Article in WGI global report reflects rich culinary traditions of Assam

TINSUKIA: Assam culinary along with gastronomy of the world came into prominence in the international forum after launching of the WGI Global Report 2020 – A Gastronomic Planet, published by World Gastronomy Institute (WGI), Madrid, Spain on September 29. The report published in the form of book with academic and research support written by agro-food experts from all corners of the globe, composing a global vision of the sector in the world in pre-COVID-19 era. The compilation offered a complete overview of the gastronomy of the world that envisaged keys to know and understand food as cuisine represents culture of the people.

Significantly, an article 'Cuisine of Assam' written by Dr Kamaleswar Kalita of the Department of Geography, Tinsukia College, along with two other articles from Meghalaya also figured in the report. Dr Kalita reflected about the rich culinary traditions of Assam in his article. He mentioned that Assam had several culinary traditions and vegetarian and non-vegetarian food items were prepared in the kitchen. He also wrote that there was a good prospect to develop culinary tourism in Assam in the near future. He aptly detailed various traditional cuisines prepared in both urban and rural households.

The volume, containing more than 60 articles, reflects on different cultural and technical aspects from disciplines as diverse and complementary as Anthropology, Tourism, Technology, Heritage, Marketing, Education, Institutional, Hospitality or Culinary Arts. Although the 180 pages full coloured report was already officially presented in Madrid, a calendar of book presentations is also being prepared in different countries such as Italy, India, Chile, Japan, France and China.

The World Gastronomy Institute (WGI) is a transnational NGO with consultative status, accredited by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Collaborating Entity with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Collaborator and Member of the UNITWIN Network of the UNESCO. WGI serves as global forum for gastronomic policy issues and a practical source of knowledge through its diverse activities and actions. Due to its academic, research and developmental context, WGI is now considered the most influential gastronomic organization in the world, said Dr Kalita.