EMBASSY OF ITALY UNVEILS CULINARY EXHIBITION IN NAIROBI

The Embassy of Italy in Nairobi and the Italian Institute for Culture, in partnership with the Italian Trade Agency, proudly marked the launch of the 10th edition of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World with a grand opening held at the iconic Hall of Kenya housed within Nairobi National Museum. 

This year’s celebration, themed “Dining with Italy: 100 Years of Taste and Innovation,” began with the unveiling of an exclusive exhibition that brought together art, culture, and gastronomy in a memorable diplomatic and cultural showcase.

The exhibition, the first of its kind in Africa, showcased 50 historic Italian menus, curated with scientific rigour by the Biblioteca e Museo della Cucina “Garum” and Menu Associati, institutions renowned for preserving Italy’s culinary heritage.

The menus traced an arc from Italy’s post-unification era through the Monarchy and into the Republic, illustrating shifts in culinary traditions, cultural influences, ingredient evolution, and the growing modern emphasis on sustainability and regional identity.

The inauguration hosted by the Ambassador-designate of Italy to Kenya, H.E. Vincenzo Del Monaco was graced by the Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Hon. Rebecca Miano, EGH, who served as the Chief Guest. Other dignitaries included Hon Farah Maalim, member of the Speaker’s Panel on behalf of the Right Hon. Speaker of Parliament, Moses Wetang’ula,

State Dep. Of Correctional Services; Chair Board of National Museums of Kenya Mr Edwin Jacob Abonyo and Director General National Museums of Kenya, Prof. Mary Gikungu.

Also in attendance was Maestro Tommaso Cascella, the world-renowned Italian painter and sculptor, who unveiled a specially crafted sculptural table titled “Arch, Bridge, Scale, Rainbow of Peace and Work.” Designed and completed in Nairobi in collaboration with skilled Kenyan artisans, the artwork was presented as a cultural bridge between the two nations and is set to join the permanent collection of the Embassy of Italy.

The evening was further distinguished by the presence of Benson Kipruto, Kenya’s celebrated long-distance runner, Olympic marathon bronze medallist, and 2025 New York City Marathon champion.

In her keynote address, CS Miano celebrated the long-standing friendship between Kenya and Italy, commending the Embassy’s efforts in promoting cultural diplomacy, and highlighted the vital link between gastronomy, tourism development, and cultural exchange. She noted that Italy’s legacy of culinary excellence continued to inspire global admiration and acknowledged the importance of events such as the Culinary Week in strengthening cross-cultural understanding and boosting destination experiences within Kenya’s tourism sector. 

She also emphasised Kenya’s commitment to fostering partnerships that celebrate heritage, creativity, and shared prosperity. “Our two countries share a long-standing partnership in cultural exchange, agriculture, food innovation, sustainability, and tourism development. This exhibition is a testament to that collaboration beautifully symbolised by Maestro Cascella’s sculptural table created alongside Kenyan artisans here in Nairobi,” said the CS Miano.

Ambassador-Designate noted that the themes highlighted innovation, biodiversity, terroir, and cultural continuity aligned closely with Kenya–Italy cooperation, including support for 30,000 Kenyan coffee farmers under the Mattei Plan for Africa. He affirmed that Italian cooking, rooted in history yet open to the future, deserved recognition on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

The exhibition, which runs until December 10, 2025, is expected to attract thousands of visitors eager to explore historic menus, artistic installations, and the enduring cultural legacy of Italian gastronomy. Following the launch, the celebrations continued with four exclusive Italian Wine Tastings two hosted in Nairobi, one in Watamu, and one in Malindi each curated to showcase Italy’s regional diversity, craftsmanship, and a century of culinary evolution.