The series of events organized by the Italian Embassy in Washington to celebrate in the United States the 10th edition of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World (SCIM, Settimana della Cucina Italiana nel Mondo) came to an end yesterday with an exclusive dinner at Villa Firenze.
“Celebrating the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World here in the United States means helping to further raise awareness among the American public of Italy’s outstanding food and agricultural products and of the principles of the Mediterranean Diet ” commented the Italian Ambassador to the United States, Marco Peronaci. Recalling the words of Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tajani on the universality of the language of Italian cuisine, Peronaci emphasized that “Italian cuisine is a cultural language, a way of life, a heritage passed down from generation to generation; it tells the story of our land and our people, of the profound connections between food, environment, and community.”
The dinner hosted by the Ambassador at his residence featured culinary delicacies by Chefs Pasquale and Gaetano Torrente from the restaurant “Il Convento” located in the Salerno province, who collaborated with Chef Roberto Grazioli of Villa Firenze to create a special menu for the occasion. Invitees included distinguished guests such as Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, prominent members of the US Administration – including Deputy National Security Advisor Andrew Baker, Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Allison Hooker, and Undersecretary of Science Dario Gil – as well as Italian MP Deborah Bergamini and MEP Carlo Fidanza.
Yesterday’s event is only the latest of the many others organized by the Embassy of Italy in Washington in recent weeks, which have highlighted the experience and talent of leading figures in Italian and Italian-American cuisine, such as Chef Massimo Bottura, guest of honor at the Italian Cultural Society Gala on November 8th, and renowned television personality Lidia Bastianich, special guest at a presentation of her latest book, held on November 11th at Villa Firenze.
On November 19th, the “Festival dei 5 Colori“ (Festival of the 5 Colors), organized in collaboration with the Pancrazio Foundation, realized a special food education program dedicated to over 130 children and a panel discussion on health and nutrition with the participation of experts from the Italian National Institute of Health and Italian and American professors. Renowned Italian American chef Amy Riolo, known for her work promoting Italian food culture in the United States, also participated.
The Week of Italian Cuisine in the World in the United States featured a packed schedule of events in many American cities organized by our Consulates and Italian Cultural Institutes. The initiatives were developed in collaboration with agri-food companies, Italian chefs and restaurateurs, academia, media representatives, and influencers, as well as the Week’s traditional partners, including the Accademia Italiana della Cucina (Italian Academy of Cuisine), the Association of Ambasciatori del Gusto (Ambassadors of Italian Good Food), and ALMA – Scuola Internazionale Di Cucina Italiana (International School of Italian Cuisine).
