The countdown has begun for the launch of the first edition of the “Week of Italian Cuisine in the World” (21-27 November), an initiative promoted by the Foreign Ministry in conjunction with the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies and the Ministries of Education and Economic Development. The aim of the initiative is to valorise Italy’s culinary tradition as an essential trait of the Country’s identity and culture and a mark of distinction of Brand Italy.
In view of this important project the Italian country promotion network in Canada (Embassy, Consulates General, Cultural Institute, ICE Foreign Trade Agency, Chambers of Commerce, Dante Alighieri, Accademia italiana della cucina) developed a rich agenda with more than 40 events throughout the national territory. Some of the most significant initiatives include an important tasting event of the most typical products in the Ottawa Residence of the Italian Ambassador, Gian Lorenzo Cornado, to be attended by senior officials of the Federal Government and Parliament and Italian Chefs Stefano Lozza and Nicola Bellodis. In Toronto, Chef Mauro Uliassi – winner of 2 Michelin stars and whose restaurant was voted one of the best five Italian restaurants by the Guida L’Espresso 2017 – will hold a masterclass on high-quality street food at George Brown College and a food and wine tasting event together with the famous Canadian Chef Rob Gentile, the proceeds of which will be allocated for the reconstruction of the earthquake-struck city of Amatrice. In Montreal, celebrations will kick off with a tasting event at Casa d’Italia, while in Vancouver an evening will be dedicated to Italian food and wine in the company of Chef Maitre Giovanni Trigona.
The initiative assumes particular significance in Canada as it takes place only a few days from the historic signing of the free trade agreement with the European Union (CETA) which recognises Italy’s most important DOP (Protected Designation of Origin) and IGP (Protected Geographical Indication) products, prospectively determining a rise in Italian agro-food exports abroad.