7th Varadero Gourmet Festival 2015 to Host the Foundation of Cuba’s Gastronomy Cathedra

Cuba’s Gastronomy Cathedra will be officially established within the framework of the upcoming Travel Show of Cuba (FITUR), to be held on May 5 - 7 on Jardines del Rey, as announced by Manuel Marrero, Minister of Tourism, as he opened on Wednesday the seventh edition of Varadero Gourmet Festival 2015.

According to Marrero, this initiative, which is supported by the Excelencias Group and its CEO Jose Carlos de Santiago, ambassador of the Iberian-American Gastronomy Academy to Latin America and the Caribbean, will set a new stage in the culinary development of the largest island in the Antilles.

“We’re aware of the fact that we live in a competitive world, so we have to be capable of standing out with the elements that characterize us, and the culinary culture is one of them”, Marrero said.

The Minister pointed out that we should take FITUR as a space for professional exchange among suppliers, barmen, cooks... and the growing sector of self-employed workers, who are an indispensable complement of tourism and gastronomy, with nearly 1,600 bistros in the country.

"We’re living an important moment for the travel industry, with a great first quarter of the year. Our tourism figures have gone 15 percent up and the rest of the year seems to be promising”, Marrero explained.

“In fact, unlike other editions, FITUR will have a strong gourmet presence. Three specific events have been scheduled: a commercial and marketing fair, a business fair and a special pavilion dedicated to gastronomy, with the participation of professionals of the sector, as well as food and beverage suppliers”, he detailed.

As for the quality of the gastronomic offers, the Minister underlined that the improvement can be tasted.  “This is proven by a 5 percent growth in the number of positive opinions on food served at Cuban premises. So, we’re committed to keep on working on this matter, in an effort to rescue the culinary traditions of our country.”
 

As part of the opening session, Chef Yamilet Magariño gave a master lecture entitled "Vintage Desserts, A Sweet Legacy". The specialist discoursed on the culinary and cultural legacy of Spain, as they not only brought swords and crosses, but sugar cane, a key element to the strengthening of the Antillean nation’s identity.

Mrs. Magariño also recalled desserts linked to the catholic religion, created in the convents, such as milk custard, the contributions made by domestic black slaves, the way desserts have been reflected on paintings, movies, music, cries and popular phrases. She also stood for the creation in Cuba of a list of national desserts, which could be structured with: spoon desserts, selection of minicakes and pies, iced desserts and the house’s suggestion.