Only sixty days left, and the menu was ready. San Sebastian Gastronomy-Euskadi Basque Country, dean of the world gastronomic congress, will be held in Kursaal from 2 to 5 October. This year’s motto, ‘United Culinary’, fits the organization’s “nod to gastronomy’s ability to unify cultures”. And a major role will fall on the British culinary scene, “a country that, apart from what happens in its capital, is the unknown.”

In addition to British chefs, the best chefs in the world will participate in the congress, which maintains traditional competitions and exhibitions with leading brands. Registration is open.

Among British chefs from outside London who will arrive at Donostia are Roberta Hall-McCarron, of Edinburgh’s The Little Chartroom; Daniel Clifford, of the MidSummer House restaurant in Cambridge, with two Michelin stars; and the prestigious Simon Rogan of L’Enclume de Cartmel, with three stars in the red guide. Along with the chefs, there will also be a ‘landing’ in Donostia with a large presence of British journalists and ‘traders’ from the sector. Chefs from various communities based in the UK will describe their experiences and the uniqueness of the cuisine which has historically been enriched by its links to countries that are part of the Commonwealth, such as India or Pakistan, or by contributions from France, China, Italy or Turkey.

The holding of the congress has strengthened ties with different British entities so that this year’s San Sebastian Gastronomy becomes a bridge between the two countries. «The role San Sebastián plays in the relationship between British tourism and gastronomy is also increasing every year and recently The Times newspaper voted the capital city of San Sebastian as ‘the best city for foodies’, outperforming 15 other capital cities around the world. ”, according to the designation directive in the capital Gipuzkoan.

The link between Spanish and British cuisine will also manifest in the extraordinary presence of chefs and entrepreneurs who in the last 20 years have led their kitchens to the British conquest, “opening a venue that has positioned itself as a benchmark in the preferences of British diners. Chefs such as José Pizarro, the Iberian food ambassador in the UK, based in London for over 20 years, and Nieves Barragán, Quique Dacosta or Nacho Manzano, who oversee their own business on British soil “and who have made London, Europe’s most international and universal Capital, in a city in the world where there are more first-class Spanish restaurants».

Not only will there be an English accent at the congress. In addition to the Spanish chefs Quique Dacosta, Ricard Camarena, Oriol Castro and Eduard Xatruch, Benito Gómez, Lucía Freitas, Nando Jubany, Begoña Rodrigo or Albert Adri, other cuisines from around the world will be in Donostia, with Gastón Acurio, «the reassuring Peruvian Chef across the country that gastronomy is the instrument that will lead him to restore pride and identity and ignite the fuse that eventually launches Latin American kitchens to the challenges of the new age”, and Pablo Rivero, “Argentinian chef who succeeded in transforming the simple grill and environment in Buenos Aires in the restaurant. best in all of Latin America on the list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2020 ». Rivero, considered Latin America’s best grill chef, will be part of a group of chefs who will attend a San Sebastian grill symposium that showcases the magic of fire.

As always, the presentation from the Basque chef was one of the most eagerly awaited. Andoni Luis Aduriz will speak more this time about Muka, his new commitment to ‘cooking fire’ at Kursaal. Elena Arzak, Pedro Subijana and Josean Alija, among others, will give their presentations, and the masters of Basque cuisine who are part of the congressional technical committee will continue to play a leading role: in addition to those already mentioned, Hilario Arbelaitz , Juan Mari Arzak, Karlos Arguiñano, Eneko Atxa and Martin Berasategui. Paulo Airaudo, from Amelia donostiarra, will also give a presentation.

Organizing the congress confirmed that the commitment of Basque chefs to San Sebastian Gastronomika was one of the secrets to the success of the congress, which was sealed with the support of big names who put Basque cuisine at the forefront.

You can also anticipate some great gifts from congress. José Polo, from Atrio de Cáceres, will receive the Gueridón de Oro, an award that distinguishes excellent in-room service. Polo, who is also a sommelier at the prestigious restaurant and hotel, which he co-crowds with chef Toño Pérez, is on the prestigious list of winners.

The communicators who will receive this year’s Pau Albornà award, highlighting journalistic work in promoting gastronomic culture, were also revealed. Sarah Jean Evans is a British writer and journalist, expert on Spanish wine and Sherry, a Master of Wine, deputy director of BBC Good Food, founder of the Academy of Chocolate and the fourth woman to achieve the Grand Order of Knights of Wine. Take the wine section of Spain in the Hugh Johnson Guide.

The traditional contest will also continue this year, with wide popular impact. This congress will once again host the National Salad Championship, Cooking Contest with Chickpeas, World Grill Championship, National Tropical Fruit Dessert Contest of Tenerife and Apple Pie Championship by Asturias. This year, in addition, ‘Oil Chef’ was added, a contest in which oil is the protagonist and which is recovered from The Best of Gastronomy, the seed of San Sebastian Gastronomy.

A fundamental part of San Sebastian Gastronomy is the exhibitions or markets set up in the halls and halls of the Kursaal. Leading brands will return with new products and offerings, as well as a meeting room for attendees.

This year will also mean a return to the exclusive tasting auditorium, where registered congressmen live to test the proposals presented by speakers on the main stage. This edition will also be broadcast live on the official website of the congress, www.sansebastiangastronomica.com. The formula was introduced two years ago, at the time of the pandemic, and it remains: in the last two editions, connections were made from more than 100 different countries. But things are back to normal. Inauguration, from 2 to 5 October.