22/10/2026
MARIO SOLDATI: THE ART OF TELLING ITALY THROUGH TASTE
What can food and w**e tell us about a country?
On the occasion of the 11th Italian Cuisine Week in the World (SCIM - Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale) and the 120th anniversary of Mario Soldati’s birth, ICI London celebrates the writer and film director who transformed Italy’s regions, food and w**e into unforgettable stories of identity, culture and belonging.
The conversation will explore Soldati’s legacy as a pioneer of cultural storytelling, from Vino al vino to Viaggio nella valle del Po, and the enduring power of sharing food as a way of connecting people, places and traditions.
SPECIAL SPEAKERS
Fabio Cassese, H.E. Ambassador of Embassy in the UK
Francesco Bongarrà, Director of ICI London
Professor Beatrice Sica, Professor of Italian Studies at the University College London (UCL)
Maurizio Fazzari, Vice President and London delegate of the Accademia Italiana della Cucina
Chiara Soldati, Cavaliere del Lavoro, entrepreneur and promoter of the initiative
Special contribution: Roberto Costa (from the audience)
Chair: Marco Varvello, journalist and La Stampa UK Correspondent
📚 A little library treasure! Did you know that the Eugenio Montale Library at ICI London holds a signed original 1956 copy of Mario Soldati’s A cena col commendatore, published by Longanesi Editore? Become a member and discover this and many other literary gems in our collection!
18 November
6 pm
At ICI London, new venue (4-5 Buckingham Gate, SW1E 6JP)
Book here: https://tinyurl.com/yr3ybyvb
Part of the cultural roadshow celebrating the 120th anniversary of Mario Soldati’s birth, organised by Chiara Soldati, this event is hosted by the Italian Cultural Institute in London in collaboration with the Mario Soldati Association and the Mondadori Foundation. Media partner: La Cucina Italiana. The event is held under the patronage of MASAF (Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry), ITA – Italian Trade Agency and Veronafiere Vinitaly.
