On the occasion of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World 2025, the Italian Cultural Institute of Nairobi presents Dining with Italy: 100 Years of Taste and Innovation, a special exhibition hosted at the Nairobi National Museum, in the prestigious Hall of Kenya.
Curated by Alessia Autuori and promoted by the “Garum” Library and Museum of Cuisine and the International Association of Historical Menus, the exhibition brings together around 50 historical Italian menus from the late 19th century to the early 2000s, offering a unique journey through the evolution of Italy’s culinary identity. Behind the choice of dishes, the language, and the design of each menu lies the social and cultural history of a country: through changing tastes, aesthetics, and ingredients, cuisine becomes a living expression of memory and identity. These documents trace the extraordinary rise of Italian gastronomy, which in less than a century has achieved international acclaim, culminating in its recent nomination to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
Alongside this historical narrative, the exhibition also presents a new work by the Italian artist Tommaso Cascella, created during his residency in Nairobi from 12 to 19 November 2025 at St. Kizito VTI.
The exhibition will be presented on 19 November at 6:00 PM with an invitation-only event, which also marks the official launch of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World 2025 in Kenya.
It will then remain open to the public until 10 December 2025, accessible during regular museum hours with the standard museum admission ticket.