Two ministries are stepping in to support the candidacy of Italian cuisine as intangible UNESCO heritage. These are the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Culture, which on September 21 in several municipalities, from north to south of Italy, will sponsor 'il pranzo della domenica' (Sunday Lunch): an opportunity for citizens to connect and socialize over traditional Italian foods. “We are not nominating a way of cooking, even though all Italian regional cuisines would be worthy of recognition as intangible UNESCO heritage; we are nominating a rite", said the Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forests Francesco Lollobrigida. "A ritual that is shared by all of us, beginning with the selection of food, progressing through the kitchen, and culminating at our tables, where people will still talk about what they are eating". This is what Italian cooking is all about: ancient knowledge passed down through generations; it's the pleasure of being together." The minister of culture, Alessandro Giuli, said, "Italian cuisine reflects society, history, and our relationship with the territory; it is also a uniquely Italian specialty whose primacy has long been recognized worldwide". The Italian embassies in London, Paris, and New York will also be involved in the initiative, where local food and traditions will take center stage.