The 10th edition of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World, one of the longest-running initiatives promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, is celebrating the theme “Italian Cuisine: Culture, Health and Innovation.”
The milestone anniversary was marked Thursday night in Montreal, where the Consulate General of Italy hosted a culinary event at the École des métiers de la restauration et du tourisme.
Sign at the Week of Italian Cuisine event in Montreal on Nov. 14, 2025. (Teresa Romano, OMNI News)
“Every year we have this event that takes place in November,” said Enrico Pavone, Italy’s Consul General in Montreal. “Since I’ve been here in Montreal we have tried to illustrate every year a different regional cuisine.”
This year, the spotlight was on Sardinia, showcased through a menu created by chef Mario Ruzzoli. The region is known not only for its distinctive dishes but also for being one of the world’s five certified “blue zones,” areas identified for exceptional longevity and high concentrations of centenarians.
People preparing to eat at the Week of Italian Cuisine event in Montreal on Nov. 14, 2025. (Teresa Romano, OMNI News)
“Some of the products that we are enjoying tonight are very unique,” said Mauro Cossu, President of Associazione Sardi del Quebec. “For example, the bread, the ‘pane carasau’, you can find it only in the island, only in Sardinia. It’s a tradition, it’s millennia that Sardinians are doing this kind of bread. It’s not just bread, it’s identity, it’s our identity.”
Sardinia’s traditional diet, primarily plant-based and rich in whole grains, beans and garden vegetables, has long drawn interest from researchers studying healthy aging.
“The secret to live longer I think, yeah, is living eating products that are genuine, that are simple, that are not transformed and being active, so I think in Sardinia the elders who are over 100 years old that’s basically what they do,” said Maria Giovanna Filia, consultant for Sardinians in Canada.
Chefs gather at the Week of Italian Cuisine event in Montreal on Nov. 14, 2025. (Teresa Romano, OMNI News)
Launched a decade ago as a legacy of Expo Milan 2015, the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World has grown into a global celebration, with more than 10,000 events held in over 100 countries. This year’s Montreal gathering continued that tradition by highlighting both Italy’s culinary diversity and its cultural reach.
“When it comes to food, I don’t think there’s anybody that beats Italy,” said Quebec Senator Tony Loffreda. “Italian food best in the world. And some of the best restaurants in Montreal are the Italian restaurants. So tonight we’re here to experience all of that, to see good friends, be in great company and viva l’Italia, viva il Canada.”
Dining and Cooking