Italy on Madison ~ Authentic Italian Cuisine, Restaurant Industry Followed by Guided Tasting

Re-opening Italian Culture NYC

Seminar on the Challenges & Perspectives in the USA .

John Mariani – writer, journalist, food & wine critic

• Gianfranco Sorrentino – president, Gruppo Italiano

• Dino Borri – General manager Eataly USA

• Odette Fada – chef, educator at Culinary Institute of America

• Andrea Berti – sr. director business development, Atalanta Corp.

• Antonino Laspina, Director of the Italian Trade Agency in the US

*Seminar organized in collaboration with Gruppo Italiano

With Special Guest: Marisa May Metalli, daughter of Tony May, who was working closely with Tony May on a new restaurant, before his passing. Marisa May Metalli will continue to to work on the new restaurant with Odette Fada. It was a pleasure to speak with both Marisa and Odette about Italy, the Vatican, Vatican diets, her future plan for the restaurant, and her continued support of City Harvest as well as other food programs to support those in need. We will continue to remain in close contact with Odette and Marisa. They were also both excited to here about World Meeting of Families in Rome this year, and about the Holy Father.

It was also a pleasure to speak more in detail with Gianfranco and the needs of Italian restaurants at this time. The Italian restaurants have a continuing need for Italian Chefs as well as Italian workers. We will continue to stay in close contact with Gianfranco and ITA to refer Italian restaurant workers and Chefs who relocate to the area etc.

It was also a pleasure to speak more in detail with Andrea Berti about the importance of nutrition, authentic Italian cuisine and ingredients, as well as the need for farm to market, fresh ingredients. We followed up this conversation with Dino Borri as well, discussing the importance of farm to market, farm to table, fresh ingredients and varying regions in Italy. We were pleasantly surprised by and greatly enjoyed the Tasting at Eately! This was my first experience at Eately, and I will be sure to return over and over again! What a wonderful idea and concept! I enjoyed this sooo much! Thank you to all of you who put this together!

Refreshments followed, followed by:

Tasting at Eataly with

Antonino Laspina, Director of the Italian Trade Agency in the US

and Guided tasting of small plates

Legendary Lou DiPalo, 5th generazione of the DiPalo Fine Foods and Enoteca DiPalo

Featuring Italian products entrusted with the highest honor of the protected denominations of origin.