The other day, there was a story in the news that one could really sink his or her teeth into. You might think I was referring to the seditious conspiracy conviction of Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes or the latest kerfuffle surrounding Donald Trump.
But no . . . I'm referring to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and its designation of the baguette as an integral part of our collective cultural heritage. It joins other like designated items such as traditional tea making in China, sauna culture in Finland, a grass mowing competition in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Korean mask dance known as "talchum."
The designation, among other things, gives international recognition to the apparently heretofore lowly baguette. There is now also the opportunity to apply for funding to preserve the baguette's "intangible" heritage for future generations.
In announcing the addition of the baguette to its "intangible cultural heritage" list, UNESCO head Audrey Asoulay called the baguette "a daily ritual, a structuring element of the meal, synonymous with sharing and conviviality" and said it is "important that these skills and social habits continue to exist in the future."
Reading about the designation, I was surprised to learn that the baguette has only been the baguette since 1920. Before that, it was presumably just bread and therefore not culturally significant.
Much like Bottled-in-Bond bourbon, the baguette has a few standards it must meet in order to be a baguette and, again, not simply a loaf of bread. It must be 30 inches (80 centimeters) in length and weigh eight ounces (250 grams).
The UNESCO designation comes more than 18-months after France applied for inclusion on the UN's Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Register of good safeguarding practices. The title is quite a mouthful and it was probably even harder to say with a mouthful of baguette, as I presume many baguettes were consumed in the name of research and in order to come to a decision.
One bakery owner said the designation would "comfort bakers and encourage the next generation." French President Emmanuel Macron calls the baguette "250 grams of magic and perfection in our daily lives."
So, the next time you step into a bakery, pick up a baguette or two and instantly become a more cultured individual. Bon appetit!
