On November 1 and 2, the Italian Business & Investment Initiative and Italy’s weekly business magazine, Panorama, will launch the inaugural Italian and American Excellence awards, recognizing the cultural, business and societal contributions of Italians and Italian-Americans. The recipients include: Bill De Blasio, Mayor of New York; tenor Vittorio Grigolo; chef Vito Mollica, who earned the first Michelin star in 2008; and soccer star Andrea Pirlo.

The awards will be given out at gala dinners as part of three-day cultural and economic exchange event, This is Italy: Parts Unknown, dedicated to showcasing and celebrating of Italian excellence to boost awareness among the New York business community. The dinners will have the theme “Taste… of Italy” and will feature the best of Italian cuisine prepared by top New York chefs.