Bologna, December 11, 2025 — In a historic moment for Italy, Italian cuisine has been officially recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity: a celebration of the social and cultural value that unites Italy’s gastronomic traditions, from family conviviality to recipes passed down through generations.
In this significant context, the New York Times has in recent days highlighted Cesarine as the largest Italian home-cooking community in the country, emphasizing the role of cooking classes held in Italian homes, tastings, and local food experiences as an authentic way to discover Italy. The full article is available here.
Cesarine, with its network of home cooks welcoming travelers from all over the world, embodies the very essence of Italian cuisine: a domestic, convivial tradition rooted in oral transmission, seasonality, and the value of gathering around the table. An everyday heritage that is now receiving renewed attention from both institutions and international media.
Davide Maggi, CEO of Cesarine, expresses his gratitude to Maddalena Fossati – Editor-in-Chief of La Cucina Italiana – and to everyone who contributed to this extraordinary milestone. This recognition confirms a rapidly growing trend: travelers increasingly seek experiences that allow them to connect authentically with Italian culture. With a presence in over 700 destinations, Cesarine continues to support this movement by promoting local traditions, territories, and people.
Cesarine is a food experience platform connecting travelers with Italian home cooks who organize authentic culinary experiences in their homes. Founded in Bologna in 2004, Cesarine connects travelers with passionate hosts who share their knowledge, traditions, and home-cooked meals. Offering hands-on cooking classes, traditional meals, and immersive food and wine tours, Cesarine has become Italy’s most widespread network of home cooks. For the platform, which originated under the shadow of Bologna’s Two Towers and now spans the entire country, the United States remains the main market, with over 30,000 guests in 2024. Following are Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Northern Europe (particularly Germany, France, and Switzerland). As a Slow Food Community and advocate of sustainable tourism, Cesarine preserves Italy’s culinary heritage while empowering local communities. Cesarine’s advisory board includes: Niccolò Branca, CEO of Fratelli Branca; Daniele Ferrero, CEO of Venchi, the Finalca Group of the Cazzola family, and CDP Venture Capital, Davide Maggi, executive director of the Digital Marketing & Communication Executive Program of the Bologna Business School, CEO of Home Food Srl, a Società Benefit, which owns the Cesarine.com platform, and the related Community of amateur cooks and chefs.