The Junta de Castilla y León is organizing the " Castilla y León International Gastronomy Summit," which will bring together world-renowned culinary experts in Salamanca on May 19 and 20, uniting tradition and haute cuisine. The program offers a unique gathering with international and national Michelin-starred chefs, panel discussions, show cooking sessions, and gastronomic tours.
The Minister of Culture, Tourism and Sport, Gonzalo Santonja, has announced today, in Salamanca, more details of the great gastronomic event of the year, the 'International Gastronomy Summit of Castilla y León', which will be held in the city on May 19 and 20 under the motto 'A monumental cuisine'. An event that will bring together some of the most renowned figures on the international and national culinary scene and with chefs from the Community, adding up to 16 national and international Michelin stars and 16 Michelin stars from Castilla y León.
Santonja has pointed out that "Castilla y León is consolidating itself as a destination that stands out for its wine and food excellence, both nationally and internationally, and the Regional Government is promoting, as one of its main objectives, the promotion of the Community's gastronomy and wine tourism, through events of global impact, such as this summit in Salamanca, within the more than 40 gastronomic events that we have developed throughout this legislature". An initiative that, as the Minister has recalled, "seeks to give visibility to haute cuisine and generate debate about its current moment, offering a combination of culinary art and heritage wealth, in an incomparable monumental setting, such as the World Heritage city of Salamanca".
Regarding the summit program, the minister noted that it is "an example of institutional collaboration initiated by the Junta de Castilla y León , with the support and advice of the Confederation of Hospitality and Tourism Entrepreneurs of Castilla y León (HOSTURCyL), in addition to the significant backing and support of the City Council, the Provincial Council, and the University of Salamanca."
Appointment with haute cuisine
Among the chefs participating in the 'International Gastronomy Summit of Castilla y León' are names such as Oriol Castro (Disfrutar, Barcelona), number 1 in the 50 Best Restaurants 2024; Mitsuharu Tsumura (Maido, Peru), number 5 on the same list; Paco Morales (Noor, Córdoba); Ana Roš (Hiša Franko, Slovenia); Jeremiah Tower, pioneer of California cuisine; Carme Ruscalleda and Raül Balam (Moments, Barcelona); Shinobu Namae (L'Effervescence, Japan) and Nacho Manzano (Casa Marcial, Gijón).
For two days, these leaders will share the stage with prominent chefs from the region, with the participation of 16 Michelin-starred chefs from Castilla y León, generating a creative dialogue around innovation, the region, sustainability, and culinary legacy.
Program of presentations and round tables
The Summit will open on Monday, May 19th, in the Chapel of the Arzobispo Fonseca School, with a presentation by Japanese chef Shinobu Namae on Cultural Fusion in Contemporary Cuisine, Roots: Castilla y León - Japan. This will be followed by a discussion moderated by actor and gastronome Juan Echanove with Carme Ruscalleda and Raül Balam on The Generational Gap: Passion, Heritage, and Future: Keys to the Continuity of a Family Restaurant. This will be followed by a presentation by Ana Roš on Flavors with Identity: The Territory as a Source of Gastronomic Innovation, The Kitchen of Hiša Franko.
In the afternoon, Jeremiah Tower will reflect on the evolution of American cuisine (The Architect of the Modern American Kitchen) and Paco Morales will share his take on Andalusian heritage (Noor, The Reinterpretation of Andalusian Cuisine). The day will conclude with Oriol Castro, with a cooking demonstration in front of the façade of the Convent of San Esteban, entitled The Kitchen of the Senses.
Tuesday, May 20th will kick off with the roundtable "Changing the Menu to Change the World," featuring Shinobu Namae, Nacho Manzano, and Ana Roš, where sustainability and circular gastronomy will be discussed. This will be followed by presentations by Nacho Manzano and Mitsuharu Tsumura, who will present "Umami, Pure Flavor."
Gastronomy and city
The Summit extends beyond the presentations. From May 16 to 21, Salamanca will experience gastronomy in depth with the "Pincho Route," an initiative designed to bring cuisine to everyone and bring the spirit of the Summit to the city streets.
The program includes a light and sound show, aiming to unite the culture and heritage of the Salamanca capital with the Summit's culinary offerings. To this end, a video mapping has been programmed on the façade of the Patio Chico, which will be projected every night throughout the week.
Below you can listen to the statements of the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Sport:
