The products of La Palma are on display in one of the most important showcases of the trade at world level, together with leading national and international chefs.
The Cabildo of La Palma, through the Saborea La Palma project managed by the public company Sodepal, is taking part for the first time in the San Sebastián Gastronomika Euskadi Basque Country fair, which is being held until Wednesday at the Kursaal Conference Centre in Donostia. This is an event at which, according to the island's president, Sergio Rodríguez, "we showcase the benefits of our gastronomy, starting with the quality of the raw materials we have".
This is an event, according to the leader of the first Corporation, "exceptional, where we go along with other territories to promote ourselves as a destination linked to good food, and which is added to other relevant meetings in which the island has been represented, such as Madrid Fusion and Madrid Gourmet". On this occasion, the chefs Nuria Castro, from Restaurante Playa Salemera (Mazo), and Josué Martín, from Gastro-bar El Altillo (Breña Baja), will be representing the island.
In terms of producers: Bodegas Tamanca, Sal Marina Teneguía, Bodegas Tagalguen, Sal y Océano, Ron Aldea, Mojos Ricomo, Puros Julio, Mojos Regina, Bodegas Perdomo Piedra Jurada, Olicafé, Granja Los Tumbitos, Molinos Las Breñas, Granja Las Cuevas, Molinos El Guanche, La Destiladera, Bar Parada, Vitega, Mojos Virginia, Ecofood Vidaviva, Bruco La Palma and Viña Traviesa.
For her part, the CEO of Sodepal, Miriam Perestelo, said that "participation in San Sebastián Gastronomika is a commitment by the Cabildo of La Palma to consolidate a tourist destination in which our gastronomy has and must have a fundamental role. Our primary sector, our products, have an extraordinary story, which is the result of the commitment of past generations".
"Now, thanks to the innovation of restaurateurs and cooking professionals, we are multiplying our possibilities in an increasingly competitive sector. I am convinced that at this fair we will pleasantly surprise the people who visit our stand thanks to the presence of professionals from the sector and a wide representation of our products", added Perestelo, also head of Digital Transformation and Economic Promotion of the Cabildo.
According to the island institution in a communiqué, Saborea brings, within the framework of the San Sebastián Gastronomika, which is considered a world reference fair for haute cuisine and culinary trends, some twenty of the most characteristic products of La Palma, including wines, cheeses, honeys, sweets, salt, rum, beer and avocados, among many others.
In this regard, it is worth noting that all of Spain's major gastronomic destinations are present every year at the event, which can boast of being the first international congress on this subject organised in the world. In addition to Spanish cuisines, representatives from Japan and the United States also take part.
Thus, at the Basque venue there will be leading Spanish chefs, such as Ferrán Adriá, Alex Atala, Eneko Atxa and Joan Roca, as well as Rasmus Munk (creator of 'Holistic Cuisine' in Denmark), René Redzepi (the father of the new Nordic cuisine), José Andrés (ambassador of Spanish cuisine in the United States), Leonor Espinosa (Colombia), Yoshihiro Narisawa (pioneer of sustainable cuisine and owner of the best restaurant in Japan) and Matthe Lightner.
La Palma has its own stand, which forms part of the 160 exhibitors gathered there, with up to 215 speakers from 37 countries who, according to the organisers, attract the attention of 412 accredited journalists.
