Italy at the Table – “Person of the Year 2019”

When we talk about passion for food, for gastronomic excellence, we often run the risk of falling into empty rhetoric, getting lost in a river of stale catchphrases.

There is no space today that has not been conquered by duels over the fires of the stove or intergalactic challenges between chefs sometimes only self-styled as such.

In this overloaded panorama of food and wine “solicitations,” the award, now in its 12th edition, “Italia a Tavola – person of the year of food and wine and hospitality” stands out again this year for its importance and following.

Divided into six categories (chefs, pizza makers, pastry chefs, room and hotel chefs, bartenders and opinion leaders) and under the watchful eye of founder and director Alberto Lupini, 36 professionals from each sector are competing from now until next Feb. 16 for the coveted Character of the Year award.

Once again our very own Irina Mihailenko, wine and food consultant and project manager of Tooscans.it, has been included among the magnificent 36 in the Room and Hotel section, where in past years she has already collected excellent results up to last year’s fantastic second place.

These awards, beyond the undoubted and legitimate personal satisfaction, confirm the quality of Irina’s work, her daily focus and dedication in the continuous search for unique experiences that can be shared.

Irina has been involved in wine and food consulting for fifteen years. Having lived for many years in the heart of the Chianti Classico region, she was immediately moved by curiosity about the world of wine, beginning her professional sommelier course with the AIS (Italian Sommelier Association) in Florence and from there the curiosity about food that ended up becoming a wonderful obsession.

A continuous discovery of wineries, products, wine and grape varieties, restaurants, chefs, venues. Then, not content, she also wanted to earn a sommelier diploma with FISAR (Federazione Italiana Sommelier Albergatori e Ristoratori).

In her long experience in the industry for four years she served as maitre, sommelier and director at the Tola Rasa restaurant in Padua. Her next goals, once she completes her Master’s degree in Digital Marketing currently being attended at PIN in Prato, an educational and scientific center of the University of Florence, will be courses in bartending and photography.

Tooscans.co.uk proudly and enthusiastically supports Irina in this wonderful new adventure. Help us support her, just click below!