A Proud Day for Italian Cuisine — and for Me

Today is a day that fills me with immense pride: Italian cuisine has officially been added to the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage as of Wednesday, December 10, 2025. This recognition does not refer to specific recipes or dishes, but to the social rituals, traditions, and cultural values that surround the preparation and sharing of food in Italy. The UNESCO citation highlights what we Italians know so well: the importance of conviviality. It celebrates the tradition of the Sunday family lunch, the gestures passed down from grandmothers to grandchildren, the sense of community, belonging, and affection that is built around the table. These rituals are so deeply rooted in our identity that they have now been recognised as part of humanity’s cultural heritage.

This new recognition stands alongside earlier honours Italy has received, including:

• The art of the Neapolitan Pizzaiuolo (2017)

• The Mediterranean diet (shared with other countries, 2013)

Italian officials believe this broader acknowledgment will help protect authentic Italian products from imitation and further promote tourism — something that makes our whole nation proud.

Since opening my business one year ago, this is exactly the value I’ve tried to transmit to every customer. When I insist on adding a dish to the menu or keeping something traditional, it’s not to complicate things, but because I truly want people to taste Italy — not just look at a name and ask, “What is it?” Behind every dish there is heritage, history, affection, and identity.

And this is why, throughout this year, in some of my posts, I have clarified things like Pasta Alfredo isn’t Italian, meatballs are not eaten with pasta, or garlic bread doesn’t exist in Italy. I don’t say these things to be pedantic. I say them because I want to pass on the correct idea of Italian cuisine, the real one, the one we grew up with, not the Americanised version that, while delicious in its own way, is not our true culinary heritage.

Our food is healthy, tasty, colourful, and capable of making people happy — and now, officially, it has been recognised as part of the cultural heritage of humanity.

As we approach the end of this long and challenging year, I want to thank all the customers who embraced my cuisine, trusted my flavours, and came back again and again. Your loyalty has been the most rewarding part of this journey.

For the new year, my hope is simple: to see even more people discovering the richness of my menu, exploring authentic dishes, and not only going for the fries ;)

Here’s to heritage, to authenticity, to good food, and to a new year full of flavour.

Con affetto,

T.