During the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Carnaroli Classico rice by Riserva San Massimo accompanied some of the most significant moments of the event, bringing the Italian gastronomic excellence to the most highly anticipated sporting event of the year.
On February 6th during the Opening Ceremony at San Siro stadium in Milan, chef Enrico Derflingher — president of Euro-Toques Italia and former chef to the British royal family — created a signature risotto with our Carnaroli Classico.
The following day, in Bormio, chef Giancarlo Morelli chose our rice for the vernissage of ‘’That’s Me’, an exhibition by artist Marco Grassi dedicated to the Valtellina destination and the Olympic spirit.
On February 12th in Livigno, Enrico Derflingher returned to the kitchen alongside chef Andrea Fugnanesi (Stua Noa Fine Dining) for a special dinner at Lac Salin. Among the guests, Ted Ligety, the American alpine skiing and two-time Olympic gold medallist, joined the Euro-Toques Italia chefs in preparing the risotto.
Carnaroli Classico was also the rice of choice for the Italian national team, served both to athletes and during institutional events. At Hotel Genzianella in Bormio, the Italian Alpine Ski Team’s headquarters, risotto became part of the daily menus for athletes including Giovanni Franzoni (silver medallist in downhill skiing), Dominik Paris (bronze medallist in downhill skiing), Christoph Innerhofer and Alex Vinatzer. At Casa Italia in Cortina d’Ampezzo, chefs Graziano Prest (Tivoli) and Fabio Pompanin (Al Camin) chose it to welcome delegations and guests, including Giovanni Malagò (President of Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation), Flavio Roda (President of FISI) and Dr Andrea Panzeri (President of the FISI Medical Commission).
