Quito – “Wines of Italy.” The event, organized in Quito as part of the celebrations for Italian Cuisine Week, took place at the residence of Italian Ambassador Giovanni Davoli. Around 200 people attended, including Peruvian government officials such as Defense Minister Giancarlo Loffredo and Sports Minister José David Jimenez, governors of the Pichincha and Loja provinces, members of the diplomatic corps, local gastronomic sector operators, and cultural and economic figures from Ecuador. The event was organized by the Embassy in collaboration with the Ita/Ice office in Bogotá, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Ecuador, and the Ecuadorian-Italian Binational Chamber. The Ambassador introduced Chef Antonio Danise, invited to Quito by the Italian Federation of Chefs to prepare a tasting menu paired with a selection of Italian wines. At the event, Mario Mancino, the Prefect of Loja, presented the Ambassador with an award for his assistance in dealing with the devastating wildfires that destroyed over 10,000 hectares of land in the southern province last week. (9colonne)