Last Updated:December 12, 2025, 12:37 IST
The clip shows Tajani wearing an apron over his suit as he talks with the guests and serves them risotto.
The clip was shared by Italian Foreign Minister and Deputy PM Antonio Tajani. (Photo Credit: X)
Italian cuisine was awarded the “intangible cultural heritage” status by UNESCO on December 11. The measure prompted celebrations across the globe, including at the Italian Embassy in New Delhi.
The news coincided with Italian Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani’s visit to the country, who gave an example of his country’s famed hospitality by serving risotto to guests at an event.
Italian Foreign Minister Serves Risotto
The clip shows Tajani wearing an apron over his suit as he chats in Italian with the guests and serves them risotto.
A clip shared by the minister’s official handle on X was recorded at a special diplomatic event in Tajani’s honour, NDTV reported. The caption, translated from Italian, read, “From today, Italian cuisine is a world heritage site #UNESCO. At the Embassy in New Delhi, we celebrate this great achievement for Italy and for all Italians around the world.”
Da oggi la Cucina Italiana è patrimonio dell’umanità #UNESCO. In Ambasciata a New Delhi festeggiamo questo grande risultato per l’Italia e per tutti gli italiani nel mondo. pic.twitter.com/kJrBiFm8yO— Antonio Tajani (@Antonio_Tajani) December 10, 2025
The German ambassador to UNESCO, Kerstin Purschel, also shared moments from the event, thanking the Italian embassy for the invite. “Celebrating the inscription of Italian cooking, between sustainability and biocultural diversity, on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage and Italian lifestyle, tonight at the Italian Embassy in New Delhi – thank you, Italy and @ItalyatUnesco, for the invitation.”
Celebrating the inscription of Italian cooking, between sustainability and biocultural diversity, on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage and Italian lifestyle, tonight at the Italian Embassy in New Delhi – thank you,
Social media users reacted to the video with one saying, “He looks like a MasterChef.”
UNESCO Declares Italian Food As Cultural Heritage
The move was finalised at a vote by a UNESCO panel meeting in New Delhi, Reuters reported. The 20th Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) session, which was held at Delhi’s Red Fort, also added traditions like Diwali and Iceland’s swimming pool culture to its list.
The Italian government had mounted a years-long campaign to advocate for the nation’s food culture, framing it as a social ritual, which brings families and communities together and goes far beyond iconic items like pizza, pasta and risotto.
The intangible cultural heritage list includes French haute cuisine meals, Japan’s Washoku cuisine and Korea’s kimchi fermentation technique, among others.
Industry groups believe that UNESCO recognition may boost tourism by up to 8 per cent in two years, adding 18 million overnight stays, Reuters said.
The recognition by UNESCO will help protect Italian cuisine from culinary abuses as well, Francesco Lollobrigida, the country’s agriculture minister, told CNN.
Italy’s other contributions to UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage include opera singing (2023), Neapolitan pizza makers (2017), manual bell ringing (2024), truffle hunting and extraction (2019), and celebrations of big shoulder-borne processional structures (2013).
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First Published:
December 12, 2025, 12:36 IST
News viral Italy Deputy PM Serves Risotto At Delhi Embassy To Celebrate Cuisine’s UNESCO Status: ‘He Looks Like A MasterChef’Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
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