Protecting the True Legacy of Italian Cuisine
The Stella della Tradizione Italiana (for the Italian market) and Italian Cuisine Award (for international positioning) is a recognition dedicated to people who actively work to preserve and promote the authenticity of traditional Italian cuisine around the world.
Established to counteract the distortion and misrepresentation of traditional recipes, the award celebrates chefs, restaurateurs, food bloggers, influencers, and institutions that uphold the core principles of Italian cuisine—maintaining its quality and authenticity.
These are ambassadors of Made in Italy, proudly carrying forward all that Italian culinary tradition represents: taste, aesthetics, quality, wholesomeness—and who firmly oppose the desecration and sacrilege of our cultural culinary heritage.
Why Was It Created?
Italian cuisine is universally recognized as one of the finest in the world, yet it is often misrepresented through incorrect interpretations and inappropriate ingredients, creating confusion about the authenticity of Made in Italy—both in terms of food culture and typical products. The award was created to:
Awareness
Raise public awareness about the importance of authentic traditional Italian cuisine.
Recognize
Officially recognize and honor those committed to preserving tradition, distinguishing them from people who distort it.
Educate
Educate the public about the quality and principles of Italian cuisine through virtuous examples.
Strengthen
Strengthen the positioning of true Italian cuisine and genuine Italian products, both domestically and abroad, by discouraging alteration and the use of counterfeit Made in Italy goods.
Who can receive the Award
Applications for the award are open to chefs, restaurateurs, food critics, food bloggers, influencers, associations, institutions, and enthusiasts who demonstrate a genuine and tangible commitment to promoting authentic traditional Italian cuisine and its Made in Italy agri-food supply chain.
Receiving the award does not require any payment or fee. The award recognizes the work that the recipient is already carrying out by personal choice. You may:
- nominate yourself if you meet the above criteria
- nominate someone else if you believe that person is making a valuable contribution consistent with the mission of the Stella della Tradizione Italiana program
Application Process
- Complete the application form with personal and professional details.
- Submit supporting documentation such as menus, videos, reviews, or articles demonstrating adherence to the principles of traditional Italian cuisine and/or opposition to culinary sacrileges.
- Evaluation by the scientific committee, which will assess compliance with the selection criteria.
- Selection and awarding, with the recognition presented and publicized through our official channels.
Selection Criteria
Candidates are evaluated based on the following criteria:
✔ Authenticity: Respect for traditional recipes, use of quality ingredients, and preparation methods consistent with the principles of traditional Italian cuisine.
✔ Quality: Use of certified raw materials and active promotion of the Italian agri-food supply chain.
✔ Influence: Positive impact on spreading authentic Italian cuisine in Italy and around the world.
✔ Respectful Innovation: Any reinterpretations must remain faithful to the principles of tradition without distorting them.
✔ Education and Outreach: Educational and training activities that raise public awareness of traditional Italian culinary values.
The distinctive feature of the award is the nominee’s demonstrated commitment to promoting, enhancing, and defending traditional Italian cuisine and the authentic agri-food chain, as well as their ability to inspire and influence the broader public. If the person you nominated meets the criteria, they will be contacted by a representative of our Scientific Committee.
The Scientific Committee
The selection of winners is entrusted to a scientific committee comprising experts in gastronomy, university professors, renowned chefs, and historians of Italian cuisine.
The committee operates with maximum transparency and impartiality, ensuring that only people who truly contribute to preserving the Italian culinary tradition receive the award.
Committee Members
- Award-winning chefs
- Experts in food and wine culture and culinary historians
- Representatives of Italian culinary institutions
- Journalists and food critics
PARTECIPAte
Submit an application
Do you have questions about the award?
Want to apply or nominate a deserving professional?
Fill out the contact form, and our team will get back to you as soon as possible.
You are reminded that nominations for the award are open to chefs, restaurateurs, food critics, influencers, institutions, and enthusiasts who show a concrete commitment to promoting authentic Italian cuisine. No payment is required to receive the award.
The award is a recognition of work already being done by the recipient, undertaken at their own initiative.