Cath Kerry-Food
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UNESCO

28/1/2019

4 Comments

 
Picture
"After" photo to the "before" of the home page. Breakfast with friends at home, the debris of the table when they leave, signs of happiness. 
"Only connect." E. F. Forster Howard's  End.

What do these activities have in common? 
  • ​Watertight bulkhead technology of Chinese junks.
  • Napolese pizza
  • Kmer shadow theatre of Cambodia
  • ​The French meal
  • The whistle language of Turkey
  • Korean Wrestling
They are all on the UNESCO list of intangible heritage. There’s hours of fun trawling through this website. (UNESCO lists)
Every year the cultural organization of the United Nations gathers to consider additions to their list of Intangible Cultural Practices. In 2010, France’s multi-course gastronomic meal, with its rites and its presentation, fulfilled the conditions for featuring on the list. They wrote...
 
“The gastronomic meal of the French is a customary social practice for celebrating important moments in the lives of individuals and groups, such as births, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, achievements and reunions. It is a festive meal bringing people together to enjoy the art of good eating and drinking. The gastronomic meal emphasises togetherness, the pleasure of taste, and the balance between human beings and the products of nature.

Importance is given to the purchase of good, preferably local products whose flavours go well together; the pairing of food with wine; the setting of a beautiful table; and specific actions during consumption, such as smelling and tasting items at the table.

The gastronomic meal should respect a fixed structure, commencing with an apéritif (drinks before the meal) and ending with liqueurs, containing in between at least four successive courses, namely a starter, fish and/or meat with vegetables, cheese and dessert. Individuals, called gastronomes, who possess deep knowledge of the tradition and preserve its memory, watch over the living practice of the rites, thus contributing to their oral and/or written transmission, in particular to younger generations.

The gastronomic meal draws circles of family and friends closer together and, more generally, strengthens social ties.”   (Gastronomic meal of the French)
 
In 2016, the national dish of Tajikstan, (Oshi Palava) was added to the list. This communal dish of rice, vegetables and usually meat was hailed for bringing families together, securing friendships and solving arguments, it may even have helped end civil war! 
 
So what are you waiting for?  Get out that diary, email, text or (old school) use the telephone and invite someone over.

Comment below or (please) like 👍🏼



4 Comments
Louise Naughton
28/1/2019 03:47:54 pm

Just done exactly that - 4 course lunch yesterday. A relaxed reunion of friends focusing on Melbourne visitors. Started at 1 and, after much food, some drink, great conversation, laughter and loud singing they left at midnight. Fabulous

Reply
Stephanie
29/1/2019 03:21:10 am

Have just binge-read all the blog posts that I have missed over the last month or two. Thank you, Cath! Wonderfully entertaining and educational. It does make me ache for a climate that can produce the food you write about. Here in the rural north of Sweden, we are living out of our freezer and pickle jars. Shouldn't complain. Magnus Nilsson created a world-class restaurant 40 minutes away with the same resources. Ah well. Your beautiful place settings are inspiring!

Reply
Jill
29/1/2019 10:06:33 pm

Oshi Palava sounds a lot like what we called Hash in the midwest... only substitute chopped roast potatoes for rice. True comfort food! Only I doubt it will ever be UNESCO listed. :D

Reply
Hilary Lambourn
7/2/2019 09:51:41 am

Thanks Cath, this is my first time at blogs so have lots to catch up. I am glad I am retired and have time....

Reply



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