Friday, January 20, 2012

Excellent selection of events at MADRID GASTROFESTIVAL from January 23 to February 5

The annual gastronomy event returns to the capital from January 23 to
February 5 with a vast array of activities and culinary experiences.

Gastrofestival, giving you the opportunity to taste Madrid

In January, Madrid’s cultural and leisure calendar features one of its signature
dishes, Gastrofestival 2012. The third edition of this annual event, which will run
from January 23 to February 5, goes beyond the purely culinary, paying tribute to
gastronomy from a range of other cultural spheres including art, cinema and
fashion.
During the two-week event, and parallel to Madrid Fusión, the international
gastro-summit, over 300 establishments in Madrid will be taking part in an event
designed to be enjoyed with all the senses, highlighting one of the capital’s main
tourist attractions: gastronomy, an art increasingly appreciated by visitors, who
can enjoy one of the most appealing and varied cuisines in the world.
Restaurants, cocktail bars, cookery schools, gourmet shops, clothing and
accessory stores, cultural institutions, art galleries and museums are all involved
in a programme that focuses on six main categories: Sensory Experiences,

Over 300 establishments are taking part in this event, which
combines different disciplines to showcase one of the city’s main
tourist attractions: gastronomy.

This year, alongside Sensory Experiences, Gastroculture, Madrid -
A Gastronomic Capital and Gastrofashion, visitors can enjoy two
new sections: Gastrohealth and Wine Culture

"Dinner with the Stars” will feature several international chefs who
are taking part in Madrid Fusión, including José Avillez from
Portugal, Juan José Gómez from Mexico, Yung Sik Yim and GiHo
Yim from Korea, Aidin Demir from Turkey, and Masato Nishihara
from Japan.

Leading museums, galleries and cultural institutions, like the
Spanish Film Library, have prepared an appealing menu that will
delight lovers of gastronomy and culture.

The Gastroculture section will include the presentation of Hannah
Collins’ book “The Fragile Feast,” in an event with the author and
celebrated chef Ferrán Adriá.

New for 2012: Gastrohealth and Wine Culture

On this occasion, Gastrofestival (organised by the Madrid City Council, through
the Madrid Visitors & Convention Bureau, and Madrid Fusión) is devoting a
section to healthy eating habits that will help us feel good inside and out.
Gastrohealth will include healthy cooking courses and nutrition workshops,
organic menus in restaurants, and health and beauty treatments using fruit,
chocolate and spices, as well as interesting discounts in spa circuits.
The Wine Culture section will allow wine lovers and connoisseurs to enjoy a
variety of wine tastings, wine-matching courses (to learn how to combine wine
and gourmet products), guided tours and even an independent music festival
focusing on wine at Palacio de Vistalegre, featuring artists such as Nacho Vegas,
The Right Ons and Christina Rosenvinge.

Dinner with the Stars
This edition of Madrid - A Gastronomic Capital will be structured around eight
main ingredients. One of the most appealing proposals will once again be “Dinner
with the Stars,” which affords diners the unique opportunity to enjoy delicious
menus prepared by international chefs from Madrid Fusión and served in the
city’s premier hotels and restaurants for only 75 euros.
For instance, this year diners can sample food by Portuguese chef José Avillez at
the Pedro Larumbe restaurant, while Mexican chef Juan José Gómez will be at
Jardín del Orfila, Korean chef Yung Sik Yim at the Westin Palace Hotel, Korean
chef GiHo Yim at Terraza del Casino (two Michelin stars), Turkish chef Aidin
Demir at the restaurant recently inaugurated in the Cibeles Palace, and Miyama
Castellana will be graced by the art of Masato Nishihara.
Furthermore, almost 100 establishments, including traditional taverns and established traditional restaurants, serving Spanish, international and signature cuisine, They are prearing special menus featuring their best recipes, priced from 25 to 40 euros, to introduce the public to the infinite variety of food available in the city.

Gastronomic experiences
Bars and taverns will be focusing on the art of the tapa, offering beer and a tapa
for 3 euros, while some of the leading cocktail bars in the capital, like Le Cabrera,
Chicote, José Alfredo and O’Clock, will be preparing their most exquisite mixed
drinks for the occasion. Cookery schools, gourmet shops and homeware stores
will also be taking part with activities and a range of special offers during the
festival.
Gastrofestival’s Sensorial Experiences section focuses on introducing new
gastronomic sensations through an extensive selection of wine tastings, gourmet
product tastings and gastronomic routes around the city. In this section two of the
capital’s new gastronomic landmarks, San Miguel Market and San Antón Market,
will be taking part, with special activities to introduce their services and products.

Gastronomy and culture
Gastronomy is part of our culture. With this in mind, Gastrofestival has organised
a stunning programme of activities linking gastronomy to disciplines such as
painting, theatre, cinema and literature. Gastroculture reflects this relationship
through special shows organised in some twenty galleries, with tempting
exhibitions, talks, guided tours and workshops organised by the leading museums
and institutions in the capital.
Some of the most notable venues are the Cerralbo Museum (“Gastronomy and
etiquette at the 19th Century Table“), the Lázaro Galdiano Museum (“Art and
Gastronomy at the Lázaro Galdiano Museum“), the Sorolla Museum (“From the
painting to the table”, with a special menu inspired by the painter’s family at the
Doña 59 restaurant), and the National Museum of Romanticism (“Dinner is
served! Traditions and trends in nineteenth century dining”), the Thyssen-
Bornemisza (“Thyssen cuisine”, an itinerary that is rounded off with a tapa created
specifically for the occasion), the Costume Museum (encounter with designers
Modesto Lomba and Roberto Torretta), the Museum of Anthropology (“The Spice
Agora“) and the San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts (guided tour).

Films at the Spanish Film Library
To link gastronomy to the silver screen and the stage, the Spanish Film Library
will offer a thematic cycle with movies like “Bon appétit,” “Fast Food Nation” and
“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” among others and Microteatro por dinero will
organise short plays lasting under 15 minutes, each for 15 spectators, who will be
able to enjoy a glass of wine (admission 4 euros).
The relationship between literature and gastronomy will be explored in the
Joaquín Leguina Regional Library and in Ivorypress Art+Books, which will host
the presentation of Hannah Collins’ book “The Fragile Feast”. The author and
celebrated chef Ferrán Adriá will be attending the event.

The finest design will be present thanks to Gastrofashion, which will dress the
windows of important fashion stores using gastronomic motifs. Celebrated
designers like Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada, Roberto Verino and Adolfo Domínguez
will be taking part in this edition.

For a complete programme of activities, go to (www.esmadrid.com/gastrofestival), the
special section of the esMADRID.com portal, official website for tourism of the
City of Madrid./

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