Public chef demos celebrate Italian designations

Toronto – The Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario and Centennial College are teaming up for Centitalia, a week-long program of Italian food events where prominent chefs, food and wine experts, restaurateurs, influencers, educators, journalists, and foodies come have a chance to network and learn.

The events, which take place From Nov. 14 to 18 at Centennial College’s School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts and in downtown Toronto, are meant to highlight authenticity and educate the food industry and public about the unique characteristics of Italian DOP and IGP products and other protected designations, the Italian Chamber of Commerce said in a news release.

“Centitalia will present new innovative ideas for the preparation and consumption of Italian food products to better enhance their qualities and uniqueness,” said Corrado Paina, executive director of the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario.

Keynote speaker Chef Rob Gentile of Buca will kick off an Italian Food Symposium, that includes a series of workshops and master classes on food and wine specialties, as well as DOP and IGP products.

Italian chefs Ugo Mura, Valentino Cassanelli, Paolo Cacciani and Filippo Saporito will take up residency at Centennial College’s School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts that week and demonstrate cuisine, olive oil and wine from the Lazo, Emilia Romagna and Piemonte regions of Italy.

The week concludes with an elegant gala experience, ICCO’s Pentola d’Oro, their annual awards ceremony, recognizing achievements in the Ontario food industry. The gala will take place on Nov. 18 at the Carlu in Toronto.

The demonstrations will showcase the school’s new 350,000-square-foot facility, which includes classrooms and student residences. Centitalia will offer them the rare opportunity to work alongside renowned Italian chefs, while also being introduced to industry leaders, influencers and chefs, the chamber said in the release.

For more information, visit the school’s website.