Almeria food capital status promotional boon

ALMERIA’S food capital status is a promotional boon, the city Mayor says.

Speaking on Tuesday at the ‘Andalucia Sabor’ food fair in Seville, Ramon Fernandez-Pacheco described the city’s position as this year’s food capital of Spain as “the greatest presentation card Almeria as ever had.

“Almeria 2019 is a complete success”, the Mayor enthused, saying the status was spreading the name of the city and the province to “thousands of people in Andalucia, the whole of Spain and in many places of the world.”

The food capital award is, according to Fernandez-Pacheco, “the opportunity to be the gastronomy reference of the country where you best eat the best in the world.“

What’s more, he said, “We have to understand Almeria 2019 as a double expression of identity and culture. We are showing the world that in Almeria you not only eat and drink well, but above all else you live very well.”

Almeria’s produce, recipes, chefs and restaurants were well represented at the food fair.

One of the highlights was the Andalucia Stars cook Almeria’ event. Four Michelin star Andalucian chefs, Juanlu Fernandez from Jerez, Julio Fernandez from Seville, and Almerian cooking greats Jose Alvarez and Juan Sanchez, each prepared a dish.

Among those dropping by the Almeria stand to try some provincial produce for themselves were Junta de Andalucia President Juanma Moreno and Agriculture, Fishing and Sustainable Development regional minister Carmen Crespo.