The best of Italian cuisine is being celebrated around the world this week in an effort backed by the government to promote the quality of Italian culinary tradition to global consumers who turn to food as a cultural and social experience.
BOTTURA, THE ITALIAN FOOD AMBASSADOR – In he US, the largest export market for Italian food overseas, celebrity chef Massimo Bottura was the guest star of an opening event on November 15 hosted by the Embassy of Italy in Washington DC. “After the Universal Exhibition in Milan, we had a long conversation with Agriculture Minister (Maurizio) Martina and we all agreed to get together and try to organize something to share our experience,” said Bottura, whose restaurant Osteria Francescana, in Modena, was named this year the world’s best restaurant in the “World’s 50 Best Restaurants” list.
FOOD IS IN THE ITALIAN DNA – “It’s time for sharing what we have with the world,” the chef said at the residence of Italian Ambassador Armando Varricchio. “The perception of Italian cuisine has changed. It’s no more about quantity but quality,” Bottura said, presenting recipes from his region, Emilia Romagna. “Emilia Romagna is called the food valley for a reason. We think that our DNA is about sitting around a table and eat, is our lifestyle,” he said. The ‘First Week of Italian Cuisine in the World’ initiative takes place from November 21-27 in 105 countries with an agenda of more than 1,300 events including contests, conferences, tastings, thematic dinners and exhibitions, the Foreign Ministry said.
IT’S ALL ABOUT QUALITY – “What Italy is all about is quality,” Ambassador Varricchio said. “The First Week of Italian Cuisine in the World is a window to what Italy has to offer, which is the riches of our great land, the diversity of our regions, and the quality of our food.” The initiative intends to spread the themes developed by Expo Milano 2015 and promote abroad the Brand Italy.