From cappuccino to gelato, pizza to spaghetti, Italian dishes have long been beloved at Canadian restaurants and in Canadian kitchens.

Now, Italian cuisine is being formally recognized for its global culinary and historical significance.

On Dec. 10, UNESCO added Italian cuisine to its List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The announcement was made Tuesday in Rome, Italy, and in New Delhi, India, where the 20th session of UNESCO’s cultural heritage meetings was held.

“This recognition celebrates the strength of our culture,” said Francesco Lollobrigida, Italy’s minister of agriculture, food sovereignty and forestry. It is, he added, the story “of a people who have preserved their knowledge and transformed it into excellence.”

The announcement is also a source of pride for I

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