ROME, Dec 9 (Reuters) – Italian cooking, already celebrated around the world, is poised for a new accolade: formal recognition as a cultural treasure from the United Nations’ cultural agency, UNESCO.

A preliminary UNESCO assessment has cleared Italian cuisine ‍to be added to UNESCO’s ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’ lists and a final decision is expected on Wednesday.

Launched in March 2023 by Italy’s agriculture and culture ministries, the bid casts Italian cuisine – from pasta and pizza to risotto and cannoli – as a social ritual that binds families and communities together.

“There is no single Italian cuisine, but a mosaic of local expressive diversities,” the government ‌said.

From Lombardy’s ossobuco – braised veal shanks with gremolata, to Puglia’s ‌orecchiette con cime di rapa – e

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