In the beautiful Teatro Regio in Parma, the International School of Italian Cuisine celebrated its 20th anniversary. The occasion also included the awarding of the 23 new Masters of Arts and Crafts in collaboration with Fondazione Cologni.
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The 20 years of ALMA
A long history made of past, present and looking towards the future, reinforced by a common thread grounded on the celebration of the richness, excellence and variety of flavors held in Italian Cuisine: at the Teatro Regio in Parma, ALMA - The International School of Italian Cuisine celebrated its 20 years of activity. Twenty years made of professionalism, faces, dialogue, cultural exchanges, innovative vision and respect for tradition.
Twenty years traversed with a very specific mission: to enhance and promote Italy's agrifood heritage around the world. Inclusion, commitment and passion, these are the values-symbols of the prestigious school, represented by illustrator Gianluca Biscalchin through a dedicated graphic in collaboration with Adecco.
One name among all represents its foundation and guidance along the way, that of Maestro Gualtiero Marchesi, rector and beacon since its foundation until 2017. His memory, his words, his teachings, can still be found today as a living, crackling flame, capable of continuing to illuminate and inspire. And of this bond, Marchesi himself was a proud spokesman: “Dear students, dear faculty, dear friends, I can say, without exaggeration, but with pride, that if ALMA exists, it is also because of me. I don't know if it was more of a birth or a paternity. Maybe the two together. I feel like a mother and also a father of this beautiful school. Here, you come to learn the basics of the craft, to learn the techniques with which to work to make merit and to make Italian cuisine great.
You can only make something great if you study hard and practice your profession relentlessly."
The very concept of study and practice, which are the keys to building something great, still encapsulate the daily actions and activities that happen among the desks and in the kitchens of ALMA. "The 20th anniversary of ALMA celebrates a reality that has trained thousands of ambassadors of gastronomic Made in Italy in the world resting on the values of conviviality and Italian hospitality, globally recognized. - ALMA President Alberto Figna emphasized at the ceremony at the Teatro Regio - ALMA was born to preserve and innovate our culinary tradition, thanks to professors and experts who have made this school a center of excellence not only in training but a true cultural hub."
A story began on January 12, 2004 in the splendid venue of the Reggia di Colorno, with 17 students, that reached last year a total of 889 students (186 of whom were international), out of a teaching offering of more than 20 courses. But what is impressive is the overall picture: there have been 14,484 students, of 80 different nationalities, who graduated from ALMA in these 20 years, taking advantage of a 5,200-square-meter space and a library of more than 15,000 volumes. A prestige that was then reflected in the work environment (about 95 percent employed within 6 months of graduation), thanks in part to the 700 partner facilities linked to hospitality. The pandemic period turned out to be significant, leading to a veritable “job hunt” with a boom in employment before the end of the course of 81 percent compared to 30.5 percent recorded in 2019.
THE 23 NEW MASTERS OF ARTS AND CRAFTS
The ceremony, hosted by Gerry Scotti, was also an opportunity to celebrate and present the 23 new Masters of Arts and Crafts in the Agrarian Arts, Taste and Hospitality, creating an event synthesis of Italianity and educational excellence at the international level, designed in collaboration with the Fondazione Cologni dei Mestieri d'Arte. "The "Maestro d'Arte e Mestiere" project is a natural extension of our mission, recognizing the talent of those who work in the food and wine supply chain and in the agricultural arts. - added Alberto Figna - With this award, we pay tribute to these masters who, thanks to their valuable knowledge and connection with the land and gastronomic culture, represent a unique heritage of values."
The Masters were divided into three areas: production, processing, and catering.
Production saw 8 awardees: Filippo Drago (grains and cereals, Sicily); Alberto and Giuseppe Rosso (fruit growing, Piedmont); Bruno Sodano (vegetables and legumes, Campania); Eleonora Noris Cunaccia (botany and medicinal herbs, Trentino); Francesco Pellegrino (olive growing, Sicily); Mario Pojer (viticulture, Trentino); the Paternoster family (beekeeping, Trentino); and Pino Spanu (livestock farming, Sardinia).
Moving on to processing: Dino Ligorio (pasta factory, Apulia); Massimo Cifarelli (white art, Basilicata); Luigi Biasetto (pastry, Veneto); Enzo Coccia (pizzeria, Campania); Luigi Caccamo (pork butchery, Calabria); Sergio Motta (butcher's shop, Lombardy); Vittorio Beltrami (dairy art, Marche); Stefano Guizzetti (ice cream, Emilia-Romagna); Cristina Quattrone (chocolate shop, Calabria) and Gianni Capovilla (distillery, Veneto).
Finally, the restaurant sector: Valeria Piccini (cooking, Tuscany); Peppe Guida (hospitality, Campania); Gabriele Gorelli (sommelier, Tuscany); Massimo Raugi (dining, Piedmont) and Luca Gargano (mixing, Liguria).
Two special awards were also presented. American journalist and writer Faith Willinger won the lifetime achievement award for “promoting Italian food and wine culture”; Ilaria Cappuccini (influencer and sommelier) with former professional cyclist Nicola Bagioli and Arianna Dell'Agostino (creators of the kitchen use of the Lavéc, the soapstone pot), on the other hand, won the Allievo d'Arte e Mestiere award dedicated to young talents who also distinguished themselves for the value of communication.
The event was organized with the valuable support of Fondazione Parma UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. In addition to the technical sponsor RISO, the media partnership of Eccellenza Italiana and the creative support of Rampello & Partners studio.
