Delicious language of tradition and family

BY Ambassador of the Italian Republic to the Kingdom of Bahrain

In the beating heart of Italy, a powerful and invisible force unites people, creating a network of connections that transcends regional and social differences.

This force is represented by Italian cuisine. Its unmistakable flavours and traditional recipes turn food into a celebration of life, a ritual that tells stories of family and community, becoming a fundamental element of Italian identity.

In a country where “la dolce vita” reflects a deep love of simple pleasures such as good food, it is only natural that cuisine occupies a central place.

It is a gastronomic journey through the different regions, each offering a wide panorama of unique flavours and culinary techniques, a haven of authenticity in today’s frenetic world.

In fact, Italian cuisine is not just a set of recipes; it is a real language that tells stories of traditions, families and territories, characterised by freshness and variety, high quality ingredients and simple cooking techniques that enhance natural flavours.

Italian cuisine is the soul of the Mediterranean diet, a balanced diet of carbohydrates, proteins and healthy fats, which has been a UNESCO Intangible Heritage since 2010 and has proven to be one of the most effective diets for preventing chronic diseases and maintaining health, thanks to the balance and variety of its foods, which are able to provide all the nutrients necessary for a healthy life.

Lifestyle

Food that is not only delicious but also nutritious, a true lifestyle that includes physical activity and sustainability, prevention and, above all, sociality. It is precisely this combination of authenticity and conviviality that has made Italian cuisine an emblem, an undisputed symbol of Italy on the world stage.

Iconic dishes such as pizza, pasta and tiramisu have conquered palates all over the world, uniting and consolidating relationships, breaking down every cultural difference, every wall or barrier, in the world as well as in Italy, a country historically divided, held together by shared glances and moments, by tables full of typical local products and dishes to be discovered.

Authenticity, in fact, is what distinguishes it most: Italian cuisine is not just about reproducing traditional dishes, but also about using local raw materials, those from kilometer 0, from the farmer to the small and medium-sized enterprise, from the shop to the table of millions of Italians around the world, while remaining faithful to our reputation and our gastronomic identity.

Excellence

In other words, Italian cuisine is configured as a tool for spreading Italian excellence throughout the world, a tool that has the power to create links between different cultures, promoting dialogue and mutual understanding in a complex, difficult and tense historical moment.

Through gastronomic events such as the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World, we are not only promoting our culinary tradition, but also stimulating the local economy, creating opportunities for restaurants and producers who bring genuine Italian products to Bahraini tables, offering unparalleled quality and contrasting with the Italian-sounding products that present themselves with an Italian name just to attract your attention, but which have nothing Italian about them: Always remember to read the label and be sure of the Italian nature of the product you are buying!

The events of the Cuisine Week are also an opportunity to promote Italy and genuine Italian products, to improve relations with lovers of quality cuisine from all over the world, to create new relationships, friendships and understanding, to unite and reconcile, to create new memories and make new ones.

The kitchen is an emotional refuge, especially for Italians living abroad. There are 80 million Italians in the world for whom cooking means the taste of home, a bond with traditions and a sweet nostalgia for their country.

Dishes

From maritozzo to pappa al pomodoro, every dish brings them together, even over thousands of kilometres, and is an opportunity to experiment and share, to give life to new dishes and new variations, as well as many others that have come before them, contributing to an enriched recipe book, a meeting of different cultures.

And, of course, there is pizza, a healthy food made of flour, oil, salt, tomatoes and mozzarella, which, in its Neapolitan authenticity, has become an intangible heritage of humanity since 2017. For this reason, from 16th to 22nd November, together with our partner, The Domain Hotel and Spa and thanks to our sponsors who are bringing genuine Italian products to Bahrain, Chtaura, LuLu Hypermarket, Sitaf and Venchi, The Italian Embassy in Bahrain and the ITA agency will be organising a series of promotional events with the participation of Michelin-starred chef Domenico Iavarone from the Grand Hotel La Favorita in Sorrento - Italy, his assistant Fabiano Borea and pastry chef Francesca Bottacci, promoting typical dishes from the history of Italian gastronomy, between tradition, quality, health and taste.

Opportunity

Our friends in Bahrain will have the opportunity to taste Italian dishes in the many restaurants that have joined the IX Week of Italian Cuisine in the World by offering a promotional Italian menu set: Cico’s, Fermento, Grande Caffe’ del Teatro, Il Piatto, L’Orto, Mondo, Oliveto, Otto, Piani, Primavera, San Carlo Cicchetti, Sapori di Toscana and Scalini.

We invite you to visit the websites of these restaurants for more information and to visit them as soon as possible.

I cannot conclude these lines without mentioning the candidacy of Italian cuisine for inclusion in the UNESCO Intangible Heritage of Humanity. In Italy, cooking is everyday life, it is taking care of oneself and others, but it is also a way of remembering one’s origins and keeping them alive by passing them on to the new generations.

It is health and quality. The one you will find on your plates by visiting all the restaurants participating in the celebration of the IX Edition of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World.