CALL FOR COMPANIES | Week of Italian Cuisine in the World 2023

The China-Italy Chamber of Commerce (CICC) is glad to inform you that we’re launching a call for companies to map Italian Restaurants and suppliers and importers of Italian food and beverage products, based all over China.

This project, launched on the occasion of the 8th Week of Italian Cuisine in the World 2023 (Settimana della Cucina Italiana nel Mondo), aims to raise awareness of the excellence of Italian products and encourage their consumption.

The Week of Italian Cuisine in the World 2023 will be held from November 13th to 19th, 2023 and this edition’s theme will be “Dining with the Italian Cuisine: Well-Being with Taste”, “A Tavola con la Cucina Italiana: il Benessere con Gusto”.

This initiative is promoted by the Italian System in China.

All participants will be promoted via CICC channels during the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World 2023.

HOW TO JOIN

RESTAURANTS can join the project either by:

1. Preparing a special dish for the Week of the Italian Cuisine in the World:

• Using ingredients that must be chosen from the list of DOP/ICG products recognized in China (to download the list, scan the Mini Program Code below);
• Pairing the dish with 1 Wine (DOC/DOCG) which must be chosen from the list of DOP/ICG products recognized in China (from the same list);

2. Offering special discounts on the menu a la carte.

NB: Restaurants can participate by choosing one OR both options listed above.

IMPORTERS & SUPPLIERS can join the project by:

1. Offering special discounts for the whole duration of the week. They should prove their involvement with Made in Italy food and beverage products.

Note 1 (for restaurants): The DOP/ICG ingredients of the dish have to form an important part of the dish as a whole. Additionally, the dish proposed by chefs and restaurant owners shall be linked with the theme of the Week. The organizers will evaluate each dish and will select only those dishes that meet the requirements.

Note 2 (for suppliers & importers): The special offers should be related to Italian products. 

Note 3: The activity is open to Members and Non-Members of CICC

APPLICATION PROCESS

In order to promote Italian Restaurants, as well as Importers and Suppliers, we ask the respondents to fill out the form and send it back to communication@cameraitacina.com. Download the candidacy form here.

The China-Italy Chamber of Commerce will collect the information together with the proposed dish and wine, which will be shared with the public during the Week of Italian Cuisine 2023 with a comprehensive "Food and Wine Map" together with information on how to find your restaurant or contact your business.

DEADLINE

Please send your application by November 5th, 2023, to: communication@cameraitacina.com

DOP/IGP

Italy is the European country with the largest number of agri-food products with designation of origin and geographical indication recognized by the European Union. 852 products that contribute to making Italy a unique country in the world. The denominations – DOP, IGP – aim to protect the quality standards of agri-food products, safeguard their production methods, provide consumers with clear information on the characteristics that give added value to products. This information to the consumer, is ensured by compliance with production regulations.

PDO​ - Protected Designation of Origin

The Protected Designation of Origin is a name that identifies a product originating in a place, region or, in exceptional cases, in a specific country, whose quality or characteristics are essentially or exclusively due to a particular geographical environment and its intrinsic natural and human factors and whose production phases take place in the defined geographical area. Currently, 578 products with the DOP Denomination have been recognized, of which 170 agri-food products and 408 wines.

PGI - Protected Geographical Indication

The Protected Geographical Indication is a name that identifies a product that also originates from a specific place, region or country, whose geographical origin is essentially attributable to a given quality; reputation or other characteristics and the production of which takes place for at least one of its stages in the defined geographical area. Currently, 257 products have been recognized as Geographical Indications, of which 139 agri-food products and 118 wines.

TSG - Traditional Specialty Guaranteed

TSG products follow specific production methods and traditional recipes. Raw materials and ingredients traditionally used make these products specialties, regardless of the geographical area of production. Currently, 3 Traditional Specialties Guaranteed have been recognized: Mozzarella, Neapolitan Pizza and Traditional Amatriciana.

Check the 26 DOP/IGP products recognized in China:

About the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World

The Week of Italian Cuisine in the World, now at its 8th edition, is a promotional initiative aimed at showcasing the unique and top-quality features of the Italian wine and food sector, encouraging export, internationalization, and inbound tourism, through dedicated and targeted events in Italian Embassies, Consulates, Cultural Institutes, and ICE agencies.

Since 2016, Italian Embassies, Consulates, and Cultural Institutes have hosted over 8,000 initiatives in more than a hundred countries, ranging from seminars on the Mediterranean diet to talks with chefs and business partners, classes, and demonstrative lessons.

The project, conceived and coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Directorate General for Cultural and Economic Promotion and Innovation, was developed internally by a large working group involving other Italian ministries and the different entities that represent Italian cuisine and Italy in the world.