Rhode Island, United States - Italy - Dubai
Trade Shows + Educational Events
Master Chef Walter Potenza Speaker + Presenter
Elevate your next cultural event by hiring Food Historian and Master Chef Walter Potenza, a nationally recognized expert in historical and regional cuisines. With decades of experience and a captivating presentation style, Chef Walter brings food history to life—whether exploring the flavors of the Roman Empire, the Renaissance courts, or the Italian American immigrant table. His educational and entertaining programs offer audiences a rare blend of culinary demonstration, cultural insight, and engaging storytelling. From museums and universities to cultural organizations and private groups, Chef Walter tailors each presentation to your theme and audience.
For booking inquiries, quotes, and program details, please get in touch with us via email at [feedback@chefwalter.com].
Chef Walter Potenza Speaking Topics
History of Italian Cuisine
History of Italian Cuisine
History of Italian Cuisine
- In this engaging 90-minute program, Chef Walter Potenza will lead guests through an illuminating journey of Italian cuisine's rich history and evolution. Chef Walter, a celebrated historian and culinary expert, will explore the roots of Italy's diverse culinary traditions, from ancient Roman feasts and medieval kitchens to Renaissance flavors and modern-day innovations. He will delve into how Italy’s regional diversity—shaped by geography, agriculture, and cultural exchange—has given rise to unique dishes and cooking techniques, contributing to a globally beloved cuisine. Participants will learn about the influence of foreign powers, such as the Arabs, Greeks, and Spanish, on Italy’s food landscape and how ingredients like tomatoes, pasta, and coffee transformed Italian dining. Chef Walter will blend stories of Italian culture, historical recipes, and culinary techniques, leaving attendees with a deeper.
Jewish - Italian Cooking
History of Italian Cuisine
History of Italian Cuisine
- In this 90-minute presentation, Chef Walter Potenza will take participants through the unique world of Jewish Italian cuisine, a culinary heritage that dates back over 2,000 years. As an expert in culinary history, Chef Walter will highlight how Jewish communities across Italy, from Rome to Venice, have contributed distinct flavors and traditions to Italian gastronomy. He will explore how Jewish dietary laws influenced Italian cooking, from dairy-free adaptations to inventive uses of vegetables and fish, and share how these recipes evolved under historical persecution and migration constraints. Chef Walter will delve into iconic dishes such as carciofi alla giudia (Jewish-style artichokes) and ricotta-based desserts, detailing how they embody the resourcefulness and resilience of Italy’s Jewish communities. Through storytelling, historical insight, and discussion of recipes, Chef Walter will offer a profound appreciation for the intersection of Jewish culture and Italian cuisine.
The Columbus Exchange
History of Italian Cuisine
The Columbus Exchange
- In this insightful 90-minute program, Chef Walter Potenza will transport attendees to the Columbus Era, uncovering how the Age of Exploration radically transformed European, and specifically Italian, cuisine. Chef Walter will explain the culinary landscape of Italy before Columbus’s voyages when staple ingredients like tomatoes, potatoes, and corn were still unknown. Participants will discover how these New World ingredients, brought back by Columbus and other explorers, gradually became essential in Italian cooking, forever reshaping beloved Italian dishes. Chef Walter will discuss how integrating foreign flavors met with resistance and adaptation among Italian cooks, leading to an exciting evolution of culinary traditions. Through engaging stories and detailed historical context, Chef Walter will give audiences a deep appreciation for the pivotal role of exploration in creating the diverse and vibrant cuisine we know today.
Roman Empire Cooking
Middle Ages + Renaissance
The Columbus Exchange
- In this captivating 90-minute program, Chef Walter Potenza will guide attendees back to the Roman Empire, exploring the foods and culinary traditions that laid the foundation for Italian cuisine. Chef Walter, a culinary historian, will reveal how ancient Roman cooking was influenced by the empire’s vast geography, which spanned Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, incorporating spices, grains, and ingredients from across the empire. Participants will learn about staple dishes of the time, such as puls (a barley porridge) and garum (a fermented fish sauce), as well as the Roman penchant for lavish banquets featuring exotic meats, fruits, and wines. Chef Walter will discuss the cultural and social importance of food in Roman life, from the kitchens of the plebeians to the feasts of the patricians, illustrating how the culinary ingenuity of the Romans echoes through Italian cuisine today. With stories of ancient ingredients, cooking techniques, and recipes, Chef Walter will bring the flavors and history of Roman cuisine to life.
Diabetes + Celiac
Middle Ages + Renaissance
Middle Ages + Renaissance
- In this informative 90-minute session, Chef Walter Potenza will provide practical insights into cooking for diabetes and celiac disease, focusing on flavorful, balanced meals that support health without sacrificing taste. As a chef and nutrition expert, Chef Walter will discuss the nutritional principles essential to managing both conditions, including low-glycemic foods for diabetes and gluten-free options for those with celiac disease. He’ll explore ingredient substitutions, cooking techniques, and meal-planning tips to create satisfying and safe dishes. Attendees will learn to create balanced recipes using naturally gluten-free grains, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats that stabilize blood sugar and promote wellness. Through Chef Walter's guidance, participants will be equipped with tools and knowledge to prepare delicious meals for themselves confidently or loved ones managing these dietary needs.
Middle Ages + Renaissance
Middle Ages + Renaissance
Middle Ages + Renaissance
- In this immersive 90-minute program, Chef Walter Potenza will journey through Italy’s culinary evolution from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, a transformative change in Italian cooking. Chef Walter, a seasoned historian, will reveal how Italy's medieval kitchens, which relied heavily on grains, legumes, and simple herbs, began to embrace spices, sugar, and exotic ingredients brought in through trade and exploration. He’ll discuss the grand banquets of Renaissance courts, where food presentation became an art form, and chefs sought to create culinary masterpieces for the Italian nobility. Participants will learn about the influence of powerful families like the Medicis, who were instrumental in shaping culinary trends that integrated imported ingredients and refined techniques. Through storytelling, historical insights, and discussion of iconic recipes, Chef Walter will bring to life the tastes and innovations of this vibrant era in Italian culinary history, inspiring a deeper appreciation for the richness of Italian cuisine.
Italian - American Culinary Evolution
Our Story
In this engaging 90-minute program, Chef Walter Potenza will delve into the fascinating evolution of Italian American cooking, tracing its roots to the mass immigration of Italians to the United States after 1880. Chef Walter, a historian of Italian culinary traditions, will explore how Italian immigrants adapted their beloved recipes in response to the availability of new ingredients and economic constraints in America. He’ll discuss how these early immigrants, primarily from Southern Italy, recreated the flavors of home while incorporating American ingredients like beef, which led to dishes such as meatballs and Italian-American classics like spaghetti and marinara sauce. Participants will discover how Italian American cuisine grew to become its own identity—distinct from Italian regional traditions—embracing more significant portions, more robust sauces, and unique dishes like chicken parmigiana and pizza as we know it today. Through anecdotes, historical insight, and stories of adaptation, Chef Walter will illuminate the resilience, creativity, and legacy of Italian American cooking. This cuisine has become a cherished part of American food culture.
