“Carlos Álamo, Minister of Tourism, pointed out that “we are on the right path to becoming that leading destination in gastronomy that we want to be and that brings us closer to excellence.”
Gran Canaria closed the twentieth edition of Madrid Fusión by making its gastronomy shine, in the two spaces where it developed its complete program of activities. The gastronomic congress broke records with 16.500 visitors, 1.171 congressmen in the main auditorium and 1.038 journalists from all over the world. Never in history has there been more public, more congressmen or more journalists.
The Minister of Tourism of Gran Canaria was more than satisfied with Gran Canaria's proposal at the leading gastronomic fair in Spain and assessed its evolution in recent years as positive. “This is the fifth edition in which we have participated and in all of them we have increased the previous commitment, because it is a way of vindicating the quality of our gastronomy, so this year we have quadrupled the initial budget,” explained Carlos Álamo. “We have taken the most ambitious bet and a team of chefs who are true stars. We have brought more than 50 kitchen professionals to offer a sample of the gastronomic experiences that they will find in the restaurants of Gran Canaria, which is based on the quality product of our kilometer zero and which is presented in an avant-garde way through of the modern treatment that respects the tradition of our kitchen professionals. The objective is not only to consolidate our position and growth but also to gain relevance and I believe that we are on the right path to becoming that leading gastronomic destination that we want to be and that brings us closer to excellence.”
At the main stand of Gran Canaria, located on the ground floor of pavilion 14 of Ifema, nearly a thousand people were seated at the stand to attend the presentations, showcookings and tastings that were carried out. In addition, 3 special calls were made to national media (specialized in travel, lifestyle and gastronomy) and travel agencies and tour operators to present a preview of the II International Cheese Forum that will take place in Gran Canaria on July 11 and 12; as well as to make presentations of Gran Canaria as a gastronomic destination. The finishing touch to these actions was the 85 different preparations and products that were made during them.
In the Saborea España Zone, the Gastronomic Workshops space, the Wine Classroom, the showcooking stage and the Saborea Gran Canaria stand were the locations where tastings, cooking demonstrations, tastings and exhibitions of gastronomic projects were held. visitors who came to this space located at the entrance to the ground floor of pavilion 14 itself.
The Minister of Tourism of Gran Canaria considers that Madrid Fusión 2022 “has been a party and a confirmation of the gastronomic explosion of Gran Canaria where the territory has been key and where the exhibition held will return, in the form of generating business in the destination for this sector.”
“The product of Gran Canaria has always been recognized, but now we have some masters when it comes to trying and developing avant-garde gastronomic proposals from this resource. I sincerely believe that the cuisine of Gran Canaria is fashionable and is an important tourist attraction. Every day it is more recognized by both professionals and tourists. These already place it as the best valued tourist product in our surveys. It is also true that the pandemic made us stop, look inward and start working on our quality products. I always say that the product is different because of the sun, because of the climate, because we are a volcanic land, because of many things, and because of our great professionals, since many have experience in the best kitchens and have returned home to get the best. of our product. It's what they are doing and the tourists appreciate it. I think we are on the right line, in this sense,” added Carlos Álamo.
Gastronomic display for three days of Madrid Fusion
Between March 28 and 30, the epicenter of world gastronomy was in Madrid Fusión. The congress was celebrating its 20th Anniversary and for Gran Canaria, it was its 5th consecutive year reaching the figure.
To this end, its restaurants recognized by the most prestigious gastronomic guides held demonstrations and tastings of their interpretation of the territory or the local product: La Aquarela, Hestia, Pícaro, Bevir, Embarcadero, Decontrabando, 360 and Nelson cooked and made people enjoy.
The pastry chef Kibisaim Lugo, from the Casa Romántica restaurant, participated in the final of the Revelation Pastry Chef contest and also had time to go to the Gran Canaria stand to show the tourism project they are developing in the Agaete Valley.
Tourist experiences such as visits to coffee farms (with Finca los Castaños and Finca La Laja); to the Tenefé Salt Flats; to the secrets of the banana (Finca La Rekompensa); to our most gourmet aboriginal past (Turinka); and the Gran Canaria Wine Route made the attendees travel to the island.
Projects such as GastroIngenio, through its Vega Restaurant and a representation of the municipality's projects were also present to value our traditions and show the path towards sustainability in the restaurant sector that they are carrying out.
Valleseco ciders, wines, cheeses, olive oil, gofio, honey rum and tropical fruits were the protagonists of tastings and tastings that brought together dozens of visitors each time, in front of the locations where Gran Canaria participated.
In addition, the Minister of Tourism, Reyes Maroto, and the Minister of Agriculture, Luis Planas, came to learn about Gran Canaria's proposal, they recognized admirers of products such as cheese, coffee, different fish, among others, and congratulated the Minister of Tourism for the proposal. Personalities from the gastronomic industry such as Elena Arzak, Andoni Luis Aduriz, Rafael Sandoval and Susi Díaz were also interested in Gran Canaria's proposal.