How the week of Italian Cuisine is celebrated in Kenya

A chef serves Italian meat.[ Stafford Ondego, Standard]

The 8^th Edition of Week of the Italian Cuisine in the World will be held from Monday 13^th to Sunday 19^th November and will focus on “Dining with the Italian cuisine: well-being with taste.”

The week is a worldwide initiative of the Italian ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation aimed at promoting Italian food and wine tradition, as distinctive traits of Italian identity and culture. It is a unique chance for Kenyan friends to discover delicious and sustainable products made in Italy.

Speaking during a press conference at Embassy of Italy in Gigiri on Thursday, Italian ambassador to Kenya Roberto Natali said the long week will feature activities focusing on Italian culture and its famous cuisine as vehicles of exchange and sharing to communicate new experiences, learning opportunities and to explore commonalties between Italy and Kenya.

Guests tastimg Italian food. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

“Our modern food industry is characterized by a great balance of scientific research, education and technological innovation combined with food and process certification and appropriate labelling.” Said Natali.

The program varies from scientific talks to social events with a specific attention to disseminate information about authentic Italian products. This is the aim of the first issue of “A Taste of Italy” magazine, which can guide the public on how to recognize original “Made in Italy” ingredients and recipes.

The promotion of Italian specialties will continue with a unique exhibition on the move: #Italian Taste.” On the electric bus of Nairobi where through a QR code-the public can appreciate the tradition of Italian products in its originality and unicity. At the coast on the Tuk Tuk in Malindi, Diani and Watamu, through images displayed on the popular means of transport.

Italian ambassador to Kenya Roberto Natali (C) is joined by Go Places CEO Mansoor Jiwani (L) and Joe Mwanzia, the Assistant Labour Commissioner at Ministry of Labour in tasting Italian wine at the Embassy of Italy in Gigiri. [Stafford Ondego, Standard] 

In terms of training opportunities for Kenyans, Chef Luca Mastromattei and his assistant will lead a 10 days Italian Cuisine workshop for upcoming chefs from Kenya Utalii College to perfect their arts as well as a “Chef for Chefs Masterclass” in Nairobi and Malindi for professionals to refine their skills. Food lovers and Chef Amateurs can improve their abilities by participating in the Mastering Italian Cuisine: Cooking with a celebrity Chef on November 12^th.

According to Almacis CEO Piergiorgio Di Carmine who is an agent of wine, identifying quality wine from Italy from fake one was easy. By show of example, he sipped a glass of wine and said it was not sharp but rather round saying when you drink it in your mouth you can smell different flavors of fruits adding that wine is part of our environment and culture. He said they have several types of wine and their main aim was to penetrate Kenyan market with their quality wine.