The 10th edition of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World took place in November, an initiative promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to celebrate and spread, globally, the qualities and culinary traditions of our country. The rich calendar of events, organized by the Embassy of Italy in Ljubljana, the Consulate General of Italy in Koper-Capodistria, and the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) - Office in Ljubljana, highlighted the many facets of our cuisine, following the theme proposed by the Ministry: “Italian cooking: health, culture, and innovation.”
The Week opened on Thursday, November 6, with a Masterclass dedicated to Italian risotto, organized by the Embassy of Italy in collaboration with the BIC Biotechnical Educational Center of Ljubljana and the International School of Italian Cuisine Alma of Parma, aimed at students. On Friday, November 7, a second risotto Masterclass was held, open to the public, followed by the Conference on enhancing Italian cuisine: nutrition and health. Tasting and promotion through food and wine tourism took place at the Franciscan Monastery of Kostanjevica in Nova Gorica, organized by the Consulate General of Italy in Koper-Capodistria.
On November 11, attention turned to The Italian Coffee Style, an event reserved for Slovenian distributors and journalists in the agri-food sector. The initiative, organized by ITA Ljubljana in collaboration with the Trieste Coffee Association and with the participation of Lavazza and Bialetti, presented coffee as a symbolic product of Italy, highlighting its quality, culture, and consumption styles.
The program continued on November 14 with a Masterclass on the art of gelato-making, organized by the Embassy of Italy in Ljubljana together with the Higher School for Gastronomy and Tourism of Ljubljana (SŠGT). Italian gelato, highly appreciated in Slovenia, confirms itself as an ambassador of quality and innovation.
The Week concluded on November 18 with the event Aperitivo Italiano, dedicated to the art of the aperitivo and carried out with the contribution of industry experts, at Pop’s Aperitivo in Ljubljana.
On the economic front, in 2024 Slovenia imported agri-food products from Italy worth over 570 million euros, equal to 14.8% of the total (Slovenian Statistical Office data). Italy thus confirms itself as Slovenia’s second supplier in this sector, after Croatia. In particular, Italy was the second supplier of coffee, after Brazil, with a value of 26 million euros, a 17% share, and a 7% growth compared to 2023 (EuroStat TDM data).
The ICE Office in Ljubljana continues to play a central role in promoting Italian agri-food products in Slovenia, working in synergy with Italian institutions present in the country. Its activities include business support and the organization of delegations of Slovenian operators at major Italian trade fairs in the food and wine sector.
