Does Italian cuisine exist? Not according to Alberto Grandi, daring food historian and professor of economic history at the University of Parma. With much dedication, he has focused on myth demolition in the business, spraying traditional culinary targets with such works as Denominazione di Origine Inventata (Invented Designation of Origin: The Lies of Marketing on Typical Italian Products) and his DOI podcast begun at the insistence of his friend Daniele Soffiati.

Dec. 10 (UPI) -- The United Nations' cultural heritage organization on Wednesday recognized Italian food as an intangible aspect of Italy's heritage, the first national cuisine to be formally protected by the international body.