L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16 2023 www.italoamericano.org 4 E m b r a c i n g t h e essence of Italian c u l i n a r y t r a d i - tion and its glob- al influence, the 2023 edition of the Italian C u i s i n e W e e k i n t h e World has been unfolding under the theme of Dining with the Italian cuisine: w e l l - b e i n g w i t h t a s t e . Now in its eighth year, this worldwide event continues to champion the richness of Ital- ian agri-food products and the diverse gastronomic tra- ditions of Italy. The Week serves not just as a celebra- tion of Italian cuisine but also as a reminder of its enduring impact on global culinary trends, healthy eating, and sustainable food practices. In Los Angeles, the Ital- i a n C u i s i n e W e e k i n t h e World is celebrated with a series of events involving the Consulate General and Sistema Italia's main local partners, including the Ital- ian Cultural Institute, the Italian Trade Agency, the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce West (IACCW), and the Committee of Ital- ians Abroad (COMITES). Among the other partners, w e s h o u l d r e m e m b e r t h e Italian Academy of Cui- sine, which this year cele- brates its 70th anniversary of activity, Eataly Los Angeles, Pepperdine University, and t h e D o w n t o w n W o m e n ' s Center. This year, the Week gains s p e c i a l r e s o n a n c e w i t h a s e r i e s o f e v e n t s c l o s e l y aligned with the Italian cui- s i n e ' s c a n d i d a c y f o r the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The bid, officially put for- ward by the Italian govern- ment, highlights the rele- vance of Italian cuisine as a form of cultural expression that encompasses history, art, and lifestyle. The candi- dacy was launched in 2020 by the historic magazine La C u c i n a I t a l i a n a ( C o n d é Nast) and backed by the Ital- ian Ministry of Culture and the Italian Ministry of Agri- c u l t u r e ; i t a l s o r e c e i v e d strong backing from distin- guished chefs and business leaders, underscoring the sig- nificant role of Italian cuisine i n m i r r o r i n g t h e c u l t u r a l diversity of the country. At the heart of the UNESCO bid is the full recognition of Ital- ian food culture, rich with various social practices, ritu- als, and gestures that are essential components of the nation's culinary identity, a n d t h a t s h o w c a s e t h e regional diversity and culi- nary heritage of Italy. Addi- t i o n a l l y , t h e i n i t i a t i v e i s endorsed by a scientific com- mittee of esteemed figures in I t a l i a n c u l t u r e , f u r t h e r emphasizing the profound link between food and cultur- al identity. It is Consul General Raf- faella Valentini herself to underline the connection between this year's events and the UNESCO candidacy: "The scheduled events will have as their common thread the connection between the Mediterranean diet, synony- m o u s w i t h h i g h - q u a l i t y nutrition, and well-being, understood as a correct and healthy lifestyle. The topics covered are in continuity with the candidacy of Italian cuisine as a UNESCO Intan- gible Cultural Heritage." Indeed, the theme of the Week revolves around the Mediterranean diet's role in p r o m o t i n g h i g h - q u a l i t y nutrition and well-being, a lifestyle choice in harmony with the candidacy of Italian cuisine for UNESCO recogni- tion. This focus reflects a global movement towards food that is not only delight- ful to the palate but also ben- eficial for health and respect- ful of the environment. Consul Valentini, in the past seven years, the initiative has grown to encompass over 9,500 events across more than 100 countries, solidifying its position as one of the foremost integrated pro- motional efforts of the M i n i s t r y o f F o r e i g n Affairs and International C o o p e r a t i o n . W h i c h event have you chosen to inaugurate this year's edition? The first event will take place on November 12th and will be held during the annu- al Gala of the Italy-America The week of Italian cuisine in the world 2023 SILVIA NITTOLI NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS From left, Emanuele Amendola, Director of IIC Los Angeles; Alessandra Rainaldi, Director of the Italian Trade Agency (ITA); Chef Max Mariola; Consul General Raffaella Valentini; and Deputy Consul General Lorenza Errighi during Chef Mariola's cooking show (Photo:Tom Bertolotti) CONTINUED TO PAGE 6

• Cover