The great journey of Italian cuisine: Santi Cautela's new book

The great journey of Italian cuisine: Santi Cautela's new book

Published in May by Tirrenico Edizioni, The Great Journey of Italian Cuisine (from Codogno to New Delhi) is a journalistic essay by food journalist Santi Cautela. The book examines how regional Italian cooking has changed over the past decade, and maps the broader agri-food system behind it.

The volume discusses topics of direct interest to those following UNESCO-listed cultural heritage related to food: supply chain dynamics, territorial strengths and contradictions, and how the shared experience of the pandemic helped shape public appreciation that culminated in international recognition. The narrative moves symbolically from Codogno, linked to the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in Italy, to New Delhi, host of the UNESCO ceremony in 2025.

• Release: May 2026 (Tirrenico Edizioni).
• Topics: restaurant evolution, consumption habits, agri-food chain analysis.
• Contributors: essays by David Anastasi, Antonino Campanella and Elina Sindoni.
• UNESCO angle: reflections on the meaning of safeguarding culinary culture as intangible heritage.

Why it matters for visitors to UNESCO sites in Italy: the book offers context to appreciate how food practices are woven into local communities and cultural landscapes protected by UNESCO, enriching visits with deeper understanding of culinary traditions.

As an author and curator of regional food guides, Santi Cautela brings first-hand experience from kitchens and restaurants across Italy, coupled with an international perspective. This book is aimed at food culture enthusiasts, sector professionals and travelers who want to explore the ties between cuisine and cultural heritage.