“We want to make sure the American family knows Italian products are the most natural and sustainable products because that’s the only way we know how to produce,” Gianfranco Sorrentino, President of Gruppo Italiano tells ItalianFood.net. Sorrentino, who has over 30 years of experience in the restaurant management business, shared highlights and the purpose of the successful lunch his nonprofit organized.
The luncheon took place on Monday, November 15 at Il Gattopardo, one of New York City’s finest, acclaimed Italian eateries. In attendance were the Italian Consul General in New York and industry leaders of the Italian food import sector. Il Gattopardo’s Chef, Vito Gnazzo, prepared a menu including organic fregula Sarda with asparagus tips with scallops and lightly breaded swordfish with caponata. Tradizione Import provided the wine pouring the Roero Arneis Daivej 2020 Del Tetto and Suber 2013 Daino.
The menu also included “Il Tagliere Italiano” cheese & salumi board. Other cities across the US that were also hosting events to promote Italian Cuisine Week also served the cheese & salumi board. According to the Gruppo Italiano, there were about 120,000 Italian restaurants including pizzerias in the United States prior to the pandemic. Today, there are about 98,000 Italian restaurants operating, resulting in 22,000 restaurants being closed. Sorrentino tells Italianfood.net, “We need to promote Italian cuisine and the quality of products.” Italian cuisine is healthy and simple. He added, “What you eat is what you are”.
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The Gruppo Italiano is a nonprofit organization that works to promote authentic Italian products and culinary culture through education, restaurants, producers, importers, and distributors.