On Friday, November 7, the Theresa Maxis Alumni Hall at the Marygrove Conservancy in Detroit was the beautiful backdrop for “A Cena con Caravaggio”, an elegant, invitation-only six course dinner organized as part of the worldwide Week of Italian Cuisine in the World, established in 2016.
This annual initiative, promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and a broad network of embassies and consulates, Italian Cultural Institutes, Società Dante Alighieri, and Italian chefs and restaurants abroad, promotes authentic Italian cuisine, quality agri-food products, the Mediterranean diet, and Italian food-and-wine traditions worldwide, while combating the phenomenon of “Italian sounding” (fake Italian products).
Presented by the Consulate of Italy in Detroit and the Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan, the private event was exclusively reserved for the evening’s distinguished honorees, key sponsors, and a select group of patrons who have actively supported the cultural initiatives of the Consulate and Dante Alighieri Society throughout Consul Allegra Baistrocchi’s tenure. The intimate gathering also served as a heartfelt farewell to Consul Allegra Baistrocchi, who is concluding her four-year posting in Detroit and is returning to Rome.
Guests were immersed in the dramatic world of Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571–1610). The extraordinary menu, the result of six months of meticulous research and preparation by renowned Italian chef Mimmo Casagrande Bei, featured six courses inspired by the master’s iconic still lifes of fruit, bread, wine, and everyday foods. Each dish was crafted using authentic Baroque-era ingredients and historical cooking techniques, faithfully recreating the intense, sensual flavors Caravaggio himself immortalized on canvas. Five exceptional Italian wines were carefully selected to complement the journey through 17th-century tastes.
Teo Bok sang the Italian national anthem and Lucio Dalla’s Caruso before dinner was served. Among the honored guests were the Honorable Christian Di Sanzo, Italian Deputy for North and Central America; publisher Davide Ippolito, who launched the newest edition of Il Detroiter; and members of the Italian theater company Teatri 35, fresh from their transatlantic flight.
Throughout the dinner, Consul Allegra Baistrocchi, Daniela D’Amico Henderson, vice-president of the Dante Alighieri Society, and President Lia Adelfi took turns offering brief, warm reflections on the significance of each course, the Caravaggio painting that inspired it, and the historical context of the flavors being savored, creating an intimate and deeply enriching dialogue between art, history, and cuisine.
In a poignant moment, Lia Adelfi, President of the Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan, presented a video tribute chronicling Consul Baistrocchi’s remarkable achievements in Detroit. Moved visibly, the Consul received a prolonged standing ovation from the sponsors and patrons who had partnered with her on numerous projects over the past four years.
Under chiaroscuro lighting that mirrored Caravaggio’s masterpieces, glasses were raised in gratitude for four years of extraordinary dedication, and for the six months of passion that brought this unforgettable Baroque banquet to life.
Grazie di cuore, Console Baistrocchi, e in bocca al lupo per il tuo ritorno a Roma.
