Angeloni. Among the speakers will be Antonio Tajani, Vice President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Francesco Lollobrigida, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forest Policies, Orazio Schillaci, Minister of Health, Daniela Santanchè, Minister of Tourism, and Valentino Valentini, Undersecretary of State to the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy. Key players in the food industry will also take the floor: Federalimentare, Filiera Italia, FIPE, ICE, ENIT, and Slow Food; along with Michelin-starred restaurateur Alessandro Pipero, who will talk about bringing innovation to traditional Roman cuisine and being open to other culinary traditions, central themes to the Expo 2030 Rome candidacy.
Week of Italian Cuisine in the World 2022: over 1,000 initiatives and a “heroic” exhibition
The Week of Italian Cuisine in the World, now at its 7th edition, is a promotional initiative aimed at
showcasing the unique and top-quality features of the Italian wine and food sector, encouraging export, internationalization, and inbound tourism, through dedicated and targeted events in Italian Embassies, Consulates, Cultural Institutes, and ICE agencies.
Since 2016, Italian Embassies, Consulates, and Cultural Institutes have hosted over 8,000 initiatives in more than a hundred countries, ranging from seminars on the Mediterranean diet to talks with chefs and business partners, classes, and demonstrative lessons.
Among the thousand initiatives planned for this 2022 edition, the photo exhibition “Food heroes”, by Slow Food, showcases food sovereignty as seen in some exemplary production techniques of Italy and will touch many countries, as will the educational video on the specific identities of products and regions of Italy made by the University of Gastronomic Sciences of Pollenzo.
The upcoming conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will thus be an opportunity to discuss current and relevant topics such as clear food labeling and the Mediterranean diet for a healthy and sustainable lifestyle, as well as a chance to outline a systematic approach to such issues. The event will also be streaming live on Farnesina’s official YouTube channel.
What can you expect from this year’s Week of Italian Cuisine in the World?
Talks, cultural events, and dinners are hosted by Italian Embassies worldwide. Here is a taste of the many initiatives that will take place across the five continents in the next few days.
The People’s Republic of China is hosting an event for sustainability and UNESCO intangible cultural heritages, with a focus on Italian heritages such as the “Mediterranean diet” and “Truffle hunting and extraction”, delving deeper into “Food labelling - revision of rules on information provided to consumers.”
November 15, Italian Embassy in Beijing
In collaboration with local wine importers and featuring wine expert Ronny Lau, the Italian Trade Agency in Hong Kong is hosting a dinner, pairing Italian wines with traditional dishes from the Sichuan region. This is the third promotional event in which Italian wines have been paired with traditional cuisines from China.
November 15, Consulate General of Italy in Hong Kong
South Korea has been celebrating the beloved Alba white truffle. On November 13, Seoul welcomed the Knights of the Truffle of Alba for a dinner at the Conrad Hotel; Followed by a truffle auction, streaming live with the town of Alba.
In Myanmar, many prominent restaurants and bars in Yangon are offering special Italian menus to spread awareness of the many unique delicacies that can be found in Italy. Part of the proceeds will go to organizations tackling hunger and food insecurity in Myanmar.
In New York, the Permanent Mission of Italy to the UN is hosting a panel discussion on “Mediterranean Diet – Lifestyle for a Sustainable Future. A cultural asset, a strategic tool for Sustainable Development” in collaboration with the Mediterranean Diet Network and the support of the Future Food Institute.
“Innovation & Technology for Sustainable food production” is another event promoting good practices for the food industry on US soil.
In Germany, “Agri-Innovation for Sustainability” focuses on regenerative agriculture and the impact of new technologies on climate change.
November 15, Italian Embassy in Berlin
At the European Parliament in Brussels, an event addressed to non-Italian MEPs, associations and importers will cover the Mediterranean diet and food labeling, featuring Professor Roberto Capone of the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM).
November 16, European Parliament in Brussels
At the Italian Embassy in Bogotá, Italian food and wine reach the Colombian market, with the support of the main importers, distributors, Italian restaurateurs, and chefs taking part in a dedicated food fair, also open to the general public.
November 19, Italian Embassy in Bogotá