More than thirty chefs from hotels and restaurants in Malindi benefited last weekend from an 'upgrade' in their professionalism and experience, especially with regard to Italian cuisine, which has always been an identifying mark of the tourist destination, both internationally and locally.

The initiative was prepared by the Italian Embassy in Kenya, as part of the Italian Cuisine Week programme, which was not only a promotional showcase for national food and wine, but also had popular implications, with master classes held by the 'ambassador of taste' chef Luca Mastromattei and lectures in the universities of Nairobi and Mombasa by Mauro Serafini, professor of Human Nutrition at the University of Teramo and internationally renowned luminary.

In Malindi, Mastromattei's lessons, in the large, modern and functional kitchens of the Ocean Beach Resort, were attended by more than thirty chefs, thanks to the collaboration of the PWAM association, which has always worked in all fields to improve the town and its services to the fullest extent, and the KAHC (Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Catereres) trade association.

As the Kenyan Minister of Tourism, Alfred Mutua, pointed out, in order to be a more attractive and competitive destination, apart from improving accessibility and infrastructure, one needs to improve services and the quality of the hospitality proposition, and initiatives such as these certainly go in that direction.
"It was an extraordinary and useful day," explained Kate Mwikali, PWAM president, "that consolidated the already very good relations between the community and the tourism sector in Malindi and the Italian government, represented here by the Italian embassy.

On this occasion, at the end of the internship in which the local cooks were given lessons on fresh pasta, sauces, and many practical tips on healthy and light cooking, keeping the flavours and beneficial properties of food intact, it was Ambassador Roberto Natali himself who presented them with certificates of participation for the day: certificates that they proudly displayed and that will be included in their curricula, increasing their professionalism and the level of the structure in which they work.