The Amalfi chef was awarded the title of “Magister of Amalfi Culture” on the 50th anniversary of his most famous culinary innovation
The 2026 Byzantine New Year celebrates the creative flair and tradition of fine dining with a special tribute to one of the figures who has helped bring Campania’s cuisine to the world.
Chef Enrico Cosentino will receive the prestigious title of “Magister di Civiltà Amalfitana,” which will be awarded during the 26th edition of the event scheduled to take place in Amalfi and Atrani from August 31 to September 2, 2026.
The award ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, September 1.
Enrico Cosentino and the Origins of Scialatielli
A native of Amalfi, Enrico Cosentino has built a career spanning more than 50 years dedicated to cooking, training, and promoting Campania’s culinary heritage.
His name is most closely associated with scialatielli, the distinctive fresh pasta that has, over time, become one of the symbols of Amalfi Coast cuisine.
Born from a chef’s inspiration fifty years ago, Scialatielli quickly transcended the boundaries of local cuisine, earning a permanent place on the menus of trattorias and seafood restaurants in Italy and abroad.
From the Coast to the World…
Enrico Cosentino’s professional career was not limited to the creation of Scialatielli.
Throughout his long career, the chef has helped spread Italian culinary culture to various countries around the world, from New York to Dubai, while also playing an important role as a talent scout and contributing to the professional development of many young people.
For over thirty years, he also taught atthe Istituto Superiore Polispecialistico S. Paolo in Sorrento, where he shared his methods, knowledge, and passion for the culinary arts with thousands of students.
His career, therefore, has been built not only on his dishes and culinary insights, but also on his ability to train new generations of professionals and promote a culinary culture deeply rooted in the local area.
A tribute to Amalfi’s culinary tradition
The selection of Enrico Cosentino as the new “Magister Civitatis Amalfie” takes on even deeper significance in the context of the Byzantine New Year celebration.
The title is, in fact, awarded to individuals with ties to the territory of the ancient Duchy of Amalfi—whether through residence, frequent visits, or the study and promotion of Amalfi’s medieval civilization.
The Commission, composed of representatives from the municipalities of Amalfi and Atrani and the Amalfi Culture and History Center, unanimously selected the chef as the recipient of the prestigious award.
His appointment follows that of Giuseppe Gargano, the creator of the Byzantine New Year’s Eve celebration, who was awarded the title in 2025.
A cuisine that tells the story of a civilization
The recognition given to Cosentino also serves as a tribute to the culinary history of the Amalfi Coast.
As Amalfi Mayor Daniele Milano has pointed out, the culinary tradition of the Duchy of Amalfi has its roots in centuries of history, during which the kitchens of medieval monasteries served as places where recipes, sauces, and dishes were developed—all of which have managed to survive the test of time.
From this perspective, Scialatielli represent much more than just a type of pasta: they are a concrete example of how creativity and tradition can come together, giving rise to a product capable of becoming an ambassador for a region.
The Byzantine New Year 2026
The conferral of the title on Enrico Cosentino will be one of the highlights of the 26th edition of the Byzantine New Year, an annual event that celebrates the history, culture, and identity of the ancient Republic of Amalfi.
From August 31 to September 2, 2026, Amalfi and Atrani will once again bring their past to life through cultural events, reenactments, and initiatives dedicated to the memory of the ancient Duchy.
And this year, through Enrico Cosentino, the event will also shine a spotlight on one of the most authentic expressions of a region’s culture: its cuisine.
Because even a plate of pasta can tell a story. It can preserve an insight, span generations, and travel the world without losing its connection to the place where it originated.
Fifty years after their creation, Scialatielli continue to bear the name of Amalfi.
And the Byzantine New Year 2026 celebrates precisely this: a land’s ability to transform its traditions into something new, recognizable, and universal.
