At a time when Italians and Americans are called to stay at home to contain the risk of contagion from COVID-19, the Italian Embassy in Washington, together with the 9 Italian Consulates in the USA and the network of ICE offices, has launched the Stay at home and #cookitalian campaign. Its main aim is supporting the export of our country’s agro-food sector to the USA by promoting the use of original Italian products in the kitchen.
Chefs, representatives of Italian catering in the USA, but also personalities from the world of entertainment and culture have joined the Stay at home and #cookItalian campaign. On the Facebook pages of the Italian Embassy in Washington and the Consulates will be posted eleven “home-made” videos by eleven Italian and Italian-American personalities with their favourite recipes. Simple recipes that can easily be reproduced at home, using original Italian products available on the market, naturally combining the dishes with a classic Italian wine.
Lidia Bastianich, TV star and author of popular cookbooks; Mario Rizzotti, culinary expert and TV judge from Chicago; Giancarlo Ferrara, chef and owner of the Amalfi restaurant in Houston; Giada De Laurentiis, TV star and owner of numerous restaurants in the USA and Luciano del Signore, chef and owner of Italian restaurants in Detroit are some of the personalities who have joined the campaign.
Also, an icon of the Italian cultural scene in the USA, Isabella Rossellini, will present a family recipe at ‘Stay at Home and #cookitalian’
“Supporting and encouraging the consumption of original Italian products at this difficult time for our producers is imperative,” said Ambassador Armando Varricchio. “We have decided to do it in the most practical way and with extremely popular testimonials. We will encourage the American public to try easy recipes with Italian products that can be found in most stores and online”.
The campaign is also an opportunity to reiterate that Italian food products do not present – as certified by USDA and EFSA – any health risks deriving from COVID-19. PDO and PGI (and not only) are synonymous with excellence, quality, and tradition.