The Regional Government is organizing the 'International Gastronomy Summit of Castilla y León', which brings together international, national, and regional chefs, who hold a total of 32 Michelin stars, in Salamanca .
The program includes roundtable discussions, keynote speeches, cooking demonstrations, an audiovisual show, and a 'Pincho Route' through the city.
The Regional Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Sport, Gonzalo Santonja, participated today in Salamanca in the inauguration of the "International Gastronomy Summit of Castilla y León," which is being held in the city today, Monday, and tomorrow, Tuesday, under the motto "A Monumental Cuisine." A motto that, according to the Regional Minister, "is a conviction and a declaration of intent in a monumental city like Salamanca. Because Castilla y León has a cuisine that is memory, heritage, identity, and patrimony. And it is also, today more than ever, innovation, talent, and international excellence."
Santonja highlighted "the commitment of the Regional Government of Castile to promoting gastronomy and wine tourism as strategic pillars of cultural, tourism, and economic development." To this end, he recalled how "throughout this term, the Regional Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Sport has promoted more than 40 gastronomic events, of which this Summit represents the culmination of that effort." And all of this, "with the clear objective of positioning Castilla y León as a gastronomic destination of excellence, with events that will achieve international recognition."
This event "brings together the best and greatest professionals in the sector, with renowned chefs holding a total of 32 Michelin stars, in a gathering not only designed for professionals but also open to the general public, so that the whole of Salamanca is filled with gastronomy during this week."
The Summit was created as "a space for dialogue between chefs, producers, institutions, and citizens," the minister explained, "with two days of interesting presentations, cooking demonstrations, roundtable discussions, and dialogues, which will address innovation, sustainability, identity, family heritage, climate change, culture, and, of course, enjoyment."
To this end, the Summit will be held in unique heritage sites: the courtyard of the Minor Schools, the Archbishop Fonseca College, and the Plaza del Concilio de Trento with the imposing façade of the Convent of San Esteban. "Places where wisdom and culture have intersected for centuries, and where they will share the wisdom of the kitchen for two days," he noted.
Land of Flavor
For his part, the Deputy Minister of Community Agricultural Policy and Rural Development, Jorge Llorente, emphasized that the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development has worked at this Summit to "highlight an essential principle, which is that every great dish begins in the land. Every ingredient that reaches the kitchen carries with it a history of dedication, tradition, and excellence, forged by our farmers and ranchers in the fields of Castilla y León." In this regard, he noted that the region has 70 recognized quality standards and "presents itself as the largest food pantry in Europe, a reflection of centuries of know-how." Under the "Tierra de Sabor" seal, more than 6,000 products made by more than 900 operators offer a gastronomic range that spans from meats, cheeses, and wines to legumes, fruits, cereals, and their derivatives.
Llorente also emphasized that this Summit "is a celebration of the inseparable link between agriculture and gastronomy, two pillars that fuel rural development, sustainable innovation, and quality tourism."
The opening ceremony, led by actor and gourmet Juan Echanove, also included the participation of the Mayor of Salamanca, Carlos García Carbayo; the President of the Provincial Council, Javier Iglesias; the Rector of the University of Salamanca, Juan Manuel Corchado; and the President of the Confederation of Hospitality and Tourism of Castilla y León, Jaime Fernández.
Summit program
Today, Monday, the Summit is scheduled to feature Japanese chef Shinobu Namae; Catalan chefs Carme Ruscalleda and Raül Balam; Slovenian chef Ana Rôs; American chef Jeremiah Tower, along with Carlos Casillas from Ávila and American executive chef Daniela Vázquez; and Andalusian chef Paco Morales. Chef Oriol Castro, 3 Michelin stars and ranked number 1 according to The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2024, will give a cooking presentation this afternoon in the Plaza del Concilio de Trento, in front of the façade of the Convent of San Esteban.
Tomorrow's Tuesday session will open with a roundtable featuring chefs Shinobu Namae, Nacho Manzano, and Ana Rôs. This will be followed by a discussion featuring three-Michelin-star chef Nacho Manzano from Asturias, along with Michelin-star chefs Pedro Mario Pérez and Sara Ferreres from Castilla y León . A theoretical and practical demonstration with Peruvian chef Mitsuharu Tsumura, ranked fifth in The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2024, is also scheduled to take place in the lower cloister of the Arzobispo Fonseca School.
The summit will conclude with a luncheon at the Patio de Escuelas Menores, where 18 chefs from Castilla y León, who hold a total of 16 Michelin stars, will participate in a unique gathering in which they will reinterpret emblematic recipes from the prestigious national and international chefs participating in the Summit, also contributing their own creativity and offering an exclusive culinary experience that fuses cuisines and innovation.
Salamanca and gastronomy
The Summit has been taking place in Salamanca since last Friday the 16th, when the "Pincho Route" began. This event, organized around this significant gastronomic event, will feature more than 40 of the city's restaurants and bars. It will run until Wednesday, May 21st. This initiative is designed to bring cuisine to everyone and bring the spirit of the Summit to all Salamancans and visitors.
Furthermore, with the aim of uniting the culture and cultural heritage of the Salamanca capital with the Summit's culinary offerings, a video mapping has been scheduled for the façade of the Patio Chico, which will be projected every night throughout the week. The show premieres on Monday the 19th at 10:00 PM and will be repeated on Tuesday the 20th at 10:00 PM and from Wednesday the 21st to Sunday the 25th, in two sessions, at 10:00 PM and 10:30 PM.
The International Gastronomy Summit is an initiative of the Junta de Castilla y León, with the collaboration and advice of the Confederation of Hospitality and Tourism Entrepreneurs of Castilla y León (HOSTURCyL), in addition to the support of the City Council, the Provincial Council and the University of Salamanca and the Wine Routes of Castilla y León brand.
Intervention by the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Sport:
Speech by the Deputy Minister for Community Agricultural Policy and Rural Development:
