On November 17, 2024, in Pioppi (Pollica), four Italian figures linked to the world of food culture and regional promotion were named Ambassadors of the Mediterranean Diet in the World by the Living Museum of the Mediterranean Diet, the Municipality of Pollica, and Legambiente. Among them is Paolo De Simone of Modus Milano, the only pizza chef on the list. The appointment is tied to the UNESCO recognition of the Mediterranean Diet as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and is the institutional recognition of a journey built over thirty years in Cilento and Milan.
Who are the Ambassadors of the Mediterranean Diet?
The Ambassadors of the Mediterranean Diet are individuals appointed for their concrete contribution to the promotion, dissemination, and enhancement of the Mediterranean dietary model worldwide. The title, established in 2016, is linked to the UNESCO recognition of the Mediterranean Diet (2010) and is awarded to those who, in their field of activity, contribute to keeping the Mediterranean diet alive as a daily practice.
The figure of the Ambassador is designed for those who work actively, through their professional work, to make the Mediterranean Diet a concrete reality in the present. Chefs, farmers, researchers, and cultural operators linked to the Cilento and Mediterranean territory.
How is one nominated as an Ambassador of the Mediterranean Diet?
The title is conferred by the Living Museum of the Mediterranean Diet in Pioppi (SA), the Municipality of Pollica, and Legambiente. The selection criteria concern the actual contribution to the promotion of the Mediterranean dietary model: consistency between professional practice and the principles of the Mediterranean Diet, the ability to communicate it to a wide audience, and a concrete impact on the enhancement of the relevant products and territories.
For Paolo De Simone, the recognition followed a logical path: thirty years of work with Cilento supply chains, the founding of Storie di Pane in 2010, the opening of Modus Milano in 2022, and the gastronomic awards obtained in the meantime, such as the Tre Spicchi from Gambero Rosso in the Pizzerie d'Italia guide, have built a profile that corresponds exactly to what the title requires.
Why is Paolo De Simone an Ambassador of the Mediterranean Diet?
De Simone comes from Pisciotta, in the heart of Cilento. He founded Storie di Pane in 2010, a bakery, shop, and wine bar with a wood-fired oven and ancient grains bearing the Cilento National Park Brand. Storie di Pane is still active in Vallo della Lucania and is the starting point for the entire Modus project.
Bringing Modus to Milan in 2022 meant physically transporting that network of producers, those supply chains, and those nutritional principles into one of the cities most culturally distant from the model it represents. The goal was to demonstrate that Cilento cuisine (legumes, ancient grains, extra virgin olive oil, Menaica anchovies) is good, sustainable, accessible, and contemporary. This is exactly the work of an Ambassador of the Mediterranean Diet.
Who are the other Ambassadors of the Mediterranean Diet?
Together with Paolo De Simone, Alfonso Andria, president of the European University Centre for Cultural Heritage in Ravello; Silvia Chirico, a Cilento shepherd, cheesemaker, and gelato maker; and Teresa Del Giudice, professor of Agricultural Economics at the University of Naples Federico II, were named Ambassadors of the Mediterranean Diet in the World.
The composition of the group reflects the expanded vision of the Mediterranean Diet as a broad cultural phenomenon: lifestyle, local culture, university research, agricultural production, and cuisine.
What does this recognition mean for Modus?
De Simone's appointment as Ambassador of the Mediterranean Diet is an institutional confirmation of what Modus already does every day: working with Cilento supply chains, offering cuisine based on the principles of the Mediterranean Diet, and telling the story of the territory through food. The daily practice of the pizzerias and gastronomies remains the same.
The recognition gives Modus more visibility and allows it to participate in events, conferences, and institutional initiatives on the Mediterranean Diet as a representative of a professional practice consistent with the values of the UNESCO heritage. For those who eat at Modus gastronomies and pizzerias, the meaning is simple: behind every dish is a recognized path.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who named Paolo De Simone an Ambassador of the Mediterranean Diet?
The title was conferred on him on November 17, 2024, in Pioppi (Pollica) by the Living Museum of the Mediterranean Diet, the Municipality of Pollica, and Legambiente.
What does an Ambassador of the Mediterranean Diet do?
They promote the values, products, and culture of the Mediterranean Diet through their professional activity and participation in institutional events, gastronomic festivals, and educational initiatives linked to the UNESCO heritage.
Is the Ambassador recognition annual or permanent?
The appointment is permanent and is linked to the professional journey of the nominee: it recognizes a professional profile that has been consistent over time.
Where is the Living Museum of the Mediterranean Diet located?
The Living Museum of the Mediterranean Diet is located in Pioppi, a hamlet of Pollica (SA), in the heart of Cilento. It was created by the Municipality of Pollica and promotes Mediterranean food education.
