Italian Culture Undersecretary Enrages Top Italian Chefs
by Admin
@ 12 Aug 2013
Italy may be famed for dishes like tiramisu, spaghetti, ravioli, fine wines and cheeses, but it seems that Mrs Borletti Buitoni, thinks otherwise. Mrs Buitoni, who is the junior minister of Italian Culture, shared during an interview with Panorama Magazine that she has a negative judgment of the skills of an Italian chef. She is quoted saying "In Italy, we haven’t been able to eat well for a long time, unfortunately. We are trying to do what’s trendy, what’s French, moving away from our concept of cuisine”. The comment by the junior minister has sparked an outrage among the top Italian chefs and restaurant owners, who felt betrayed by her. They are demanding for her resignation and expressed their disbelief and unhappiness with Mrs Buitoni’s ignorant comments. Chef Massimiliano Alajmo, who owns three Michelin-starred restaurant Le Calandre, wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Enrico Letta to express his dismay, questioning if she was the suitable person for the job. Two Michelin-starred chef Moreno Cedroni also shared his disappointment in the same person who was supposed to help promote Italian culture, but instead snubbed it.
Italy has been gaining more recognition in recent years, and produced their first female chef to earn three Michelin stars, Chef Nadia Santini. Chef Santini was also awarded the World’s Best Female Chef for 2013 by San Pellegrino’s World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Mrs Buitoni’s comments has fueled the flames for the age-old debate and rivalry between French and Italian cuisine.
