New York – Italian cuisine is about more than recipes and ingredients. It also encompasses everyday rituals, family traditions, knowledge passed down through generations and habits that evolve over time. This cultural heritage crosses national borders, engages with other cultures and takes on different meanings depending on where it is encountered and how it is interpreted. Understanding how this heritage changes, what values people attach to it and how food relates to their traditions is the aim of the International Observatory on Italian Cuisine and the Art of Good Living. The new research and outreach centre has been established by the Casa Artusi Foundation, in partnership with the Romagna Chamber of Commerce and with support from the Modena Chamber of Commerce. Its goal is to investigate the cultural, social and economic significance of Italian cuisine through studies and surveys conducted in Italy and abroad. The first study focuses on the United States, where Italian cuisine is associated above all with family traditions, recipes passed down through generations and the quality of ingredients. The findings will be presented in full in New York on 26 October, as part of an official Emilia-Romagna regional delegation’s visit to the United States and Canada, scheduled for 25 October to 1 November. The delegation will be led by Manuela Rontini, Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Emilia-Romagna regional government, and Alessio Mammi, the regional councillor for agriculture and agri-food. Matteo Daffadà, President of the Council of Emilia-Romagna Residents Abroad, will also take part. Promoting the region’s agri-food products, supporting businesses and strengthening institutional and economic ties with North America are the main objectives of the mission. From New York to Toronto and Montreal, the programme will include meetings with public institutions, events for importers, distributors and food-service professionals, and initiatives showcasing Emilia-Romagna’s wines and products with PDO and PGI status. Enoteca Regionale Emilia-Romagna, the region’s wine promotion body, will attend with a delegation of local wine producers, who will meet importers, distributors and industry professionals. (9colonne)