Cristian Marino
Bio
Italian Executive Chef & author with 25+ years in 10+ countries. Sharing stories on kitchen leadership, pressure, and the human side of food.
Stories (31)
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Setting Sails for 2026
The first days of January are often quieter in hospitality. The rush of the festive season fades, dining rooms return to a more familiar rhythm, and the intensity that defines the end of the year slowly settles. Yet responsibility does not disappear with the celebrations. If anything, it becomes more visible.
By Cristian Marino8 days ago in Journal
Italian Cuisine, Leadership, and the Evolution of Resort Dining
Italian cuisine has always travelled well. Long before it became fashionable to talk about global dining concepts, Italian food was already adapting, changing, and quietly finding its place far from home.
By Cristian Marino26 days ago in Journal
Italian Cuisine Achieves UNESCO Heritage Status
Italian cuisine has officially been recognized as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, marking a historic moment not only for Italy, but for the global culinary community that celebrates and preserves its traditions every day. It is the first time a nation’s entire culinary identity — not a dish, not a practice, but the whole cultural system behind it — receives this level of recognition.
By Cristian Marinoabout a month ago in Journal
International Chefs Day 2025 — Cooking for Today, Inspiring for Tomorrow
This year’s International Chefs Day came with a theme that speaks to everyone: “Food Explorers.” An idea that brings us back to the beginning — to the childlike curiosity that first made us fall in love with food.
By Cristian Marino3 months ago in Journal
Maldives Tourism Day: Tradition, Flavors, and Stories Behind Paradise
The Maldives is known worldwide for its turquoise lagoons and beaches so white they look unreal. But every year on October 4th, there’s something beyond the postcard view: Maldives Tourism Day.
By Cristian Marino3 months ago in Journal
Oktoberfest Arrives in the Maldives: A Bavarian-Inspired Buffet
The world’s most famous beer and food festival has traveled far beyond Bavaria. This year, even the Maldives joined the celebration with a special buffet inspired by Oktoberfest traditions. Curated by Italian Executive Chef and Culinary Consultant Cristian Marino, the event brought a Bavarian touch to the tropics.
By Cristian Marino4 months ago in Journal
Vitello Tonnato: A Dish That Never Left My Heart
There are recipes you study at school, recipes you prepare for guests, and then there are recipes that stay with you forever. For me, Vitello Tonnato belongs to that last category. I first encountered it more than 25 years ago, as a young student in Stresa, a town on Lake Maggiore in northern Italy. At the time, I didn’t realize how much this dish would follow me — across countries, kitchens, and the different stages of my career. Yet every time I prepare it, I feel a connection to that first experience.
By Cristian Marino4 months ago in Feast
Beach Dinners in the Maldives: Top Experiences You Shouldn’t Miss
A Dining Concept Born from Nature In the Maldives, dinner is not confined to four walls. As the sun sets, the horizon blushes pink and orange, and stretches of soft white sand are transformed into open-air dining rooms. Tables stand just meters from the shore, their candles flickering in the breeze, while the sound of waves replaces background music.
By Cristian Marino4 months ago in Journal
