Transylvania's Harghita County enrolled at the end of 2023 in the race for the title of European Region of Gastronomy 2027, and the members of the jury were these days on a working visit on-site, that left them delighted with what they experienced.

The candidacy file was submitted by a consortium formed by the Harghita County Council, the Harghita Intercommunity Development Association (Visit Harghita), the municipalities of Miercurea-Cuic, Odorheiu Secuiesc and Gheorgheni, Sapientia University, as well as several other local agencies and associations.

"Harghita County's unique gastronomic heritage results from the fusion of Hungarian, Romanian, Armenian and Szekler traditions the consortium created for this candidacy wants to develop further, in the spirit of sustainability, innovation and community collaboration. By cooperating with local producers, chefs and community actors, our goal is to create a sustainable food ecosystem that supports the local economy, protects our cultural values and enriches European gastronomic diversity. Our slogan is: 'Taste Harghita County!' The application brochure is available on the website igcat.org," said the Harghita Association for Intercommunity Development (Visit Harghita).

This week, the seven members of the jury of the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism (IGCAT) were in Harghita on an assessment visit which ended on Friday at the Ugron Castle in Filias, near Cristuru Secuiesc.

IGCAT president and co-founder of the World Region of Gastronomy Award Dr. Diane Dodd said that Harghita County is "a hidden gem" and that of all the regions visited, this one probably surprised and delighted her the most.

Referencing traditions, culture, the people's connection with the land and nature, and their hospitality, Diane Dodd said that she already knew there was something special about Harghita when she saw the application file, but that the visit this week and meeting the locals, seeing the pride they take in their food and their culture, and knowing that they want to preserve this for generations to come, is particularly exciting.

She also remarked the coexistence of multiple cultures in the region, pointing out that "food can be a celebration of cultural diversity" and concluded that "based on the recent candidacy file and the visit on-site, the jury decided that Harghita should be recommended for the title of European Gastronomic Region."

Present at the visit's closing event, the executive director of the Harghita Intercommunity Development Association (Visit Harghita) Szabó Károly said that obtaining the title of European Gastronomic Region will benefit Harghita County, and Transylvania and Romania as well, and that Harghita's cultural melting pot has brought to light "a highly exotic product that cannot be found anywhere else in Europe and perhaps not even in the world."

According to Visit Harghita, "the nominees and winners of the title of European Gastronomic Region selected and coordinated by IGCAT aim to contribute to improving the quality of the citizens' life by highlighting the importance of cultural and gastronomic uniqueness."

"IGCAT awards the title with the support of international and European institutions. The regions - both title nominees and awardees - also join the World Regions of Gastronomy Platform to promote long-term benefits, increase international visibility and support knowledge exchange. The title of European Gastronomic Region recognizes the communities (cities, counties, regions, islands or countries) that, through community cooperation, put a special emphasis on their gastronomic heritage, in the spirit of sustainable development. These communities attach special importance to the preservation and protection of food, drinks and local agricultural products, as well as to their cultural and natural values," said Visit Harghita, noting also that this distinction widely promotes achievements, programs, community cooperation and the region's responses to the challenges of the future, and does not come with a financial award. AGERPRES (RO - author: Gina Stefan, editor: Karina Olteanu; EN - editor: Simona Klodnischi)