Judge Teams Up with Chefs in Every State to Improve the Health of Americans through Authentic Italian Cuisine 

As Italian food consumption continues to soar in the U.S., and remains our nation’s top cuisine, Food Network’s Iron Chef America Judge and Italian Culinary Expert, Mario Rizzotti, is setting out on an Italian food crusade. His goal: to help improve the health of Americans through the consumption of authentic, Italian food. Teaming up with chefs throughout the U.S., Mario will kick-off his “4 the Love of Italian Food Tour” in Sioux City, Iowa on August 28, 2016. The restaurant tour is designed to educate Americans on authentic Italian food products, helping them distinguish real from fake, and how these food ingredients can help reduce many health issues related to poor eating. The year-long tour will span across every state in the U.S., and in each state, will visit 4 cities, 4 restaurants, in 4 days. 

Rizzotti, a native of Rome, Italy, has been promoting authentic, Italian food products since he moved to the U.S. more than twenty years ago. After starting in the U.S. as a dishwasher in restaurants, Mario’s career in the culinary industry escalated. In 2002 he partnered with Academia Barilla, where he became an Italian Culinary Expert. Three years later he joined Food Network’s Iron Chef America show where he has been called to judge meals prepared by celebrity chefs, Mario Batali, Bobby Flay and more. 

The “4 the Love of Italian Food Tour” is targeted to smaller cities throughout the U.S. where Mario teams up with local chefs who have joined his crusade to co-host an authentic Italian dinner in support of good health. Restaurant guests will be introduced to dishes they may have never heard of before that will include ingredients that are true products of Italy. Each dinner event is themed around an authentic Italian food product, i.e EVOO (extra virgin olive oil). During the dinner Mario educates guests on how to distinguish authentic Italian products from fake, and how incorporating these ingredients into their diet every day can improve their overall health. 

Mario explains, “There are products that are what we call Italian sounding meaning they look and sound like real Italian ingredients but are not. In some cases, Americans are getting completely ripped off. They think the extra virgin olive oil they use is good for them, where in reality, a large percentage of extra virgin olive oil sold in the U.S. is not really extra virgin. It could be loaded with fillers that can do more harm than good, like partially hydrogenated soybean oil which is a trans-fat. Or the olive oil is made from rancid olives, which have lost almost all their health benefits. I started out helping people understand the difference between real Italian products and fake, now my journey has new meaning. I love the United States but see a country that is eating themselves sick through poor food choices. Diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure are increasing even in our youth. Right now Americans are in a love affair with Italian food which is great, I don’t have to persuade them to embrace Italian cuisine, I just have to teach them how to select the right products for better health, and to remind them to consume their authentic EVOO every day”.

“We’re excited to join forces with Mario’s mission,” said Enzo Zurlo, Chef and Owner of Enzo’s Italian in Omaha, Nebraska. Enzo continues, “Together we’re encouraging guests to eat authentic and understand what they are consuming. I feel the same as Mario, there is a lot of Italian food out there, but not a lot of it is authentic. And a true Italian dinner is not about pasta smothered in meat sauce. It is simple, fresh and can be very heart healthy.” 

Mario will be in Omaha, Tuesday, August 30, 2016. He will be teaming up with Chef Enzo Zurlo of Enzo’s Italian, 8510 North 30th Street, as they co-host an authentic Italian dinner: cocktails 5:00pm, dinner 6:30pm. Those interested in attending the August 30th event should make a reservation soon as seating is limited. Reservations can be made by calling: 402.933.9755 

 

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>p class=”p1″ style=”text-align: center;”>>strong>Judge Teams Up with Chefs in Every State to Improve the Health of Americans through Authentic Italian Cuisine >/strong>>/p>
>p class=”p2″>As Italian food consumption continues to soar in the U.S., and remains our nation’s top cuisine, Food Network’s Iron Chef America Judge and Italian Culinary Expert, Mario Rizzotti, is setting out on an Italian food crusade. His goal: to help improve the health of Americans through the consumption of authentic, Italian food. Teaming up with chefs throughout the U.S., Mario will kick-off his “>em>4 the Love of Italian Food Tour>/em>” in Sioux City, Iowa on August 28, 2016. The restaurant tour is designed to educate Americans on authentic Italian food products, helping them distinguish real from fake, and how these food ingredients can help reduce many health issues related to poor eating. The year-long tour will span across every state in the U.S., and in each state, will visit 4 cities, 4 restaurants, in 4 days. >/p>
>p class=”p2″>Rizzotti, a native of Rome, Italy, has been promoting authentic, Italian food products since he moved to the U.S. more than twenty years ago. After starting in the U.S. as a dishwasher in restaurants, Mario’s career in the culinary industry escalated. In 2002 he partnered with Academia Barilla, where he became an Italian Culinary Expert. Three years later he joined Food Network’s Iron Chef America show where he has been called to judge meals prepared by celebrity chefs, Mario Batali, Bobby Flay and more. >/p>
>p class=”p2″>The “4 the Love of Italian Food Tour” is targeted to smaller cities throughout the U.S. where Mario teams up with local chefs who have joined his crusade to co-host an authentic Italian dinner in support of good health. Restaurant guests will be introduced to dishes they may have never heard of before that will include ingredients that are true products of Italy. Each dinner event is themed around an authentic Italian food product, i.e EVOO (extra virgin olive oil). During the dinner Mario educates guests on how to distinguish authentic Italian products from fake, and how incorporating these ingredients into their diet every day can improve their overall health. >/p>
>p class=”p2″>Mario explains, “There are products that are what we call Italian sounding meaning they look and sound like real Italian ingredients but are not. In some cases, Americans are getting completely ripped off. They think the extra virgin olive oil they use is good for them, where in reality, a large percentage of extra virgin olive oil sold in the U.S. is not really extra virgin. It could be loaded with fillers that can do more harm than good, like partially hydrogenated soybean oil which is a trans-fat. Or the olive oil is made from rancid olives, which have lost almost all their health benefits. I started out helping people understand the difference between real Italian products and fake, now my journey has new meaning. I love the United States but see a country that is eating themselves sick through poor food choices. Diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure are increasing even in our youth. Right now Americans are in a love affair with Italian food which is great, I don’t have to persuade them to embrace Italian cuisine, I just have to teach them how to select the right products for better health, and to remind them to consume their authentic EVOO every day”.>/p>
>p class=”p2″>“We’re excited to join forces with Mario’s mission,” said Enzo Zurlo, Chef and Owner of Enzo’s Italian in Omaha, Nebraska. Enzo continues, “Together we’re encouraging guests to eat authentic and understand what they are consuming. I feel the same as Mario, there is a lot of Italian food out there, but not a lot of it is authentic. And a true Italian dinner is not about pasta smothered in meat sauce. It is simple, fresh and can be very heart healthy.” >/p>
>p class=”p3″>Mario will be in Omaha, Tuesday, August 30, 2016. He will be teaming up with Chef Enzo Zurlo of Enzo’s Italian, 8510 North 30th Street, as they co-host an authentic Italian dinner: cocktails 5:00pm, dinner 6:30pm. Those interested in attending the August 30th event should make a reservation soon as seating is limited. Reservations can be made by calling: 402.933.9755 >/p>
>p class=”p4″>>strong> >/strong>>/p>