Varadero Gourmet International Festival returns this September

By Daily Pérez Guillén

Representatives from a dozen countries, including Spain, Chile, Canada, Italy, France, the United States, Brazil, China and Cuba, as well as the most important suppliers of food and supplies for Cuba’s tourism industry, have confirmed their presence at the 14th Varadero Gourmet International Festival, which will kick off on September 11.

“The evolution of Cuban gastronomy” will be the main theme on which conferences, cooking, gastronomic and cocktail competitions and exhibitions will be held at the event’s usual venue – the Plaza América Convention Center.

At a press conference, the Commercial Director of the Palmares Extrahotel Enterprise, Ariadna Viñas, informed that during the three-day event, participants will discuss transformations in cuisine, tradition and haute cuisine; artistic cuisine; knowledge of alternative cuisine, evolution and renewed tradition; and the teaching of gastronomy and its educational and cultural influences.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Director of Palmares, Lázaro Casabella, noted that in the midst of the socioeconomic scenario that Cuba is experiencing, this event is organized with the purpose of showing the evolution of gastronomy in terms of sustainability, while Varadero Gourmet is a space to share experiences through presentations, conferences and contests.

There will be six categories in the competitive contest and one prize will be awarded per category: best chef (starter), best chef (main course), best chef (dessert), best sommelier (pairing), best assistant and best gastronomic team.

The contenders in the cocktail competition will be able to present themselves in two modalities: classic style (black box and speed round) and flair style (free).

Eleven national entities, along with representatives of the private sector, are among the participants of this edition, which as usual is organized by Palmares, the Cubasol Group and the Ministry of Tourism of Cuba.

At the launch event before the national and foreign press, the Joint Enterprise PROXCOR S.A. – a merger of PROXENTA, from Slovakia, and CORALSA, from Cuba – presented its products, which will also be exhibited as part of the gastronomic event.

The emblematic concert café venue, Gato Tuerto, considered the heart of the “feeling” musical genre in Havana, hosted the press launch.