Eating is a pleasure, but if it’s not Italian, what’s the point?
Traditional Italian cuisine is under constant threat from distorted recipes and the use of counterfeit or inappropriate ingredients. The Italian Cuisine Award program, developed and promoted by Accademia Italiana Chef, a Research and Protection Institution for Italian Cuisine, was created to preserve our culinary heritage for future generations and to safeguard our agri-food supply chain.
Italian Cuisine:
The World’s Favorite
(CNN Travel & Taste Atlas Rankings)
What it Italian Cuisine Award?
Italian Cuisine Award is a project dedicated to safeguarding traditional Italian cuisine, standing against cultural distortions and promoting the authenticity of our culinary heritage
It’s a stand against the widespread cultural distortions of our culinary identity, especially those seen abroad.
A Success Story Too Often Exploited
Every day, twisted versions of recipes and fake ingredients are marketed as “authentic”, exploiting the prestige of Italian culinary tradition without honoring it.
Using low-quality ingredients not only dulls the taste, it also severely harms Italian producers. Every imitation, every fake Made in Italy product is an attack on our cultural heritage—and a blow to the supply chain that makes our cuisine unique.
Defending Italian cuisine is not just about national pride—it’s about protecting people who strive to bring us authentic, quality food, and ensuring that the true taste of Italy remains intact.
How Can You Contribute to the Program?
Stella della Tradizione Italiana: candida una persona al premio
Il premio per chi protegge il vero retaggio della Cucina Italiana. Scopri come partecipare.
PrincipLES
Discover the Principles of Italian Cuisine
1. High-quality Ingredients
Fresh, seasonal, and high-quality raw materials are the basis of Italian cuisine.
2. Enhancing Raw Materials with Simple Preparations
By using only high-quality ingredients, Italian cuisine highlights the natural beauty of the food’s flavor.
3. Balance and Harmony of Flavors
Rooted in the Mediterranean diet, Italian cuisine stands out for moderation in fat and sugar use, strongly avoiding excesses.
Culinary SACRILEGES
The Sacrileges of Italian Cuisine
This section collects the practices every Italian considers culinary blasphemy—errors that transform an authentic dish into something unrecognizable.
1
Altering original recipes with non-traditional ingredients
Adding ingredients not specified in the original recipes alters the authentic taste and compromises the dish’s identity.
2
Replacing typical Italian ingredients with clones or fake products
Typical Italian ingredients, such as Parmigiano Reggiano or Mozzarella di Bufala, have unique organoleptic properties.
3
Excessive use of garlic, onion, and chili pepper
In Italy, garlic and onions are used moderately as aromatics that complement and enhance the dish without overpowering its flavor.
