The celebrations in Pakistan of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World opened in Lahore, this year dedicated to 'Mediterranean Diet and Culinary Roots. Health and tradition'. The Ambassador of Italy to Pakistan, Marilina Armellin, and her consort, Domenico Polloni, together with the Honorary Consul of Italy in Lahore, Fahad Iqbal, hosted a gala dinner, attended by representatives of the government and institutions of the populous province of Punjab, the heads of industrial and trade associations of particular relevance for Italian interests in Pakistan, representatives of the lively academic, cultural and artistic world of Lahore, and representatives of the main local media.
The event, which marked the return of Italy with its soft power to the prestigious square of Lahore, the undisputed cultural capital of Pakistan, was held at the prestigious residence of Sir Ganga Ram, the iconic place where the philanthropic engineer fathered the innovative irrigation system that made the Punjab the country's breadbasket.
Italian cuisine was proposed and narrated as a founding element of our country's cultural identity. The menu was interpreted by two chefs from the national federation of chefs, Samuele Zaninotto and Antonio Cruccas, with the clear objective of presenting authentically Italian dishes by enhancing ingredients that have distant historical origins in the Indus river valley. It was a unique opportunity to get to know the rich and diverse gastronomic culture of Italy, and its different historical and anthropological stratifications, beyond the clichés practised by some local catering operators. Finally, the gala was a moment to raise the awareness of the selected public on the importance of the Mediterranean diet, on food sustainability, and on the common root of many typical ingredients of Italian cuisine.
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