Truffles, olive oil, typical regional products, great chefs, films that celebrate Italian cuisine, and new initiatives, like matching gastronomy with design, are all part of the 14 events taking place in Beijing on Nov 21-27 for the “Week of Italian Cuisine in the World”. The event was officially launched in Rome on Oct. 26 at Villa Madama by Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry Policies, Maurizio Martina, Minister of Education, University and Research, Stefania Giannini, and the Vice Minister for Economic Development, Ivan Scalfarotto.
China will host the greatest number of scheduled events, with over 70 initiatives taking place in the major cities of the country. “Italian cuisine and its products are part and parcel of the culture of our country and speak about Italy to millions of people across the world,” said the Italian Ambassador in Beijing, Ettore Sequi, who underlined the importance of good food in both in China and in Italy. Among the most eminent guests of the events in China is Michelin star-winning chef Carlo Cracco, who will promote Italian cuisine on China Central Television on Nov. 25. On the following day, together with Stefano Giovannoni and Antonello Fusetti, Mr Cracco will illustrate the new frontiers of ‘functional food’ in an event on food and design. The Italian chef will also prepare the menu for the gala dinner at the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China, which this year granted the ‘Ospitalita Italiana’ (“Italian Hospitality”) quality certificate to 66 Italian restaurants in 13 Chinese cities.
The event will kick off on Nov. 16 with a three-day competition for chefs on pasta dishes. On Nov. 21-24, the Italian Cultural Institute will feature five films. The first film to be screened will be “Quando l’Italia mangiava in bianco e nero” by Andrea Gropplero di Troppenburg, followed by Pupi Avati’s “La cena per farli conoscere” [The Dinner for Them to Meet]. On Nov. 22, Ettore Scola’s “La cena” [The Dinner] will be screened, followed by Ermanno Olmi’s “Lunga vita alla signora” [Long Live the Lady!] on Nov. 23. All the films will be subtitled in Chinese. The programme will close on Nov. 24 with the film “Caffè”, presented by director Cristiano Bortone.