What is it about?

Italian cuisine has always been an important instrument to promote the Italian image abroad, fostering not only the knowledge of Italian products but also of Italian economy and culture all over the world.

As a matter of fact, the Italian cuisine is very much appreciated by Americans and local restaurants serving Italian dishes are often preferred destinations for a fine dining experience.

Therefore, restaurants have a significant role to play in this promotional exercise, that is why it is crucial that those who serve traditional Italian gastronomy can be easily recognized.

For this purpose, Unioncamere and the Italian Government have constituted the certification “Ospitalità Italiana – Ristoranti Italiani nel Mondo” – a seal of quality, to be conferred on Italian restaurants around the world.

The Italy-America Chamber of Commerce Southeast (IACCSE) is the body in charge of the selection of local restaurants serving authentic Italian cuisine in the Southeast of the United States and Puerto Rico.

It is the Chamber’s duty and pleasure to enhance the participation of potential candidates who are eligible to acquire the certification and the “Premio Ristoranti Italiani nel Mondo” which is bestowed upon the best Italian restaurants annually.

In the course of the last 5 editions, about two thousands of Italian restaurants have been certified all over the world.

Objectives

• To develop and promote the traditions of Italian food products and upgrade the culture of Italian food and wine;
• To enhance the image of Italian restaurants abroad that guarantee respect of the quality standards of Italian hospitality;
• To create an international network, providing for the realization of promotional events of Italian productive excellence.

Benefits for your restaurants

• Listed on the Marchio Ospitalita’ Italiana International website (www.10q.it);
• Listed on IACC website (more than 1500 visitors every month);
• Place the award outside your restaurant
• No cost

Pictures from the Marchio Ospitalita’ Italiana edition in 2012

Pictures of Marchio Ospitalita’ Italiana award ceremony in 2013

Pictures of Marchio Ospitalita’ Italiana award ceremony in 2014

Pictures of Marchio Ospitalita’ Italiana award ceremony in 2015

Pictures of Marchio Ospitalita’ Italiana award ceremony in 2016

Requirements for certification

The criteria for the evaluation of Italian restaurants abroad, for the purpose of granting the brand “Italian Hospitality, Italian Restaurants around the World,” are collected in a specific Technical Guideline, which consists of 10 rules, and is valid at the international level:

• Identity
• Italian distinctiveness
• Menu
• Gourmet offer
• Recipes
• Wine list
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Italian cuisine experience and competence
• Promotion of products of protected origin
• Food and wine products having DOP and IGP designations

Winners

After a meticulous selection process, initial screenings and fulfillment of admission requirements by various restaurants, the following Italian restaurants in South Florida and Puerto Rico have been awarded with the Marchio Ospitalia’ Italiana (in alphabetical order):

2011 – 2012 Winners:

1. Arturo’s Ristorante Italiano (Boca Raton)
2. Caffe’ Abbracci (Coral Gables)
3. Caffe’ Milano (Ocean Drive)
4. Fratelli Milano (Miami)
5. Mancini’s Ristorante (Fort Lauderdale)
6. Mai Tardi (Miami)
7. Saporissimo (Boca Raton)
8. Soya & Pomodoro (Miami)
9. Tiramesu’ (Miami Beach)

2012 – 2013 Winners:

1. Bellini Italian Bistro (Weston)
2. Cibo Wine Bar (Coral Gables)
3. deiFrescobaldi (Miami Beach)
4. Escopazzo (Miami Beach)
5. Il Bolognese (Miami Beach)
6. La Locanda (Miami Beach)
7. Locanda Sibilla (Miami Beach)
8. Quattro – Gastronomia Italiana (Miami Beach)
9. Salumeria 104 (Miami)
10. Sardinia (Miami Beach)
11. Sorrisi (Coconut Creek)

2013 – 2014 Winners:

1. Adriatico Trattoria (Orlando)
2. Amami (Miami Beach)
3. Bianca at Delano (Miami Beach)
4. Bocce Bar (Miami)
5. La Spiga (Miami Beach)
6. Ni. Do. (Miami)
7. Pappa & Ciccia (Miami Beach)
8. Petit (Miami Beach)
9. Piccola Cucina (Miami Beach)
10. Primo Trattoria Italiana (North Miami)
11. Puntino dal Toro (Miami Beach)
12. Puntino Key Biscayne (Key Biscayne)
13. Sylvano (Miami Beach)
14. Toscana Divino (Miami)
15. Via Verdi (Miami)

2014 – 2015 Winners:

1. Big Fish Restaurant (Miami)
2. Casa Tua (Miami Beach)
3. Cibo Wine Bar South Beach (Miami Beach)
4. Dolce Italian (Miami Beach)
5. Farfalle – Fine Italian Restaurant (Miami)
6. La Bottega (Coconut Grove)
7. L’Osteria (San Juan)
8. Ristorante Casa Italia (San Juan)
9. Riviera Focacceria Italiana (Miami)
10. Strada in the Grove (Coconut Grove)
11. Vero Italian (Miami)
12. Via Emilia 9 (Miami Beach)

2015 – 2016 Winners:

1. Antica Mare (Miami)
2. Baraonda (Atlanta)
3. Bologna Caffe (Ospery/ Sarasota)
4. Cibo Wine Bar Ft. Lauderdale (Fort Lauderdale)
5. Farinelli 1937 (Coconut Grove)
6. Il Forno (Doral)
7. Limoncello Italian Restaurant Bar & Lounge (Aventura)
8. Sette Bello (Fort Lauderdale)
9. Tamarina Restaurant & Bar (Miami)
10. Vino & Tigelle (Miami)
11. Zona Blu (Weston)
12. Al Dente Ristorante (San Juan – Puerto Rico)
13. Il Nuovo Mercato (San Juan – Puerto Rico)
14. La Cucina di Ivo (San Juan – Puerto Rico)

2016 – 2017 Winners:

1. Forte dei Marmi (Miami Beach)
2. La Moderna (Miami Beach)
3. O’ Munaciello (Miami)
4. U’ Mast (Miami)
5. Zucca (Coral Gables)

How to apply

• Fill out two application forms
• Provide 20-30 pictures of your restaurant, menu, kitchen, label of Italian products used to cook
• Being able to host a Chamber officer that will check the satisfaction of all the requirements

The award ceremony will take place on November 20, when the Consul General of Italy and the President of the Chamber of Commerce will consign the golden plaques to the owners and chefs of the certified restaurants that can be showcased at the entrance of your restaurant.

For further information and to receive this official recognition from the Italian Government for the next edition of Marchio Ospitalita’, please contact Ms. Nora Serrani at info@iacc-miami.com