President of Peruvian Society of Gastronomy (Apega) Bernando Roca Rey affirms the eight edition of Mistura –one of the biggest food festival in the Latin America– is expected to welcome half a million attendees, and said Peru does not only have the best cooks but the best diners, as well.
As he walks fast, a few minutes before the opening ceremony, Roca Rey says Peruvian gastronomy has made the difference in Latin America and “we don’t want to lose that status.”
Therefore, he emphasized the fair was declared of National Interest by the Peruvian Executive Power yesterday, which ensures that public sector's entities – within the scope of their competences– will lend support to the festival.
Artisanal gastronomy –represented by those Peruvians preserving flavor and tradition of their people– will be the focus of such an important event.
Last Saturday, Apega proposed the Executive to formulate a state policy aimed at promoting gastronomy towards 2021, so that Peruvian Cuisine can achieve, among other things, UNESCO recognition as Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Roca Rey warned that nowadays several countries see Peruvian gastronomy as a model and try their best to emulate and even better it; so if we do not keep a progressive and constant innovation attitude, “we will be at risk of losing our leading position and what we have achieved in the past few years.”
The food fair will officially open at 10:00 a.m. (15:00 GMT) tomorrow at the Costa Verde of Magdalena del Mar (seaside) and will run until 13 September.
(END) ART-RRC/RRC/RMB/MVB
Published: 9/3/2015