After a year of growth and new European stops, The Italian Show arrived in Hamburg on Monday, November 17, transforming the spaces of the Hotel Grand Elysée into a meeting place for gastronomic culture, professional training, and culinary diplomacy. A special edition, included in the official program of the 10th Week of Italian Cuisine in the World, which confirmed the Hanseatic city as a strategic hub for dialogue between Italy and Germany.
The official opening, marked by the ribbon-cutting ceremony, took place in the presence of Anton Rossner, Honorary Consul of Italy in Hamburg, and the Italian Cultural Institute of Hamburg, both patrons of the initiative together with ITA – Italian Trade Agency and the Consulate General of Italy in Hannover. A moment that highlighted the importance of initiatives like The Italian Show in combining cultural promotion with economic diplomacy, strengthening ties across territories and supply chains.
The Tasting Show served as the beating heart of the event: on stage, leading figures of contemporary Italian cuisine alternated, including Gennaro Esposito, Mario Gamba, and Matteo Ferrantino. Their reflections and demonstrations offered a collective narrative on the evolution of Italian fine dining in Germany—a dialogue between North and South that explores identity, technique, and vision, while keeping the authenticity of Italian ingredients at the center. Alongside them, the Cuochi Contadini of the Fondazione Campagna Amica showcased the essence of rural Italian cuisine, built on seasonality and direct agricultural supply chains.
The Pizza Show brought together some of the most appreciated pizza masters on the German and international scene, such as Natalia Terracciano, Simone Fortunato, and Ferdinando Manna, who guided German professionals through the new frontiers of Italian pizza: contemporary doughs, technical precision, inclusivity, and lightness. A narrative that reflects the evolution of pizza as a global gastronomic language—innovative yet rooted in tradition.
Meanwhile, the Enoteca, curated by sommelier Claudia Stern (Wine & Glory), offered a sensory journey through the excellence of Italian wines. A tasting program designed to give professionals concrete tools for understanding and enhancing Italian wines in international markets.
In the afternoon, the “100% Italiano” awards ceremony celebrated restaurants and pizzerias in Hamburg that preserve and promote authentic Italian cuisine. A meaningful moment that reinforces the mission of I Love Italian Food to support the ambassadors of Italian culinary culture around the world.
Looking ahead to the next stages, Alessandro Schiatti, President of I Love Italian Food, stated:
“Hamburg has shown us once again how Italian cuisine is a language capable of uniting cultures, professionals, and territories. In 2026, we will further expand the project, bringing The Italian Show to new markets and creating ever more concrete opportunities for Italian producers, our chefs, and our international partners.”
With the Hamburg event, The Italian Show closes another chapter of its European journey, reaffirming the strength of Italian cuisine as both a cultural heritage and an economic resource. An invitation to continue building bridges through taste, education, and authenticity.
The Italian Show – Hamburg is a project organized by I Love Italian Food, in collaboration with the Associazione Italiana Cuochi Germania e.V.
Under the patronage of: Week of Italian Cuisine in the World, Consulate General of Italy in Hannover, ITA – Italian Trade Agency
In collaboration with: Italian Cultural Institute of Hamburg, BrandMarke, Hamburger Originale, Wine & Glory by Claudia Stern, Istituto 100% Italiano
With the contribution of: Coldiretti, Fondazione Campagna Amica, Associazione Terranostra
Made possible thanks to the support of the sponsors: Mulino Caputo, Ciao Pomodoro, Igor, Lurisia
Pizza Show Sponsors: Mulino Caputo, Ciao Pomodoro, Latteria Sorrentina
Technical Partners: Pentole Agnelli, Izzo Forni, Effeuno, Jungle, Pizza-Ofen
Media Partner: A Tavola!
