Italian Cuisine Recognized as Intangible Heritage: Rotary Cremona Po

Italian cuisine as Intangible Heritage: celebration in Cremona

On 24 March 2026 Rotary Cremona Po, responding to an invitation from the Cremona delegation of the Accademia Italiana della Cucina, hosted a dinner at the Ristorante del Golf to celebrate UNESCO's proclamation of Italian cuisine as Intangible Cultural Heritage. The gathering brought together Rotary members, academy delegates, local representatives and figures from the food world to discuss the cultural and social value of food.

Speeches and guests

• Vittoriano Zanolli opened the evening as the Cremona delegate of the Academy and president of Rotary Cremona Po.
• A recorded message from Accademia president Paolo Petroni highlighted the uniqueness of the UNESCO recognition.
• Speakers included food critic Edoardo Raspelli and historian Carla Bertinelli Spotti.
• Local institutional and association representatives attended, underscoring the territorial importance of culinary culture.

Significance of the recognition

The event emphasized that the UNESCO listing acknowledges not only dishes but the entire culinary knowledge system: practices, biodiversity, convivial rituals and intergenerational transmission of recipes. The initiative, led by the Accademia with support from organizations such as Casa Artusi and the magazine La Cucina Italiana and from relevant ministries, culminated in the December 10, 2025 recognition in New Delhi.

Menu and local flavours

• Starters: cured meats, herb omelette, meatballs, provolone and Grana Padano with Cremonese mostarde.
• First courses: marubini and a cabbage risotto with "pisteum", a reinterpretation of Cremona's traditional "verze matte".
• Main course: butòon de' pajàas (sausage served on polenta and onions) with cabbage and spinach.
• Dessert: chocolate pudding, a typical Sunday treat in family homes.

The evening reiterated the need to safeguard high-quality raw ingredients, respect seasonality and maintain culinary traditions. Participants expressed hopes to further promote local products at national events such as the upcoming Vinitaly.