Tenerife amazed at Madrid Fusion 2024 with its unique flavors and aromas conveyed through a culinary program that stimulates the senses, driven by three key pillars: reclaiming the territory, showcasing the finest local produce, and the exceptional work of the chefs brought to the capital. These elements define the island’s presence on the inaugural day of the prominent national industry fair. The vast array of activities in Tenerife’s immersive 320-square-meter stand served as a focal point for both locals and visitors. The Great Wine Tasting, including Alberto Margallo’s presentation, took center stage in showcasing Tenerife, one of the official sponsors of this specialized event.
Environments
The island boasts the largest stand among all the destinations and distinguished itself on the first day of the culinary event with approximately twenty activities across its three distinct spaces: Edible Landscapes, Volcanic Origin, and Liquid Aromas, as well as the 75-square-meter Wine Tunnel. These featured the Great Tenerife Wine Tasting and Alberto Margallo’s presentation on Anaga’s landscape in haute cuisine, incorporating limpets, prickly pears, and yams. The stand offered a full schedule of breakfasts, lunches, snacks, workshops, tastings, and discussions. Through its highly immersive audiovisual design, it immersed attendees, ranging from journalists to chefs, influencers, and business professionals, into the island experience.
Fascination
Lope Afonso, the Vice President and Tourism Adviser of the Council, emphasized from the initial day of Madrid Fusión that “it is evident that Tenerife evokes emotions and anticipation in all those who have visited the stand.” He added: “Our gastronomy garners interest through the propositions of chefs, producers, or winemakers.” In essence, he stressed, “a variety that has positioned us at the epicenter of this congress.” The adviser underscored that “we can assert that the first day was a success, bringing together a unique landscape and professionals who have successfully amalgamated tradition with innovation.” Lope Afonso concluded: “All these factors establish us as a destination that rivals any other in the world.”
Opportunity
Valentín González, the island’s advisor of the Primary Sector, highlighted “the exceptional opportunity for the island to showcase our local produce firsthand, through the producers themselves.” González elaborated that “we experienced this firsthand on the first day with beekeepers and winemakers.” Dimple Melwani, from Tenerife Tourism, expressed “pride” in the team of professionals comprising the delegation. He emphasized, “We concluded the first day surpassing all expectations with activities that elevate our landscape and local produce.” He accentuated “the seamless integration of tourism and the primary sector.”
Representation
The Tenerife delegation at Madrid Fusión comprises over a hundred professionals, including producers, chefs, pastry chefs, front of house staff, sommeliers, restaurateurs, winemakers, technicians from the six wine designations of origin, the Cabildo’s Primary Sector, and Tenerife Tourism, alongside students and educators from various gastronomy and hospitality branches at IES San Marcos and CIPF Virgen de Candelaria (Santa Cruz). The presence is complemented with a space at the Saborea España stand.
Insights
Among the diverse training and recreational activities, yesterday featured breakfasts, lunches, as well as various wine, spirit, bar, and cocktail tastings. Not to forget the discussions on the exceptional and valiant Tenerife honeys – particularly after the impact of last summer’s fire – and gofio. With the Multipurpose Room packed, chef Alberto Margallo (San Sebastián, 57) took to the stage, showcasing how the most emblematic – yet lesser-known in the peninsula – Anaga products, such as limpets, prickly pears, and yams, can be transformed into sophisticated haute cuisine ingredients. The star of the show at the Great Tenerife Wine Tasting was the listán grape, in both its black and white varieties. These vines’ inherent characteristics, in synergy with the volcanic soil, trade winds, and unique island topography, impart them with a distinct identity on the global stage. Traditionally, this event kicks off the congress activities in the Wine Edition area, attracting over 50 attendees, including sommeliers, chefs, journalists, and distributors, as in previous editions.
