Restaurateur Gianfranco Sorrentino hosted a Members & Press Cocktail Reception for his non-profit organization Gruppo Italiano (GI) at Il Gattopardo. The New York based non-profit is an evolution from the original Gruppo Ristoratori Italiani (GRI), which was established in 1979 to increase the awareness and to promote the image of authentic Italian cuisine through member restaurants, culinary scholarships and events. The event featured guest speakers such as Maurizio Forte, John Mariani and Charles Scicolone, and offered attendees a chance to learn more GI while enjoying delectable Cocktails and Hors D’Oeuvres from the Il Gattopardo kitchen. GI provides a constant flow of information about Italian cuisine to member restaurants, US press, culinary schools, importers, distributors and general consumers with a serious interest in authentic Italian food. Throughout its history, Gruppo Ristoratori Italiani had made significant strides in enhancing the perception of and passion for Italian food and wine throughout the hospitality industry in the United States, and now, Gruppo Italiano begins a new era in developing a stronger presence of authentic Italian culinary products and services in the United States.
Sorrentino welcomed the attendees, introduced GI and explained how it works to popularize authentic Italian cuisine, Italian wines and Italian products, and enhance their image in the United States through education, member restaurants and promotions. He noted that the authenticity of a cuisine starts with the chef, which is why GI puts a lot of emphasis on educating future chefs on authentic Italian ingredients and cooking techniques, in combination with an in-depth knowledge of Italian wines. This is promoted through a program where American culinary students are offered the opportunity to visit Italy, and Italian aspiring chefs are offered internship opportunities in the U.S.
Maurizio Forte, the Italian Trade Commissioner in New York, pointed out the importance of smaller Italian companies and artisan suppliers of food and wine coming together as a group to increase their influence in an environment where the larger chains have traditionally had more bargaining power. He noted how GI’s work really makes a difference in bringing the best of Italian food, wine and culinary education together.
Following Forte, Author John Mariani, who recently released his newest book How Italian Food Conquered the World (Palgrave Macmillan), spoke about the history of Italian food and wine, and how it spread from its homeland to become one of the most loved cuisines across the globe. He noted how popular culture has helped shape the type of Italian restaurants that we see in America today and how important a cuisine it has become, making it even more important to support its authenticity through initiatives such as GI.
The last keynote speaker to take to the stage was renowned wine consultant Charles Scicolone, who pointed out how much the selection of fine Italian wines in the U.S has increased over the last decades thanks to organizations such as GI. Scicolone also went on to explain how important the educational aspect is, and that we learn more about the distinction of wines from different Italian regions, not just from the country as a whole. Lastly, Gianfranco thanked everyone for attending the event.
For more information on Gruppo Italiano and for membership information, please visit the website at gruppo-italiano.com.
Photo Credit: Patrick McMullan