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News, stories, and recipes for anyone who loves Italian food, wine, spirits, and travel

Appetito

Silvia Davi is a multidimensional C-suite executive, entrepreneur, contributor, and board 
member, with a background that stems from leadership roles at Fortune 500 organizations, 
global consultancies, start-ups, and nonprofits. With a speciality in innovation, global marketing, 
corporate communications, business development, global partnerships and investor relations, 
and a deep passion for history, the arts and culture, Silvia is the Founder of <a href="https://www.vs-strategic.com/">V&amp;S Strategic Consulting</a>.

Silvia Davi, founder of Renaissance Minds.

Silvia Davi

Features

The Art of Balance: AI Executive Ben Bellettini

Michael Politto Jr. is a retired Italian chef and accomplished journalist whose life’s work bridged the passionate artistry of traditional cuisine with the storytelling power of the written word. Born into a proud Italian-American family, Politto developed his culinary foundation under the mentorship of master chefs in Italy, refining his craft in some of the country’s most revered kitchens. His early career took him through the historic halls of Osteria Francescana, the elegance of Le Calandre, and the legendary La Pergola, where he became known for his disciplined technique and deep respect for regional Italian traditions. Over decades, Politto cultivated a reputation as a chef who could elevate rustic dishes into refined experiences, earning admiration from peers and critics alike.
In the later stages of his career, Politto transitioned seamlessly into journalism, bringing the same authenticity and depth to his writing that defined his cooking. As a contributor to leading culinary publications across Europe and the United States, he documented the evolving landscape of Italian gastronomy, profiling iconic chefs and preserving disappearing regional recipes. His work captured not just food, but the culture, history, and people behind it cementing his legacy as both a craftsman and a storyteller. Now retired, Michael Politto Jr. is regarded as a respected voice in the culinary world, a man whose life embodied the spirit of Italy’s kitchens and whose words continue to inspire a new generation of chefs and food writers.

hospitality industry

The Art of Balance: AI Executive Ben Bellettini

An Italian Chef’s Mission to Change the Hospitality Industry