The Academy of Italian Cuisine in Los Angeles  gave its warm welcome to the new Consul General Raffaella Valentini with a dinner at Via Alloro restaurant, owned by the Drago Brothers. Besides the Academicians, were also present to this event some Italian entrepreneurs who, during the appetizer time, were introduced, one by one, to the above mentioned special guest of the night. 

The appetizer time was  delighted with mini polenta in mushrooms sauce and mini pizza margherita, accompanied by a prosecco DOCG  Due Castelli from vineyard Zago-Gasperini in Valdobbiadene Italy- offered by Serragiotto-Zago Family. The Easter decoration, with flowers  and chocolate all over the long table, received the most enthusiastic general approval.

The Delegate Mariella Salvatori, before the dinner, recognized the Consul General who accompanied  by Consul Lorenza Errighi announced  that the Academy, together with the Ministries of Agriculture officially launched the Italian cuisine’s candidature for UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status.

The Los Angeles delegation, instead, presented the candidature for the assignment of the Massimo Alberini Prize to the company Angelo and Franco “The mozzarella Guys” who since 2010 have been producing mozzarella, buffalo mozzarella and ricotta in their Los Angeles laboratory.

Consul General Valentini gave interesting informations regarding the importance of good food. She announced the VIII edition of International Italian Food Week 2023, organized in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and many other Italian Institutions, from 7 to 14 November 2023. Its theme, “Health with taste”, expresses the importance of good food for physical health especially for athletes who, by the way, will give testimonials during the event.   

The Consul General concluded her speech reminding that this year we celebrate the Academy’s seventy-years anniversary.

The event ended with some photos of the participants and with the presentation to the special guests of the book  “History of Italian Cuisine in comics”, translated into 8 languages and available in e-book format as well.