Athens - Umbria took center stage during the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World in Athens. Visiting from Civitella del Lago, Chef Paolo Trippini introduced the authentic flavors of the region to the Athenian audience through a series of events organized by the Italian Embassy in collaboration with ICE.

The program kicked off with a gala lunch featuring a menu of traditional Umbrian dishes, hosted by Ambassador Paolo Cuculi at his residence for key representatives from Greek institutions and major companies. Among the attendees were the Ministers of Social Cohesion and Family, and Tourism, Sofia Zacharaki and Olga Kefalogianni, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kostas Fragkogiannis, and the President of the Greece-Italy Parliamentary Friendship Group, Vasilis Ypsilantis.

Chef Trippini also held a masterclass for students from Athens’ IEK-AKMI School of Gastronomy and Tourism, highlighting the most authentic aspects of Umbrian cuisine.

The ambassador’s residence further hosted a reception for entrepreneurs, diplomats, cultural representatives, journalists, and local influencers. Guests were treated to a unique “Umbrian Forest” experience, showcasing mushrooms, truffles, wild boar, and Orvieto wine.

Throughout the week, Italian chefs based in Athens, including Marco Serra, Claudio Caio, Francesco Granata, Panos Ioannidis, Luca Piscazzi, Pino Saccheri, and Giovanni Scaraggi, creatively interpreted the event's theme by adding special recipes to their restaurant menus. (9colonne)