Our Story
MELIUS is the culmination of the itchefs-GVCI network — the Gruppo Virtuale Cuochi Italiani founded by Rosario Scarpato in 2001. From an informal circle of chefs to 2,500 professionals in 77 countries, sixteen World Summits and two Guinness World Records, this is the story of authentic Italian cuisine beyond Italy.
About Us
MELIUS is the only independent, AI-supported, personalised guide to Italian authentic dining and food, outside of Italy. It selects restaurants that preserve, uphold and share Italy's authentic culinary and hospitality culture and use Made in Italy ingredients.
Produced by Argos Star, MELIUS is also the most authoritative guidance to Italian authentic ingredients and wines, their producers, the shops or internet retailers selling them worldwide — and where to buy at convenient prices.
MELIUS has been founded and is directed by Rosario Scarpato, possibly the most qualified expert on Italian cuisine outside of Italy. It relies on expert-verified, trustable reviews — including those of chefs, restaurateurs, restaurant managers and culinary & F&B professionals working around the world.
MELIUS's mission is to serve, free of charge, Customers of Italian restaurants, Buyers of Italian ingredients and Lovers of Italian cuisine.
About & History
The legacy of founder Rosario Scarpato runs through every milestone below. What began as the itchefs-GVCI network — the Gruppo Virtuale Cuochi Italiani — has become the connective tissue linking authentic Italian restaurants, producers and professionals across 100 countries.
Rosario Scarpato founds the Gruppo Virtuale Cuochi Italiani — an informal network that grows to 2,500 chefs and restaurateurs in 77 countries.
IDIC launches, eventually reaching 17 editions with 500+ five-star hotels and 150 Michelin-starred guest chefs.
The producing companies begin managing international events and hospitality consulting across Hong Kong, China, the USA, the UAE and Thailand.
Sixteen annual editions of the Italian Cuisine World Summit establish the flagship gathering for authentic Italian cuisine abroad.
Longest line of sustainable pizzas: 2,059 pizzas, achieved in Dubai.
Largest display of cheese varieties: 1,189 cheeses, achieved in Dubai.
Official launch at the 17th Italian Cuisine World Summit — 5,000 restaurants, 150 producers, 50 wineries and 20,000 users at start.
Summit & Forum Portal
Two flagship gatherings anchor the MELIUS year — the Summit in Dubai, the pre-eminent congress of authentic Italian cuisine abroad, and the Forum in Italy, where guide restaurants meet producers at the source.
DubaiAnnual · flagship
Dubai
The annual MELIUS flagship — a gastronomic congress and awards ceremony where restaurants, producers and wineries are celebrated, and producers market to an international professional audience. The 17th edition hosts the official MELIUS launch.
ItalyAnnual
Italy
Hosted in Italy, the Forum is the annual meeting for guide restaurants to discuss the themes of their work and meet producers directly at their places of production.
For Producers
Italy exports over €70bn of agro-food each year, yet countless authentic SMEs, consortia and cooperatives remain invisible to international buyers. A MELIUS partnership puts your products in front of expert-verified restaurants, professionals and consumers across 100 markets.
Italian agro-food SMEs entering international markets
Producers & consortia seeking flagship international reach
Lead-acquisition terminal
Whether you make DOP cheese, single-estate olive oil or a regional wine, MELIUS turns provenance into reach. Tell us about your business and our producer relations team will design your activation across the Summit, the Forum and the digital guide.