Stick to original ingredients, ambassador tells restaurateurs

(Back, eight from left) Rustico with Italian chefs and restaurant operators at the event.

IMITATION products are a problem for many industries and the Italian food sector has not been spared.

Italian Ambassador to Malaysia Massimo Rustico said he had personally voiced out his disapproval to restaurant operators for claiming to sell Italian dishes but used non-Italian ingredients such as olive oil or cheese.

He said this at the launch of Week of Italian Cuisine in the World 2023.

The eighth edition of the culinary showcase was presented by the Italian Embassy and Italian Trade Agency in Kuala Lumpur, in collaboration with Italian Chamber of Commerce in Malaysia (Italcham).

“Malaysia is a positive environment for Italian food and it is highly successful here,” he said.

“However, the best Italian food is made with good Italian ingredients.

“Only then will the food taste good and represent Italian food.

“The primary objective of this initiative is to showcase Italian culinary traditions as a hallmark of Italian brands and to boost exports in the agri-food sector while promoting tourism associated with food and wine.”

At the launch which took place at the ambassador’s residence, food maestros Patrizia Esposito and Antonio Rizzo from acclaimed “Aldo Moro” Professional Institute for Food, Wine and Hotel Hospitality Services of Santa Cesarea, prepared a gorgeous selection of Italian dishes for guests.