Vancouver is playing host to a programme of events marking the Italian Cusine Week in the World, which is now at its fourth edition (18-24 November). This year’s theme is ” Food Education: the culture of taste”. The programme features events that celebrate the culinary highlights of different Italian regions as a distinctive trait of Italian identity and culture, while at the same time underlining the importance of key issues such as food quality, sustainabilty and biodiversity.
Besides celebrating Italian culinary traditions, the events will shine a light on the relevant economic aspects by featuring several B2B meetings which will be attended by several Italian food and wine companies visiting Vancouver and local importers, restorateurs and suppliers of the agri-food industry. ENIT [Italian Tourist Board] will organise a workshop with a view to promoting food and wine itineraries in Tuscany. Further to it, a conference entitled “Trade Talks and Trade Wars” is designed to focus on trade wars and international tariffs, especially the ones regarding food products.
The “Italian Top Chef Showcase” is the hihglight of the “Week”. Organised in conjunction with the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Western Canada and the Italian Cultural Centre in Vancouver, the event features three Italian chefs of world renown who will entertain local wine and food entrepreneurs with a cooking show and a gourmet dinner accompanied by Italian wines imported for the event. Two other cooking shows will be organised for importers and the students of the Department of Culinary Arts of the Vancouver Community College.
The Week will close with an “Italian aperitif” promoted by the students of ITASA (Associazione Studenti Italiani/Association of Italian Students ) of the University of British Columbia, with the sponsorship of the well-known Campari brand.