New Delhi: Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani, apart from his diplomatic skills, is also a good cook. This was on display during his recent official visit when he personally served risotto to guests at an event hosted by the Italian Embassy in New Delhi to celebrate Italian cuisine’s UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage listing. The heartwarming gesture was captured on video and shared widely on social media.

Tajani, also Italy’s deputy prime minister, donned an apron amid diplomats, Indian officials, business leaders, and cultural figures. “As of today, Italian cuisine is a World Heritage Site #UNESCO. At the Embassy in New Delhi, we celebrate this great achievement for Italy and Italians around the world,” he captioned the clip in Italian. Attendees praised the “personal touch,” with Tajani ladling creamy risotto – a nod to his Lombardy roots – fostering warmth beyond formal talks.

The event capped Tajani’s three-day trip, his second to India in 2025, advancing the India-Italy Strategic Partnership. Earlier, he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar, and commerce minister Piyush Goyal, targeting €20 billion bilateral trade by 2029. Discussions spanned IMEC corridor revival, defence, clean energy, startups, and Modi’s planned 2026 Italy visit. Tajani hailed India as Europe’s key partner amid Middle East stability.

Tajani inaugurated an art exhibition and Olympic Committee pacts. “India-Italy friendship continues to get stronger,” Modi posted post-meeting. The risotto moment symbolized growing people-to-people bonds, with unicorns and investors eyeing joint ventures.