Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan Celebrates Settimana Della Cucina Italiana Nel Mondo (Week of Italian Cuisine in the World) 2024
November 16 through 22 was designated the 9th Annual edition of Settimana della Cucina Italiana nel Mondo (Week of Italian Cuisine in the World) by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A showcase for Italy and Italian taste in the world, this annual initiative was developed to promote Italian culinary traditions and food and wine knowledge as a distinctive trait of Italian identity and culture.
This year’s theme was Mediterranean Diet and Cuisine of the Origins: Health and Tradition, emphasizing the deep-rooted traditions and the recognized benefits of the Mediterranean Diet in promoting a healthy, balanced, and sustainable lifestyle. The focus on tradition aimed to showcase the role of Italian communities abroad in spreading Italy’s agri-food heritage worldwide.
The Consulate of Italy in Detroit and the Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan celebrated on November 17 with a potluck dinner attended by 62 Dante members, students, and their families. The guests brought traditional Italian dishes from family recipes originating in several regions of Italy. They included Castagnaccio Toscano (chestnut cake), Porchetta (pork roast), and amaretti (almond cookies) from Abruzzo, Sicilian cannoli alla ricotta, and pizza di Scarola (pizza stuffed with escarole) from Campagna, gnocchi and pane capriccio (homemade bread).
The dinner was followed by a screening of the film Big Night. In keeping with the theme, the film is about two Italian immigrant brothers who open their dream restaurant at the New Jersey Shore. They struggle because their authentic Italian food is unfamiliar to the locals, while the restaurant across the street, although mediocre, is highly successful. It was a great afternoon celebrating the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World.
The following Italian Cuisine in the World event will take place on Friday, November 22, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at the Metropolitan Museum of Design Detroit. Italo-Apero-Disco will be a silent disco and tasting experience, a fun evening of music, food, and dancing. Guests will taste delicious, healthy appetizers paired with Italian music through a silent disco experience in the context of the Radici-Roots exhibit featuring Italy.
By Sandra Tornberg
