Italian cuisine promoted in three-month program

The Italian Culinary Program, which includes workshops, video classes and an instructor training camp, will be held across the country from May to July to promote Italian culture and culinary exchanges between China and Italy, program organizers said on Thursday.

The program is being run by the Italian Trade Agency and the Embassy of Italy in China.

A six-part Italian culinary arts video lesson, which covers topics like pasta, cheese and charcuterie, extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar, bread, pizza and gelato, was created in collaboration with ALMA–The International School of Italian Cuisine.

Each lesson lasts between 30 and 50 minutes and delves into the culture and history of different dishes while providing practical instructions. The video lessons are designed to complement the existing curriculum at Chinese culinary institutes.

From May to June, the Italian Trade Agency will also conduct one-day workshops at six partner schools in China, including the Shanghai Institute of Tourism, Yangzhou University and the Nanjing Institute of Tourism & Hospitality.

An Italian culinary education session called "Train the Trainer" will be held in Shanghai in July. Instructors from the six partner institutes will receive training by chefs from leading Italian restaurants.

Luca Ferrari, ambassador of Italy to China, said: "The promotion of Italian cuisine and agri-food products is a key priority for Italy. Even more so in China, a country where a millenary gastronomic culture is also deeply rooted."

Gianpaolo Bruno, trade commissioner of ITA Beijing Office, said: "Chinese and Italian gastronomic cultures are among the most important in the world. The Italian Trade Agency is undertaking an intense promotional campaign that will improve and deepen the knowledge and understanding of Italian geographical indications among the Chinese general public and professionals in the food industry."

Through this collaboration with leading culinary institutes in China, ITA said it hopes to encourage deep and meaningful exchanges in culinary education between China and Italy, and build a strong theoretical and practical foundation in Italian cuisine for Chinese students.