Catalonia, World Region of Gastronomy 2025, kicks off its activities at FITUR

The International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism (IGCAT) has named Catalonia the World Region of Gastronomy 2025, and there is no better setting than FITUR to announce the activities that will accompany this title throughout the year. The spectacular presentation, by the Catalan Tourism Agency, took place at the Royal Tapestry Factory in Madrid, in an event that was inaugurated by the President of the Generalitat of Catalonia, Salvador Illa; and attended by the Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu; the Ministers of Business and Employment -Miquel Sàmper-, Agriculture -Òscar Ordeig-, and Sport -Berni Álvarez- of the Generalitat of Catalonia; the Director General of Tourism, Cristina Lagé; the Director of the Catalan Tourism Agency, Arantxa Calvera; and the Delegate of the Catalan Government in Madrid, Núria Marín, as well as other senior officials, well-known faces, business figures, press and influencers from all over the territory.

The Michelin stars Javier and Sergio from Cocina Hermanos Torres and Fina Puigdevall and Martina Puigvert from Les Cols were in charge of showing the good moment that Catalan gastronomy is experiencing with dishes full of landscapes made with local products, such as Coca de escalivada with anchovy, Palamós white shrimp, Delta mussels and crab, Maresme peas with Iberian ham sauce and crumbs, or Duck with pears. For his part, the master chocolatier Oriol Balaguer provided the sweet part of the evening, which culminated with a spectacular mona-style cake surrounded by small Catalan cream cakes with cream sponge, chocolate mousse and carquiñoli sponge cake. The cocktail included the pairing of the best sommelier of Catalonia 2024, Marta Cortizas, from El Celler de Can Roca, who selected wines from the Torres Family with DO Penedés and DOQ Priorat.

This event is part of the 'Som Gastronomía Tour', a tour that will promote the moment of culinary explosion that Catalonia is experiencing and will highlight the more than 500 wine and food experiences offered in the Catalan territory. After the start in Madrid - between FITUR and Madrid Fusión - they will celebrate the 1st International Wine Tourism Forum of Catalonia on February 5, and then they will go through San Sebastián, Vigo, Valencia and Seville. On an international level, Tokyo, Shenzhen and Guadalajara will be some of the cities that will be able to discover the potential of Catalan gastronomy from the hand of chefs from restaurants such as El Celler de Can Roca or Disfrutar.

Throughout the year, there will be a multitude of activities in the region itself, which can be consulted on the website promoted by the Generalitat de Catalunya. All these events are focused on building the legacy that this distinction must leave behind in order to project an exciting future that will put Catalonia on the world map as a region that combines taste, history and innovation with a deep respect for the region and its people.