A date for the history books: 10 December 2025 is when Italian cuisine was added to UNESCO’s “intangible cultural heritage” list, the first cuisine in the world to be recognised in its entirety.
The UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee, meeting in New Delhi, shared the thinking behind their decision, stating that Italian cuisine is a "cultural and social blend of culinary traditions… a way to take care of oneself and others, express love and rediscover one's cultural roots, offering communities an outlet to share their history."
They continued that cooking for Italians is "a communal activity that emphasises intimacy with food, respect for ingredients and shared moments around the table,” a practice “rooted in anti-waste recipes and the transmission of flavours, skills and memories through the generations."
To celebrate Italy’s gastronomic traditions and culinary excellence being universally recognised, we want to highlight an article from the Fine Dining Lovers archive, in which decorated Italian chef Giancarlo Perbellini identifies 30 Italian dishes that everyone should know.
