The South of World Gastronomy

Since my first trip to Buenos Aires in the first half of the 1990s, I’ve since loved to return to this majestic city and enjoy its art, theatre and human quality, in addition to its immense and diverse cuisine, especially in the neighborhoods of Puerto Madero, Palermo, Barrio Norte (Retiro and Recoleta) and La Boca. This time around, I’ve come back to attend the Ordinary General Assembly of the Iberian-American Gastronomy Academy (AIBG, per its initials in Spanish), and on top of combined feelings of reminiscence and new emotions, we witnessed the most exclusive crowning of the city of Buenos Aires as the 2017 Capital of Iberian-American Gastronomic Culture.

No doubt this was an unprecedented event.  It took place at the Palace of San Martin and was headed by the Tourism Minister, Jose Gustavo Santos, among other important government officials.  Attendees included journalists, academics and ambassadors from the countries represented in the AIBG.  Mrs. Maria Podesta, as President of the Argentinean Gastronomy Academy, offered details about this special designation, a condition that honors Buenos Aires as the first South American city ever to win this distinction. Moreover, AIBG President, Mr. Rafael Anson, shed more light amongst the audience by further illustrating participants about the tremendous opportunity Argentina now has to showcase its marvelous gastronomy to the entire world.

In 2017 Iberian-American gastronomy will shine from the deep South, to the beat of tango, to the light of burning charcoal, to the taste of Argentinean barbecue,  and to the glow of overwhelming creativity that reaches far beyond chimichurri, empanadas, locro criollo, milanesas, dulce de leche and alfajores, all of which we enjoy so much.  During this trip, we were able to witness a sample of all this greatness, thanks to a very special dinner prepared by the world-renowned chef Francis Mallmann at his exclusive restaurant in La Boca.  It was a six-course menu, where each plate became a feast to the senses, and each properly harmonized with exceptional Argentinean wines.

Representing 30% of the World's 50 best restaurants, Iberian America holds the very best gastronomic offer, driven by the passion and creativity of its cooks, by the quality and diversity of its ingredients, by the commitment of its deep-hearted people, and by initiatives from the governments, from private and not-for-profit organizations and, of course, from the local academies linked to the AIBG.

In the Dominican Republic, our academy highly values the job done by its sister institutions in each other country and, this time around, we want to congratulate dearly Mrs. Maria Podesta, President of the Argentinean Gastronomy Academy, and its entire body of academics, for receiving the great honor and opportunity of having exclusive rights, during the course of 2017, for showing what we can call the South of World Gastronomy.