CATenBA
Successful promotion of Girona’s gastronomy in Buenos Aires, Argentina
MARCH 2014
From 21st to 23rd September the CATenBA (Catalonia in Buenos Aires) event took place, aimed at promoting Catalonia and its tourism offering from various perspectives (cuisine, art, literature and Catalan gastronomic culture) with activities led by prestigious professionals.
The opening act of the CATenBA event was hosted by Josep Roca, co-owner and sommelier of El Celler de Can Roca, holder of three Michelin stars and named World's Best Restaurant 2013 by Restaurant Magazine. Josep Roca’s presentation not only focused on Catalan cuisine but served to showcase Catalonia as a whole.
Events for the general public also took place. The Catalan chefs Marc Gascons (Els Tinars restaurant in Llagostera, holder of one Michelin star), Jimena Pérez Apellániz (La Riera restaurant in Sant Martí Vell, Girona), and Jordi Rollan (La Rectoria restaurant in Espinavessa), together with the master pastry chef Jordi Sans (Sans patisserie in La Bisbal), led a series of workshops on Catalan cuisine. Other highlights included the showing of documentaries on Catalonia and its culture, a recital of songs by Joan Manuel Serrat performed by the singer Mauro Guiretti, a tasting of Catalan wines and cavas, and a talk given by Xavier Mariscal entitled “Drawing Life”. Xavier Mariscal also opened the exhibition “Catalonia: Flavours with History”.
In the professional sphere, the Catalan Tourism Agency and the Costa Brava Girona Tourist Board held a meeting with Hernán Lombardi, Culture Minister of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. Following the meeting, Joan Giraut, President of Girona Provincial Council, declared, “We will look at implementing initiatives of mutual interest in the future through the Catalan Association of Buenos Aires, which has such a noteworthy presence in the city.”
Meanwhile, a presentation of the tourism offering of Catalonia and the Girona area was held for an audience of 70 travel agents and 30 Argentinian media outlets. CATenBA is a project of the Catalan Tourism Agency (of the Government of Catalonia) and the Costa Brava Girona Tourist Board (of Girona Provincial Council), coordinated by Llum García Elorrio and Jimena Pérez Apellániz, of the restaurant La Riera in Sant Martí Vell (Girona), and with the collaboration of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the City of Buenos Aires.
