The seventh edition of SDQ Gastronómico opens with food events in Santiago, Santo Domingo, and Punta Cana.
In Santiago, the event will run from Monday, 16 September to Sunday, 22 September 2024.
In Punta Cana, the dates are Monday, 7 October to Sunday, 13 October 2024.
In the capital city, the dates are Monday, 10 November to Sunday, 17 November 2024.
The event had begun in Santo Domingo and since then has been expanded to Punta Cana and Santiago, to other cities that lure visitors with their many and varied restaurants.
To participate, people enroll online and receive a passport they will fill in by visiting the participating restaurants that offer special fares and menus for the weeklong gourmet extravaganzas.
The event has the backing of the National Hotel & Tourism Association (Asonahores) and the Dominican Restaurant Association (Aderes).
Upon making the announcement earlier this month, David Llibre, president of Asonahores, highlighted the festival’s role in promoting the country’s culinary scene. “SDQ Gastronómico enhances the tourism industry by offering a culinary experience where diners can explore the country through dishes that showcase local ingredients, crafted by renowned chefs, and presented in iconic restaurants. This initiative positions the Dominican Republic as a gastronomic reference in the region.”
Omar Cepeda, president of Aderes, emphasized the organization’s commitment to elevating the national cuisine. “Through this platform, we aim to boost the commercial activity of restaurants by encouraging them to offer dishes and beverages that represent and celebrate our culture.”
Cepeda announced advances are made on a national sustainable gastronomic tourism plan in collaboration with the Basque Culinary Center in Spain.
The Basque Culinary Center of Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain has established itself since 2011 as an ecosystem where education, innovation, research, and entrepreneurship converge seeking to develop and promote gastronomy. The institution defines gastronomy as the reasoned knowledge of what we eat and how we prepare it.
The Basque Culinary Center is a pioneering institution comprising the Faculty of Gastronomic Sciences and BCC Innovation, the Technological Center for Gastronomy. Its governing board is composed of chefs, institutions, and companies, and it oversees the entity’s management. Additionally, the International Council of the Basque Culinary Center includes some of the world’s most renowned chefs.
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10 September 2024