Banat says the food it serves is “Europe on a plate.” In recognition of the culinary diversity and historic influences, the region which lies in southwestern Romania next to Serbia and Hungary has obtained the title of European Gastronomic Region for 2028.
The announcement came after an evaluation from the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism (IGCAT), the organization that coordinates the program at European level.
A press conference organized at the Timiș County Council is expected following the jury’s April 13-16 visit, when the evaluators analyzed the application and met local actors involved in the project (and probably sampled some of the food and drink).
Banat is known for a fusion of dishes and flavors which reflect its dynamic history and culture: from the Roman Empire, the Ottoman Empire and later, the Austro- Hungarian influence.
The food isn’t what you’d call light: chicken soup with noodles or dumplings, meatball soup, stuffed cabbage rolls with polenta, piglet steak a la Banat, smoked fish in fir leaves, cheese, apple or pumpkin pie, cheese pancakes topped with lashings of sour cream and jam are some of the dishes.
The region is also famed for its wines, beers and spirits. Banat slivovitz, wines from a variety of excellent vineyards, and Timişoreana beer.
It prides itself on multiculturalism, a civic spirit, and entrepreneurship which ‘sustain its role as a European model of resilience, openness, and creative coexistence.” Don’t expect inter-ethnic brawls to break out here; in fact it was where the revolution that toppled communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu started in 1989.
The award allows the region´s distinct cultural and food assets an international audience by giving visibility to traditional food.
It’s run by the IGCAT (International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Art and Tourism).
An independent and international panel of IGCAT experts spanning different sectors assess the regions’ potential to be awarded.
A panel of experts from different fields including tourism, culture, hospitality, environment, heritage and agriculture decide what region gets the Award.
It provides the occasion for communities to work together towards a shared objective and, therefore ensures great benefits in terms of local cohesion.
Raising citizen awareness about the food they eat, the value of local products and the need to innovate in order to protect local produce are key areas of the program.
But the project isn’t just about attracting visitors to the region but also in the longer-term benefits by educating for better and healthier lifestyles and supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
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