Thirty-two students had a day of learning about authentic Italian food and wine in New York City on November 20. In an extracurricular activity sponsored by the
Italian Trade Commission and the
Italian Ministry of Agriculture, the CIA students spent time at
Eataly Flatiron, meeting with management and touring the shops. They participated in education sessions about extra virgin olive oils, balsamic vinegars, cheeses, and salumi of Italy, and had lunch and dinner at restaurants in Manhattan serving authentic Italian regional cuisine using ingredients imported from Italy.
Italian Trade Commissioner Maurizio Forte said, "Our aim is to have students enter the foodservice industry with familiarity in hands-on use and advanced knowledge of authentic Italian products."
The day-long experience was completely booked within 10 minutes of being announced, according to
David Whalen, CIA associate dean of student activities.