On Saturday, 29 November 2025, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Australia (Victoria and Tasmania), in collaboration with the Consulate General of Italy and the Italian Cultural Institute in Melbourne, hosted the Italian Business Awards Gala, the closing event of the 10th Edition of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World (Settimana della Cucina Italiana nel Mondo).
The Gala is one of the most significant annual appointments for the Italian–Australian business community. Held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, it gathered more than 500 guests, including entrepreneurs, institutional representatives, and leading figures from the economic and cultural sectors.
The evening opened with an Italian aperitivo, followed by a gala dinner celebrating the flavours, creativity, and regional diversity of Italian cuisine. Each course showcased the richness of Italy’s culinary heritage, presenting a journey from North to South that combined tradition with contemporary interpretation.
The awards ceremony featured contributions from distinguished speakers, including the Chargé d’Affaires Mr. Roberto Rizzo, the Minister for Finance and Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs Mr. Danny Pearson, Hon.Nicola Care’ and the Consul General of Italy in Melbourne, Chiara Mauri who highlighted the longstanding partnership between Italy and Australia and the importance of promoting Italian excellence in the region.
The Italian Business Awards recognised outstanding achievements across various sectors, acknowledging the commitment, professionalism, and contribution of all applicants and award recipients, while also highlighting the vision, diversity, and innovation of the Italian and Italian-Australian business community in Melbourne.
The Gala formed part of the wider series of initiatives presented for the 10th Edition of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World, organised by the Italian Cultural Institute and the Consulate General of Italy in Melbourne, in collaboration with CO.AS.IT Melbourne, Com.It.Es. Victoria and Tasmania, and the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Australia – Victoria and Tasmania.
This year’s edition opened on 4 September with the presentation of Luciano Pignataro’s book La Pizza. Una storia straordinaria at 48H Pizza and Gnocchi Bar, followed by the launch event of the Melbourne Italian Festa & Expo on 8 September, enriched by a dinner curated by renowned chef Guy Grossi.
Among the subsequent initiatives were the exhibition The Tales of the Roots and the Dish Italy Up Chef Competition, both held within the Melbourne Italian Festa & Expo 2025 at the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton on 18 and 19 October. The Festa hosted over 200 exhibitors and welcomed more than 130,000 visitors, confirming its position as one of the year’s most significant cultural and community gatherings.
The series continued on 18 November at Co.As.It with the lecture Walk a Mile in the Shoes of a Pompeian, delivered by Professor Tamara Lewitt from the University of Melbourne, exploring food culture and daily life in ancient Pompeii.
During the final week of celebrations, sixteen restaurants, pizzerias, and gelaterias certified with the “Ospitalità Italiana” quality seal took part at the initiative “Il piatto e’ servito” by creating original dishes inspired by tradition, sustainability, and creativity.
In conclusion, the 2025 Week of Italian Cuisine in the World distinguished itself through the scope of its initiatives and its extended duration, unfolding across three months of events. It once again demonstrated the vitality of Melbourne’s Italian cultural and entrepreneurial fabric and the strong synergy between institutions and local partners.
