By Rui Hu, iChongqing

The food and wine are paramount to Italy. On 19 Nov., the 3^rd Week of Italian Cuisine in the World opening ceremony was held in Niccolo Hotel, Chongqing. Italy Consulate General of Italy in Chongqing has organized this event. Since its establishment by the Italian Government three years ago, the Italian Cuisine Week has been organized every year by Italian Embassies, Consulates and Cultural Institutes in more than 100 countries all over the world. This event represents the opportunity to promote Italian cuisine, food and products abroad.

All over the world, love for food brings people together, and this is especially true for China and Italy, where passion for good food has been an integral part of the culture ever since. Demonstrated from Filippo Nicosia, Consul General of Italy Consulate in Chongqing, he believes that a deeper understanding of culinary traditions, food and local products will also help strengthening political, economic and scientific cooperation between Italy and China.

Variety of Activities are Awaiting

This year’s program includes a great variety of activities, scheduled between November 19^th and 25^th. More than 30 events have been organized in Chongqing as well as in four other cities (Chengdu, Leshan, Guiyang and Kunming). The program will introduce food and wine tastings, conferences and other promotional activities, which will take place in different venues. Overall, 12 restaurants, wine bars and luxury hotels, as well as two supermarkets specializing in high-end imported products. A cooking school, two pastry shops and three ice-cream shops have joined for this edition of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World.

3^rd Week of Italian Cuisine in the World has the themes with pillars of Italian cuisine, the Mediterranean Diet and its key ingredients. This year’s events also focus on promoting Italian Regions and their peculiar culinary traditions and tourist attractions, through cooking classes, cooking shows and different workshops.

In addition, this year’s program also features an online social contest, jointly organized by the Italian Consulate and the Chinese media company Hualong Net. Participants have to take a picture or record a short video of relevant "Italian Elements" they can find in their surroundings, and share it on social media.

China is A Huge Market for Italian Food Products

China represents a strategic market for ‘Made in Italy’ food products. The export to China has grown 17% on an annual basis, reflecting the increasing demand for Italian products among Chinese people.

Activities such as wine tastings, seminars, and food and wine pairing events are important to promote Italian wine culture and knowledge in China. Furthermore, this is why they have also been included in this year's edition of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World.

In the end of Nicosia’s speech, he emphasized a quote from Gioacchino Rossini, a brilliant Italian composer, who was also a notorious food lover and a famous gastronome:

"I do not know any better activity than eating. And I mean, really eating. Appetite is to the stomach what love is to the heart. The stomach is the conductor of the great orchestra of our passions."