THE IMPORTANCE OF ITALIAN CULINARY TRADITIONS IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY OF LVIV

Abstract

Modern trends in the restaurant industry are marked by the functioning of thematic establishments that reflect the ethnic culinary traditions of different nations. Such establishments become especially attractive in times of crisis because they allow attracting local residents to the restaurant industry. The study examines the peculiarities of the influence of Italian culinary traditions on the formation and functioning of the restaurant industry in Lviv. The reasons for the popularity of Italian cuisine are identified, including: traditional tastes due to the high labor migration of residents of Western Ukraine to Italy, speed and ease of preparation, global popularity of Italian cuisine, the ability to quickly reorient to delivery, the possibility of replacing some of the ingredients for cooking with domestic counterparts. The conducted sociological survey among consumers allowed us to find out the most popular Italian dishes and the frequency of their consumption, as well as the restaurants that dominate the frequency of visits. Such thematic establishments were classified, which allowed us to identify four main categories: classic full-service Italian restaurants, restaurants with a mixed set of dishes, including Italian dishes, pizzerias, and takeaway pizza establishments. Among the main problems faced by Italian catering establishments in the course of their operation are: changes in recipes, a narrow list of dishes, crisis phenomena in the restaurant industry. Among the prospects for the development of Italian food establishments are the following: development of Italian food establishments in the residential areas of the city, strengthening the promotion of not only well-known Italian dishes but also the inclusion of lesser-known ones in the menu, resumption of measures to popularize Italian culinary traditions, intensification of advanced training of cooks of Italian food establishments to comply with traditional recipes, involvement of people who have lived in Italy for a long time and are more familiar with their traditions in the work of Italian food establishments.