Sabor

Sabor Barranquilla 2013 presented the best of the Caribbean and Latin cuisines
Barranquilla, Colombia 08/27/2013

With the attendance of more than 15,000 people, “Sabor Barranquilla (Taste of Barranquilla)” successfully took place in front of a full house. This gastronomic event was held at the Country Club, which brought together the top Colombian chefs. This year, more than 100 exhibitors were present to support Barranquilla’s cuisine. This event also brings together personalities from the international culinary world, as special guests. This year, the numbers exceeded expectations and the event had the presence of great artists, such as Paco Roncero and Ramón Freixa from Spain, Paulina Abascal from Mexico, Ingrid Hoffman representing the United States, and Dolly Irigoyen from Argentina.

The San Andrés Island and the Dominican Republic were the guests of honor at Sabor Barranquilla. Juancho Ortiz, Chef Tita, and Gabriella Reginato represented the Dominican Republic at this event, which this year focused on rescuing the Mokaná culture. This indigenous Colombian tribe has contributed much to the base of the traditional cuisine of Barranquilla.

The San Andrés Island and the Dominican Republic were the guests of honor at Sabor Barranquilla. Juancho Ortiz, Chef Tita, and Gabriella Reginato represented the Dominican Republic at this event, which this year focused on rescuing the Mokaná culture. This indigenous Colombian tribe has contributed much to the base of the traditional cuisine of Barranquilla.

Cuisine, culture, and anthropology

Sabor Barranquilla had 3 different stages where simultaneous culinary presentations were made by the ??chefs, and prominent speakers, anthropologists, archaeologists and historians also gave lectures on the following topics: “Who does the sea belong to?,“ presented by Socorro Ramírez, a researcher at the National University of Colombia; Adriana Santos, Biologist; Antonio Gaztambide, Puerto Rican researcher; and June Marie Mow, Director of the Corporation for the Sustainable Development of the San Andrés Archipelago, Providencia, and Santa Catalina. “The Cassava: Its History and preparation,” a lecture by Francisco Pérez; “The story behind the recipes,“ presented by Miguel Iriarte, Director of the Pilots of the Caribbean Library; “Basic Traditional Kitchen Collection, “ a presentation by the Ministry of Culture of Barranquilla; “Eat with the eyes,“ presented by chef stylist and food photographer Mariana Velásquez; “The Caribbean islands and the shared culture,“ by researcher Gaztambide; “The Mokanás food practices viewed from the perspective of anthropology and contemporary archeology;“ presented by Archaeologist Elizabeth Ramos, Anthropologist Alvaro Baquero, and a Mokaná Chief; “Modernity, gender and consumption habits,” presented by Architect Carlos Bell and Historian Jorge Villalón. All these presentations served as a reference to show the birth of an emerging cuisine that has a history and is a cultural heritage for future generations.

For three days, the following Colombian chefs participated in Sabor Barranquilla: Martha Mora, Víctor López, Enrico Baffoni, Francisco Prado, Charlie Otero, Luis Alfonso Otoya, Jorge Pulgar, Rodrigo Isaza, Eduardo Martínez, Martín Quintero, Francisco Escalona, Miguel Marenco, Rodrigo Díaz, Daniel Riveros, Mariana Velásquez, Francisco Escalona. The event featured the following international guest stars: Paco Roncero, Ramón Freixa, Ingrid Hoffman, Dolly Irigoyen, Paulina Abascal, and from the Dominican Republic: Juancho Ortiz, Gabriella Reginato and Inés Páez (Chef Tita). All these chefs contributed their views to a cuisine that is booming, a cuisine that promotes the enjoyment of each diner and which, above all, seeks to provide a memorable dining experience.

A captivating and energetic crowd gave several rounds of applause to the presentations of each of the chefs and their recipes and to the cooking creations where the Latin cuisine was the star of the event. Each of the chefs representing the Caribbean and Colombia used local ingredients as a way of promoting sustainability, thereby ensuring greater economic growth for each country and reinforcing the cultural roots of each region, of each country that has a particular gastronomy, but which are equally rich in flavors.

Each year, a student is chosen by a panel of culinary professionals and receives an award through competition. The awardee receives several academic awards and appearances at international gastronomic events. This year, student Beatriz Elena Nieto was the winner of “Sabor Barranquilla 2013“.

This year, as in previous occasions, the food and beverage industry lent its full support. More than 30 restaurants were present and offered their best cuisine, as well as several exhibitors and the media. The Dominican Gourmet magazine was the official Dominican media invited to cover this great event.

Sabor Barranquilla is a gastronomic event that promotes the rescue of traditional and Caribbean cuisines. The event is organized in response to a social cause since a portion of its funds is intended to finance the Regional Red Cross and Fenalco Atlántico.

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