TORONTO — Italy’s Food Valley served up a taste of its culinary heritage in Toronto as Emilia-Romagna looks to strengthen ties with Canada and attract more visitors to the region.

An exclusive event held Oct. 28 at Eataly Toronto Eaton Centre showcased Emilia-Romagna’s wines, regional specialties and gastronomic traditions through tastings, culinary demonstrations and an exploration of its food heritage. 

The event featured wines including Lambrusco, Sangiovese and Pignoletto, alongside the region’s Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) products. Guests also experienced a fresh pasta-making demonstration led by a Marietta from Casa Artusi, celebrating the culinary traditions of Italian food writer Pellegrino Artusi.

Organized in collaboration with Casa Artusi and Eataly, the gathering was part of an institutional mission to North America promoting regional products, supporting businesses and building economic and cultural relationships.

Toronto was the second stop of the mission, following New York and ahead of a final stop in Montréal.

The regional delegation was led by Manuela Rontini, Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Emilia-Romagna Region, and Alessio Mammi, Regional Minister for Agriculture and Agri-food.

“Canada is a strategic partner for Emilia-Romagna, and we want to strengthen our economic, institutional and cultural relationships with the country. Our goal is to increase the presence of our regional products in the Canadian market and develop new opportunities for collaboration,” said Rontini and Mammi.

BUILDING NEW OPPORTUNITIES

The Toronto program also included meetings with Ontario government representatives and agricultural organizations, as well as a culinary masterclass at George Brown Polytechnic introducing future culinary professionals to the region’s food traditions.

Canada is a key market for Emilia-Romagna’s agri-food exports. According to Art-ER data based on Istat figures, the region ranked first among Italian regions for exports of the broader agri-food supply chain to Canada in the first half of 2026, reaching €130.3 million, up 2% year over year. Exports to Canada totalled €280.5 million in 2025, an increase of 15%.

BEYOND THE TABLE

The region is also promoting its tourism offerings beyond the table. From Bologna’s food markets and Parma’s gastronomic heritage to Modena’s architecture, Ravenna’s mosaics and the Adriatic Riviera, Emilia-Romagna offers Canadian travellers a mix of culinary, cultural and coastal experiences.

“Our PDO and PGI products embody quality, expertise and the identity of the territories where they are produced. Sharing them with Canadian audiences also means telling the story of Emilia-Romagna and inviting them to discover our region,” added the regional representatives.

For more information, visit www.italia.it/en/emilia-romagna.

Lead image caption: Manuela Rontini, Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Emilia-Romagna Region (third from right), and Alessio Mammi, Regional Minister for Agriculture and Agri-food (centre) lead a regional delegation to promote the flavours and traditions of the Emilia-Romagna Region in Toronto, Oct. 28, 2026