Flavors are awarded at 12th. Traditional Cuisine Meeting

Visitors keep coming to Guanajuato exclusively to try our dishes and their new and traditional flavors

Six chefs from the State are awarded for their delicious and creative dishes

Leon/Gto News

The 12th. Traditional Cuisine Meeting disseminated the gastronomic tradition, gave visibility to Guanajuato customs and traditions and boosted the local economy.

On June 29 and 30, 7 thousand attendees were in the event and left 3 million 850 thousand pesos in spending by trying more than 80 traditional dishes from 42 cooks, desserts and ancient drinks original of the State of Guanajuato, and the sale of crafts from 15 producers; all of this, framed by artistic and cultural shows, and sustainable workshops, tastings and cooking classes.

The Velaria de la Feria de Leóon was the perfect setting for Guanajuato families and tourists to come together to live this gastronomic and cultural experience, promoted by the Guanajuato Tourism Secretary through the Public Program “Guanajuato, Sí Sabe”, which rescues, preserves, promotes and disseminates the gastronomy of Guanajuato.

Juan Jose Alvarez Brunel, Secretary of Tourism of Guanajuato, applauded that in Guanajuato organizers successfully carried out the gastronomic events that, during the administration of Governor Diego Sihue Rodriguez Vallejo and up unitl now, June 30, the SECTUR has supported 315 of these events.

“The Tourism Observatory of the State of Guanajuato shows us that, in 2023 alone, the State was visited by 1.3 million visitors exclusively to try our dishes and left a millionaire economic benefit”, said the Secretary of Tourism.

Renowned and specialist chefs from Guanajuato previously evaluated each dish that would be tasted this weekend and those with the highest scores were awarded today in the “Sweet and Salty Dish Contest.” The innovation, history, creativity and good flavor that each cook “injected” was important to grant the awards.

Finally, six chefs were awarded, taking three first places in each dish category.

In sweet dish the winners are:

• 1st. place, Juan Jose Alvarez Mendoza, from Apaseo el Alto, with his preparation of blue chili and piloncillo tamales
• 2nd. place, Maricela Perez Garcia, from Valle de Santiago, with her sweet quesadilla with xoconostle jam.
• 3rd. Place went to Jorge Hernandez Reyes, from Romita, with his Piloncillo oven Gorditas

In seasoned dish, the first three places went to:

• 1st. place, Graciela Trujillo Espitia, from Acambaro, with her Charalitos broth with bean tamale
• 2nd. place went to Maria Arias Segovia, from Abasolo, with Menudo tatemado
• 3rd. Place went to Maria del Refugio Lopez Ayala, from Purisima del Rincon, with her Delicias del Maguey

100 thousand in cash were distributed to the winners:

• The first places took 30 thousand pesos each
• Second places, 15 thousand pesos
• Third places 5 thousand pesos

The chefs, producers and artisans who participated in this edition are from the following municipalities:

• Dolores Hidalgo CIN, San Felipe, Ocampo, Victoria, San Luis de la Paz, Doctor Mora, SMA, San Diego de la Union, Manuel Doblado, San Francisco del Rincon, Apaseo el Alto, Huanimaro, Salamanca, Abasolo, Irapuato, Penjamo, Valle de Santiago, Purisima del Rincon, Juventino Rosas, Comonfort, Silao, Romita, Guanajuato, Tarandacuao, Acambaro, Yuriria, Salvatierra, Coroneo, Tarimoro, Cortazar, Jaral del Progreso, Celaya, Santiago Maravatio, Jalpa de Canovas and Leon

In the event families participated in workshops like:

• Taffy candy and cajeta wafers from Celaya, pambazo and cecina tasting from San Francisco del Rincon, tasting of exotic chocolate from Guanajuato City with mezcal from San Felipe
• In the traditional cooking class of beef salpicon with Xoconostle jam, and in a Corralejo house tasting-pairing
• In the Organic Garden, children and adults practiced activities such as waste and compost separation, composting, organic gardening, and health activities

Visitors also enjoyed musical presentations.