France wants it's cuisine recognized as cultural t (go back »)

What country deserves special recognition of its cuisine? France? Or maybe Italy? And what about the all famous American barbecue?

French President Nicolas Sarkozy's recent statements that France should become the first country to have its cuisine recognized as an "intangible" cultural treasure on the United Nations' world heritage list.
It also has Americans suggesting that slowly grilled meat should receive similar recognition.
Greg Bass, a spokesman for the Central Texas BBQ Association in Austin, said he wholeheartedly agrees that cuisine is culture and supports the recognition of cooking styles by the United Nations.

"Perhaps after Italy, France and Mexico break through this barrier, we could consider putting Southern American barbecue on the table," he said. "Although humans have been cooking meat in some form or fashion since the taming of fire, in the American South it has truly become an art form."

In a speech at the Paris agricultural show, Sarkozy said France would lobby hard for the country's cuisine to be added to the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's list of "intangible" cultural treasures, calling French cuisine "the best gastronomy in the world."

A bid that's supported by some of France's top chefs probably will be presented later this year or in early 2009.

But Carlo Petrini, head of the Italian-based Slow Food movement — founded to combat fast food — said that every country has its own gastronomic tradition.

"Yes, French cuisine has made a very important contribution to the world of gastronomy, but it is not fair to say it is the only cuisine that is important, nor is it fair to say that one country's food is better than another's," he said.

The Italian farmers' association Coldiretti told Reuters that "with 166 food specialties recognized by the European Union, Italy clearly beats France, in second place with 156."

The treaty is designed to preserve traditions — such as dances and crafts — in danger of dying out. Not only would traditions cited under the treaty receive international recognition, they'd also be eligible for special U.N. grants.

Before there was a treaty, Mexico's request to have its cuisine recognized by UNESCO under the agency's "proclamations" on intangible cultural heritage was turned down.



"Although France's regional cuisines are blurring, the sad reality is that virtually all the cuisines on Earth are also endangered," he said. "I hope that UNESCO some day will make people more aware of how national and regional cuisines around the globe are being bastardized." Howard Hillman, the New York based publisher of a travel site that ranks 100 wonders of the world as well as the world's best cuisines, said.

Incidentally, Hillman's list of top 10 world cuisines ranks French cuisine No. 2 and Italian cuisine No. 3. Topping the list is Chinese food.
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