Italian cuisine recognized by UNESCO: far more than a culinary heritage, a way of life

December 11, 2025

UNESCO has recently inscribed Italian cuisine on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. A major distinction that goes far beyond the recipes we all know. This recognition honors a whole set of traditions, rituals, know-how, and values deeply rooted in Italian culture.

Italian cuisine is not merely a matter of ingredients or techniques: it is a universal language of sharing, family, and identity. And for me, this recognition resonates in a particularly personal way.

More than a meal: a family story

As the son of immigrants, I quickly realized that food held a very different importance in our home compared to what I saw among my friends. Every single day, without exception, the house was filled with aromas that told the story of our origins. From a very young age, I understood that food was not only meant to nourish: it brought people together, it celebrated, it healed.

My father cultivated a garden in our backyard, where not only vegetables grew, but also more unexpected plants such as the prickly pear cactus. Every autumn, he would dig a hole and bury the plant underground to protect it from the cold, then bring it back out in the spring. I still remember the day my partner and I visited what would become our first home. My parents were there to give their opinion. My father made no comment about the visit—except for one thing. Pointing to a corner of the yard, he simply said in dialect:

“This is where we’ll plant the prickly pear.”

That sentence sealed the decision. One could already imagine the tree, the table, the family gathered around. That was what truly mattered.

The chores of making homemade tomato sauce, the fresh pasta we stretched with pride, the traditional desserts prepared for every celebration—Easter, Christmas, birthdays, or name days—were woven into the very fabric of our lives. When we were sick, my mother would prepare a brodino or a risotto to help us recover. When comfort was needed, nothing compared to her crostata. Food accompanied every important moment, joyful or difficult.

A living heritage that transcends borders

Later, when I started my business and traveled frequently to Italy—or welcomed our artisans when they came to visit us—I realized just how omnipresent food is in Italian culture. It is part of every conversation. Just listen in a train station, on a beach, or in a café: people constantly talk about food. Not only about recipes, but about products, traditions, what nonna used to make, the best local producer of biscuits, almonds, or even snails.

This is precisely what UNESCO is recognizing today: Italian cuisine is far more than a collection of dishes. It is a way of life, a social ritual, an intergenerational bond, a heritage passed down with love.

One country, a thousand cuisines

Italy is many things at once. Each region has its own personality, traditions, and emblematic products. These differences are what enrich an extraordinarily diverse culinary heritage: Puglia with its olive oil, Emilia-Romagna with Parmigiano Reggiano, balsamic vinegar, and prosciutto, Sicily with its citrus fruits and sweets, Tuscany with its rustic soups…

At Favuzzi, this is exactly what we strive to honor: seeking out the finest artisans in each region, those who perpetuate authentic know-how, often passed down through several generations. We want to tell their stories, preserve their traditions, and share their passion with those who, like us, see food as a source of happiness and culture.

A recognition that deeply moves us

That Italian cuisine is now protected as intangible cultural heritage is not only a national pride; it is official confirmation that this way of life, these family rituals, this way of celebrating everyday moments are unique and precious.

For me, this recognition evokes everything I received from my parents, everything we still experience around the table, and everything I wish to pass on through Favuzzi: the joy of good things, as we like to say.

UNESCO reminds the world that Italian cuisine is a living, vibrant, deeply human culture—one that continues to travel, to inspire, and above all, to bring people together.

Si tu veux, je peux aussi t’enlever les titres, ajuster le ton (plus corporate, plus éditorial) ou adapter le texte pour un site ou un communiqué.