CENTItalia 2018 built on two successful years of collaboration between Centennial College School of Culinary Arts and the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario. CENTItalia featured a video and a publication on Coffee, its history and culture, and its evolutions through the decades; an opening day with tastings on coffee and Italian pastries with the participation of Chef Andrea Tortora, who was voted best pastry chef in Italy in the "L’Espresso Guide 2019"; workshops, masterclasses and tasting events for industry people, media, general public and culinary arts students. The regional focus was on the food excellencies, olive oils and wines of Tuscany, with the participation of a delegation from the Region of Tuscany which included Michelin Star Chef Silvia Baracchi.
In 2017 the week’s focus was on authentic Italian Pizza, with the presentation of Pizza Cultura, ICCO’s latest publication, and the attendance of the #1 Mastro Pizzaiolo in Italy Franco Pepe. Michelin Star chef Cristina Bowerman from Rome and Chef Ugo Mura from IFSE Culinary School in Turin contributed to the success of the event.
In 2016 the week's main event featured the first-ever Italian Food Symposium - included a Q&A with Chef Rob Gentile (Buca Ristorante), as well as a panel discussion with industry experts. Workshops and masterclasses on food and wine specialties, as well as DOP and IGP products, were presented by visiting chefs from Italy. Chef Ugo Mura, Chef Rocco Grisoni, Chef Paolo Cacciani, and Michelin star Chef Filippo Saporito showcased the culinary excellencies of Piedmont, Emilia Romagna, Lazio and Tuscany.