Salou showcases its historical heritage through gastronomy
Mayor Pere Granados announces the details of the gastronomic event that was to be held at the Movistar Arena and was cancelled out of respect for the victims of the Adamuz accident
The mayor of Salou, Pere Granados, accompanied by several councillors and local chefs, led by Michelin-starred Pep Moreno, held a sober press conference on Tuesday, 20 January, a sober press conference at the Casino de Gran Vía in Madrid to announce the cancellation of the tourism and gastronomic event that was to be held that same evening at the Movistar Arena, which was cancelled as a sign of mourning for the Adamuz train accident.
With a serious expression and a black crepe ribbon on his lapel, Granados explained that ‘we have decided to suspend the event, one of the most important we have held in Madrid for the fifth consecutive year, as a sign of respect for the victims of the train accident and their families, to whom we wish to convey our solidarity at this difficult time’.
Historical heritage
During the press conference, the mayor explained the content of the cancelled event, which aimed to showcase Salou's rich historical heritage through its gastronomy.
As Granados pointed out, ‘Salou is a modern city with a thousand-year history. In addition to sun and beach, we want to deseasonalise tourism and that is why we offer visitors a rich historical heritage so that they can enjoy a unique experience that also reinforces the citizens' sense of belonging’.
Key Mediterranean port
To showcase Salou's important historical heritage, a video was shown at the press conference, which was to be presented at the Movistar Arena event, reviewing the history of the city, dating back to prehistory, the Greek and Roman settlements, the medieval period, the 18th century and the evolution of beach tourism from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
This historical context places Salou as one of the most important natural ports in the Mediterranean, the starting point for royal expeditions of the Crown of Aragon and a strategic centre for the export of goods from the Camp de Tarragona.
Historical gastronomy
The aim of the suspended event was to present the work of the four chefs from Salou, who had created a menu that encompassed the rich history of the municipality, turning it into a culinary proposal that recreated the different historical stages of Salou, to share with the public and involve them in this important legacy.
As Pep Moreno, representing the participating chefs, pointed out, ‘our aim was to create a menu that reflected Salou's rich Greek and Roman tradition’.
According to Pere Granados, the aim is to hold this event, with a tasting of dishes based on the historical heritage created by local chefs, on a date yet to be determined in Salou, with the participation of all citizens.