The Tenerife Fairgrounds host the GastroCanarias 2022 Hall from September 27 to 29, the seventh edition of “the most important fair in the Archipelago, whatever the sector”, as explained by the co-director of the event and journalist, José Carlos Marrero, during the presentation. The numbers confirm it. There will be 217 stands from 79 companies, including exhibitors from the seven Island Councils. In these spaces they will promote their gastronomy and agri-food products. All within a framework of 12,000 square meters where the presence, for three intense days, of 17,000 people is expected. La Palma will be the island invited to an event that returns strongly after two years without being held due to the health crisis.
The Gastronomic Hall of the Canary Islands-GastroCanarias is already a traditional event with the world of cuisine and local products from kilometer 0. In this edition it exceeds the number of championships. There will be eleven, six for food and five for drinks. With one hundred finalists.
Showcase.
“GastroCanarias is the great showcase of Canarian gastronomy towards the rest of Spain and the world.” The president of the Cabildo de Tenerife, Pedro Martín, values it in the presentation held at the Hotel Mencey in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. He also assures that “we are a gastronomic power and we have to believe in it.”
Eleven championships are held over three days, 6 for food and 5 for drinks, with 100 finalists
The island president values the impact of the sector both among the resident population and, above all, visitors. He underlines the intention of “positioning ourselves in the group of the great fairs that are held in Spain; Barcelona, Madrid, San Sebastian and Tenerife». He emphasizes a message: «Gastronomy generates economy, income and employment; If we are able to unite these three things with the sensations, we will find the perfect recipe».
The raw material.
The president of the Cabildo de La Palma, Mariano Hernández Zapata, highlights the importance of being the invited island – it was already the chosen one before the pandemic and the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano. He values ”having the best quality raw material, which allows us, thanks to the talent of our professionals, to produce top-level culinary products.” He values the Saborea La Palma project.
Change dates.
The mayor of Santa Cruz, José Manuel Bermúdez, values the organization’s willingness to change the dates of the event from June to September and thus allow the organization of Carnival 2022. In addition, he adds the value of maintaining “a project of such importance for the Island”. Gastronomy is a strategic sector for the capital, the second with the most opening and activity licenses in the city. He details: “Month after month is one of those that generates the most employment, and provides differentiation in our dissemination.”
Relevance in GDP.
The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Regional Government, the palm Alicia Vanoostende, points out that “this fair is also economic development.” She provides data such as the food industry moves more than 1,100 companies and 60,000 jobs, and has 5% of GDP. Or that the hotel industry, just the restaurant industry, brings together more than 4,500 businesses in the Canary Islands. Some numbers that she, she sums up, “also mean rural development, since we always use our local product to add value to it.” This means that rural areas “have more life, a population attached to the territory and midlands full of landscapes that translate into tourism.”
General essay.
This year, the guest island will be La Palma, which will allow a deeper understanding of the typical products, the emblematic recipes and the professionals of the Isla Bonita. Two of them, Alejandro Trujillo and Sara Estévez, from Rincón de Moraga, in Argual, prepared two dishes while the speaking turns were taking place. An octopus carpaccio and some cannelloni with palm products that did not disappoint. Dress rehearsal with everything.
La Isla Bonita, invited this time, will occupy one of the 217 stands in 12,000 square meters
Quote.
Two large stages, one sponsored by the Cabildo de Tenerife –the cooking competitions are held there– and another by Heineken –the setting for the beverage competitions– will dominate the three days at the Fairgrounds. There will be offered a program of activities made up of cooking workshops, master classes, chef demonstrations (show-cooking), product presentations and tastings, and commented tastings. The GastroCanarias-Hecansa Training Classroom focused on young people will reopen its doors. Two novelties this year. On the one hand, the Makro Classroom, which is going outside the Peninsula for the first time, and will bring together professionals. On the other, the first Canarian Tiki Cocktail Championship. Exotic cocktails, which sets the trend, with the use of fresh tropical fruits and a careful decoration. Eleven championships will be held. The 16th edition of the Cooks of the Canary Islands stands out.
