The San Carlo Restaurant Group has been awarded the “Gusto Italia UK” accolade at an event organised by the president of APCI-UK Carmelo Carnevale, in collaboration with AIS Sicilia (Italian Association of Sommeliers, Sicily) and with the support of the Italian Trade Agency, London.
The award recognises them as the best Italian gourmet restaurateur, chefs and sommeliers group in the UK. The award was received by group MD Marcello Di Stefano received the prize and dedicated it to his father Carlo, Chairman.
Also in attendance at Piccadilly’s Le Méridien hotel was The Consul General of Italy Massimiliano Mazzanti, as well the director of the ICE Fortunato Celi Zullo, and chefs Aldo Zilli, Enzo Oliveri and Giancarlo Caldesi.
Recognition for chefs
The Gusto Italia UK was also awarded to chefs Francesco Mazzei, Rino Bono (Locanda Locatelli), Davide De Giovanni (Gordon Ramsay’s), and Alessandro Verdenelli (KX Restaurants); in addition, Maitre D’ Diego Masciaga (Waterside Inn, 3 Michelin stars), and sommelier Maurizio Titone were also awarded..
Valuing locally sourced produce
The event organiser, Carmelo Carnevale, president of the professional Italian chef alliance in the UK APCI-UK said:
‘It’s vital to value locally sourced produce if the quality of Italian cuisine is to survive. That’s why an event such as the Gusto Italia awards is so important in London, the hub of international commerce and trade.’
The event welcomed more than 60 delegates from Italy’s Friuli, Abruzzo, Marche and Sicily regions. 1100 people attended. The aim of Gusto Italia was to build bridges between the UK and Italy and make sure the best Italian products are reaching the UK market.
The guest of honour this year was Pasta Rummo, the company which recently received enormous support from the Italian community in London in the wake of a flood which damaged the factory that has produced the popular Rummo pasta for the past 160 years.