The Italian Ambassador to the United States kicked off the annual Settimana della Cucina Italiana nel Mondo (Week of Italian Cuisine in the World) in Washington, DC, with a dinner starring Chef Giancarlo Morelli last week with bipartisan dinner guests from the nation’s capital.
Italy’s Ambassador to the U.S. Mariangela Zappia opened the dinner with some prepared remarks, “Italian cuisine is not just food or a recipe book, but a set of social practices, habits, and gestures: it is a central element of our identity and for this reason, we promote the candidacy of Italian cuisine as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. But promoting Italian cuisine also means supporting Italian restaurateurs, operators in the sector, and our agri-food companies, which export products worth more than 7 billion dollars a year to the USA, as well as our tourism industry.”
Over 50 events are organized nationwide to celebrate the “Week of Italian Cuisine in the World” promoted by the Italian government’s network of embassies, consulates and ICE – Italian Trade Agency offices abroad to promote quality Italian cuisine and agri-food products. Here are some events in the U.S. to celebrate the Italian Cuisine Week in the World. The official week is celebrated between November 18-22, although there were events across the country a few days before and there will be programs after the official scheduled cultural program.
NOVEMBER 18TH
- LOS ANGELES – Discover Italy in a panino with Alessandro Frassica and Nancy Silverton – Inaugural event of the ninth edition of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World in Los Angeles. Cooking show by Chefs Alessandro Frassica and Nancy Silverton on the preparation of Italian gourmet sandwiches, which promote regional excellence in the food and wine sector.
NOVEMBER 19TH
- LOS ANGELES – Sicily and beyond, a B2B event reserved for operators in the food and wine sector and the media and dedicated to Sicily as a destination of excellence for hospitality and culinary traditions. Participants will have the opportunity to come into direct contact with the main food and wine producers from Sicily and other regions of southern Italy. ENIT will give a presentation on Sicily and in particular on the area of Agrigento, the 2025 Italian Capital of Culture.
NOVEMBER 20TH
- LOS ANGELES – Malibu – Mediterranean Diet and Root Cuisine: Focus On The Use And Health Benefits Of Olive Oil And Italian Balsamic Vinegar. Round table focused on the use in Italian cuisine and the health benefits of two excellent Made in Italy products: olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The panel will be preceded by a tasting of typical Italian products, enhanced by olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
NOVEMBER 21ST
- LOS ANGELES – Santa Ana, Orange County – Italian Gourmet Evening in Orange County: show cooking and tasting. Chef Alessandro Frassica of “Ino Panino” will present the art of preparing Italian gourmet sandwiches, while guests can enjoy an Italian-style apéritif. Piedmontese desserts will follow.
NOVEMBER 22ND
- LOS ANGELES – Closing Evening by Accademia Italiana della Cucina. Four-course dinner focused on the Mediterranean diet and Italian culinary roots. The program also includes the presentation of the book “The Garrubbo Guide” by Edwin Garrubbo, a New York lawyer passionate about Italy, who wants to raise awareness among American readers about the importance of a healthy diet by exploring Italian cuisine.
- SAN FRANCISCO – 5th edition of the Carol Field Award. To honor Carol Field for promoting Italian cuisine and culture on the West Coast of the United States, the Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco, in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute and the Italian Academy of Cuisine (San Francisco), will organize the fifth edition of the “Carol Field Award for Italian Culture and Cuisine.” The goal of the award, given during Italian Cuisine Week in the United States, is to increase awareness on the West Coast of the benefits of Italian culture, the Mediterranean Diet, and unique Italian food products.