“Tell me what you eat and I’ll tell you who you are” wrote Brillat-Savarin in 1826. Culinary traditions, because of their deep connection to a people’s cultural heritage, are to be considered as a very powerful mean for cultural exchange, through which a complex system of values (religious, economical, social etc.) can be transmitted. Gastronomy is a way of preserving, reinforcing and passing on people’s culture, traditions and identity and acts as one of the most efficient tools to get in contact with different cultures. As further proof of the cultural importance of culinary traditions, on the 16th of November 2010 UNESCO has added the Mediterranean Diet to the List of Humanity’s Intangible Heritage, acting on a proposition submitted by Italy, Spain, Greece and Morocco, describing it as “a set of skills, knowledge, practices and traditions ranging from the landscape to the table”. Among the reasons to motivate its addition to the list, UNESCO stresses how the mediterranean diet emphasizes the values of hospitality, intercultural dialogue and creativity and is deeply rooted in respect for the territory and biodiversity; moreover, the celebrations and festivals connected to food play an important role in uniting people of all different ages and social classes. Considering human beings and food together is important to get young people to understand and be aware of the cultural importance of food as an expression of identity and conviviality. On that basis we’d like to once again take on two big issues that we encounter every day in our work with youngsters: the first one concerning the growing detachment from the idea of Europe, the growth of nationalist movements and the resulting fear and mistrust of all that is perceived as foreign or different; the second one connected to the declining appeal of those traditional, healthier diets and lifestyles, in favour of the more popular less healthy options, which is a very relevant phenomenon among young people especially and which is one of the reasons why obesity has been named as one of the most common risk factors to health. This project aims at using gastronomy to spur young participants, in an active and entertaining way, to have a more prominent role in our multiethnic, multi-colored society, through a better understanding of their own cultural heritage and that of other people. In general terms, the project’s goal is to raise awareness among young Europeans about the importance of food as a way to express cultural identity. Moreover, we intend to guide the young participants to discuss about the issues related to food, such as sustainability, healthy vs. unhealthy eating habits and how we can guarantee that everyone in the world have access to safe healthy food, in sufficient quantities and with respect to the planet and its biodiversity. Though this exchange, participants will be able to reflect about the gastronomy of each of the participating countries and get a better understanding of each other’s cultural identities, as well as reflect about the role that food has had through history as a way of exchanging traditions and culture between different people. The main objectives of this project are: • to foster mutual understanding between young people coming from different cultures; • to raise awareness among young people about the importance of gastronomy in other countries and all over the world, and of its strong connection to cultural heritage; • to promote awareness about sustainability, consumerism, alternative eating choices and environment; • to encourage reflection about the deep connection between healthy eating habits and a healthier lifestyle, or health in general. The main methods will be based on non-formal education, through entertaining inclusive activities that recall a type of tv show very popular among young people, and that will give us the opportunity to reach our goals in a more dynamic and impactful way.