The 4th edition of the Italian Cuisine Week in the Netherlands envisaged more than 20 gastronomy and cultural events organised by the Italian Embassy in synergy with the Chamber of Commerce and the Italian Cultural Institute with the aim of promoting Italian agri-food products through an all-round promotional approach.
The European agencies and International Organizations headquartered in the Netherlands represent added value for this promotional activity which continuously involves a growing number of Italian professionals in cultural and culinary events. In addition to a chamber music concert and a reception for the diplomatic corps held at the Residence of Italian Ambassador Andrea Perugini, another initiative also involved the Europol, whose 650-meal canteen served a special Italian menu prepared by Chef Roberto Illari for three days in a row. The same European agency offered a concert by the young Apulian wonder-pianist Daklen Difato, which was followed by a tasting of Italian products.
Besides organising with ESA-Estec a clarinet and cello concert followed by a tasting for their employees, the Embassy also contributed to organising a cooking contest between six European Ambassadors, the proceeds of which were entirely donated to charity.
The Netherlands Section of the Federation of Italian Chefs arranged a tasting of specialty dishes at the premises of one of the major Dutch importers of Italian products while Chef Franco Giulio came directly from Sicily to be the guest star for the whole Week at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in The Hague. He also prepared a working luncheon that Ambassador Perugini, in his capacity as Chairperson of the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, hosted at the Restaurant des Juges at the International Court of Justice.
Other cultural and promotional activities and tastings of Italian regional products were organised by the Italian Cultural Institute, which dedicated three events to three different Italian hamlets (Oratino, Santa Severina and Vallo di Nera respectively in Molise, Calabria and Umbria), combining culture, tourism and gastronomy. Also the Chamber of Commerce proposed several gastronomic and commercial initiatives, especially in Amsterdam and Eindhoven, with the attendance of 47 Italian and Dutch companies.
The initiatives organised for the 4th edition of Italian Cuisine Week in the Netherlands also served to give visibility to the appeal for funds launched by the Municipality of Venice for the emergency caused by the ‘acqua alta’ phenomenon.