Cuban cuisine declared world´s Intangible Heritage

The World Association of Chefs Societies (WorldChefs) declared Cuban cuisine an Intangible Heritage at world level by having safeguarded the identity and continuity of a cuisine with deep national roots and contributed to promote respect for cultural diversity and human creativity.

When announcing the decree in this city, Chef Claudio Ferrer, Continental Director of the Americas and Caribbean Islands of that body, noted that the Cuban cuisine is recognized by the form, knowledge, flavor and techniques which have been transmitted from generation to generation.

In presence of executives of this entity visiting Havana until April 6th, to exchange with local authorities, he said that Cuban cuisine has maintained its traditions over the years and is highly appreciated internationally.

He noted that it maintains the influence of different cultures, which gives a touch of unique distinction in its flavor, so the universal gastronomic value and the insular character of Cuba allowed influences from all parts of the world to come, which were positive and were incorporated in a natural way.

Cuban cuisine is progressing every day towards more scientific and technical stages, based on the need to increase food, socially and dietetically balanced, focused on different ages, physical exertions of man and climatological conditions of each region, he stated.

He also signified the processing that has been carried out by his organization to entities in other countries, requesting the participation of our Cuban chefs and restaurants to attend the week of Cuban cuisine, olympics, fairs and other events, which shows that this cuisine is highly demanded all around the world.

Cornelia Volino, secretary general of WorldChefs, said that they hope to implement here one of the programs of the organization known as Coach of Coaches, on Sustainability and Certification of Chefs, designed to prepare and train cooks, especially young people.

We want to support Cuba in its effort to dignify its cuisine with different actions, to help and boost the Cuban food, we want the Cuban cuisine to cross the barriers to other nations, she said.

Eddy Fernandez, president of the Cuban Federation of Culinary Associations, thanked WorldChefs for the recognition, while emphasizing the need to increase the Caribbean island’s culinary traditions, given the constant increase in tourism and private restaurants.

He pointed out that although Cuba is fashionable today in the world, «we cannot wait for it to go out of fashion, so if we receive more tourism, we have to train the people providing services to the vacationer, and therefore, we must work to have prepared and qualified human resources «.

The Worldchefs delegation will meet this week with Cuban ministers of Tourism and Interior Trade, among other activities. (Taken from Cuban News Agency)