Iaphet Elli 
Initially on a path towards law and jurisprudence, Cristina Bowerman has upended established norms to make a mark with her inventive brilliance. As the sole female chef to be Michelin-starred in the auspicious year of 2010 and the only female Chef Ambassador at the Expo, Bowerman’s career is akin to a riveting script with an unpredictable plot, much like her life’s continuous pursuit of novel culinary experiences.
Her impressive résumé has now expanded with the recent accolade: the Galvanina Award for Best Chef of 2018. This honor will be bestowed upon her during the eighteenth edition of the Italian Cuisine Festival, slated to take place in Pesaro from June 14 to 17.
The award recognizes her “astonishing globetrotting cuisine, rooted in relentless exploration and characterized by an intelligent, curious, and vibrant femininity.”
The National Galvanina Award is one of the most prestigious recognitions in the national gastronomic landscape. Divided into six categories (Culture, Cuisine, Wine, Journalism, Entrepreneurship, Heart), past recipients in the cuisine category include Gianfranco Vissani (2010), Gino Angelini (2011), Pino Cuttaia (2012), Niko Romito (2013), Carlo Cracco (2014), Gino Fabbri (2015), Moreno Cedroni (2016), and Davide Oldani (2017).
Who is Cristina Bowerman?
A Michelin-starred chef, Bowerman was born in Cerignola, Foggia province. After obtaining a law degree, she left Puglia for the United States in 1992. In California, she juggled legal studies and graphic design courses while working at Higher Grounds, a San Francisco coffee house. In 1998, she moved to Austin, where she earned a culinary arts degree.
Upon returning to Italy in 2005, she initially joined Convivio Troiani in Rome, then moved to Glass Hostaria. It was here that Bowerman began to craft her highly original culinary style, captivating both Roman and international diners. In 2010, she was awarded a Michelin star, and her journey with Glass became a case study at Bocconi University. In November 2012, Bowerman and her partner Fabio Spada launched Romeo Chef&Baker, a multi-faceted establishment ranging from food trucks to the popular Testaccio market stand, offering artisan bread, pizza, gelato, and cocktails. Since May 2017, she has also overseen the restaurant Linea at the Maxxi Museum in Rome.
Her career is decorated with numerous awards, including Chef of the Year at Identità Golose (2013), the only female Chef Ambassador at Expo (2015), the first President of the National Ambassadors of Taste Association, of which she is a founding member (2016), and in March 2018, one of the 12 members of the Technical Coordination Committee created by Minister Franceschini for the 2018 Year of Food.
Bowerman is also active in social initiatives: she received the Aila Women’s Project Award from the Italian Foundation for the Fight Against Osteoarthritis and Osteoporosis (2015), and in February 2018, she was named Ambassador for Telefono Rosa.
Italian Cuisine Festival June 14-17
Now in its 18th edition, it is one of the most renowned food and wine events in Italy, created in collaboration with key figures in food, wine, and agricultural culture. Unique for its itinerant nature, the festival has been hosted in various locations over the years, including the Maritime Museum of Cesenatico, the city of Pergola known for its prized white truffles, Elba Island, London, Piobbico, San Benedetto del Tronto, San Patrignano, Rimini, and Bologna, drawing large crowds (up to 80,000 attendees), television coverage, journalists, prominent Italian chefs, and international buyers.
In 2018, for the second consecutive year, Pesaro will host the festival, which will be transformed into the Rossini Food Festival. This event pays tribute to the 150th anniversary of the great composer Gioachino Rossini, a distinguished citizen of Pesaro, in a novel gastronomic way. Featured participants include chefs from the National Italcuochi Academy, led by Gianfranco Vissani, the Mariette artusiane with pasta-making lessons, esteemed chefs offering signature dinners, guided wine tastings, engaging talks, and much more.
The festival is coordinated by La Madia Travelfood, now part of the Cose Belle d’Italia group.