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Délio Canabrava receives the Commendation of the Municipal Order of Luz dos Pinhais, Curitiba’s highest honour

On the night of October 14, at the Ópera de Arame, the City of Curitiba presented the founder of Cantina do Délio with the Commendation of the Municipal Order of Luz dos Pinhais.

HonoursOctober 15, 20265 min read

Délio Canabrava on stage at the Municipal Order of Luz dos Pinhais ceremony, with his name on the big screen

On the night of Wednesday, October 14, Délio Canabrava took the stage at the Ópera de Arame to receive the Commendation of the Municipal Order of Luz dos Pinhais, the highest honour awarded by the City of Curitiba.

Created in 2018, the Order recognises people of exemplary conduct who stand out in their field and help the city grow. Until this year, 230 people had received it; with 23 new honourees, Curitiba reaches 253 commendations.

Délio with the Order of Luz dos Pinhais medal

The medal, inspired by João Turin’s work “Man at the Height of the Pines”

A night of big names

Délio shared the night with people who helped shape today’s Curitiba. Among the honourees were architect Abrão Assad, designer of projects such as Rua das Flores and the tube stations, Samuel Cavalcanti, founder of the Bodebrown brewery, and Leandro Knopfholz, one of the creators of the Curitiba Festival.

Abrão Assad and his wife seated in the audience, with Ângela Canabrava and Délio standing behind them — Architect **Abrão Assad**, also honoured with the commendation, next to his wife. Behind them, **Ângela Canabrava**, Délio’s sister, and **Délio**.

Samuel Cavalcanti making the rock sign next to Délio and Leandro Knopfholz — **Samuel Cavalcanti** of Bodebrown, **Délio** and **Leandro Knopfholz** of the Curitiba Festival. There’s a reason for the gesture: Samuel is Iron Maiden’s ambassador in Brazil.

From sport came Bruno Boschilia, a city employee and FIFA assistant referee who worked at the 2022 and 2026 World Cups. And it fell to Tatiana Reichmann, CEO of Ademicon, to speak on behalf of all the honourees.

Délio and Bruno Boschilia showing the open boxes with the Order of Luz dos Pinhais medals — Two medals, two honourees: **Délio** and **Bruno Boschilia**, assistant referee at the 2022 and 2026 World Cups.

Délio, Caio Canabrava, Tatiana Reichmann and her husband holding the commendation outdoors, under a string of lights — **Délio** and **Caio Canabrava** with **Tatiana Reichmann**, CEO of Ademicon, who spoke on behalf of the honourees, and her husband.

The medals were presented by mayor Eduardo Pimentel. The ceremony also included a special tribute to the Paraná Military Police Special Missions Command, for rescuing 13 children at a city day-care centre a few days earlier.

Délio, mayor Eduardo Pimentel and Samuel Cavalcanti holding the commendation, in front of a lit brick wall — Mayor **Eduardo Pimentel** between **Délio** and **Samuel Cavalcanti** of Bodebrown, who repeated the rock sign.

At the microphone, the ceremony was hosted by Sedenir Tremarin, known as the voice of the Arena da Baixada. Délio also posed with Marino Galvão Júnior, president of the Curitiba Cultural Foundation.

Mayor Eduardo Pimentel, Délio and Marino Galvão Júnior holding the open commendation — Mayor **Eduardo Pimentel**, **Délio** and **Marino Galvão Júnior**, president of the Curitiba Cultural Foundation.

Sedenir Tremarin next to Délio, who holds the commendation — **Sedenir Tremarin**, the voice of the Arena da Baixada, was the night’s master of ceremonies. Here with **Délio**.

From washing dishes to the commendation

Born in Paraíso do Norte, Paraná, Délio studied Industrial Design and, in 1997, went to London for a master’s degree. Without speaking English and needing to pay for the course, he started washing dishes at an Italian restaurant. That is where Italian cooking came into his life for good.

Back in Brazil, he opened Cantina do Délio in 2007, in a former flower shop on Rua Itupava. The house grew, opened a second location in Batel and gave rise to Grupo Délio. More than 25 years devoted to food.

A pinch of irreverence and generous helpings of good stories: ingredients no Italian table can do without.

A career of recognition

Chef Patron Commendation2023Federazione Italiana Cuochi, the first Brazilian to receive it, for training new Italian-cuisine professionals
Honouree2024Bom Gourmet Award
Best Italian in Curitiba2026Bom Gourmet Award
Commendation of the Order of Luz dos Pinhais2026City of Curitiba

Délio also received the title of MasterChef of Italian Cuisine, recognising his 25 years in the field. Training cooks is part of family life: his three sons, César, Pedro and Chico, all followed paths linked to food.

Délio on stage, holding the commendation

The family in the audience

The Cantina was born and grew as a family project, and that’s how the honour was celebrated too. The Canabravas turned out in force to applaud Délio.

Eight members of the Canabrava family side by side, smiling, in a hall lit by yellow lights — The family together. From left to right: **Jaqueline Canabrava**, **Emanuel Vieira**, **Márcia Canabrava**, **Paulo Canabrava**, **Elza Junqueira**, **Renata Canabrava**, Délio’s wife, **Délio** and **Ângela Canabrava**.

Délio and four siblings around the open box with the medal — Délio and his siblings with the commendation. From left to right: **Jaqueline**, **Délio**, **Paulo**, **Márcia** and **Ângela Canabrava**.

For the youngest, the night brought photos with Délio and even with the mayor.

Six people hugging and smiling, with Délio on the right — From left to right: **Renata Canabrava**, **Sabrina Baruffi**, **César Canabrava**, **Caio Canabrava**, **Priscila Canabrava** and **Délio**.

Sabrina Baruffi, Délio and César Canabrava holding the open commendation — **Délio** between **Sabrina Baruffi** and his son, **César Canabrava**.

César Canabrava, mayor Eduardo Pimentel and Caio Canabrava side by side — **César Canabrava**, mayor **Eduardo Pimentel** and **Caio Canabrava**.

For the whole Cantina team, the honour is a source of pride and also a thank-you to Curitiba, which has been sitting at our table for almost twenty years.

With information from Bom Gourmet and the City of Curitiba