30 December 2015 by Diane Dodd 19301

European Regions of Gastronomy

European Regions of Gastronomy (candidate and awarded), guided by IGCAT, aim to contribute to a better quality of life for their citizens by raising awareness about the importance of cultural and food uniqueness, and in doing so:

stimulate creativity and gastronomic innovation
nourish children and adults through culinary education
improve sustainable tourism standards
strengthen circular economies in both urban and rural settings
support community and environmental well-being and health

IGCAT

(International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism)

IGCAT provides the Award, with the support of International and European institutions. The regions also join a World Platform of awarded and candidate Regions of Gastronomy in order to foster long-term benefits, increase international visibility and support sharing of knowledge

Obtain the Award

Protect and promote your local food and culture

Join the Platform

Share knowledge and build innovative projects

Build on our achievements

Grow a diverse stakeholder group

Explore joint projects

Increase your international visibility

European Regions of Gastronomy

Ambassadors

Abbot Ambrosios Skarvelis

Abbot Ambrosios Skarvelis is Abbot of the Monastery of Toplou – Sitia.

Aki Hiltunen

We have a wide variety of different and extremely high-quality ingredients. Kuopio is such a treasure that provides a whole spectrum of food from...

Albert László Barabási

Albert László Barabási is a world-famous physicist and network researcher for the Harghita County, Romania

Alexandre Gauthier

As an ambassador of the Hauts-de-France bid to become European Region of Gastronomy 2023, I wish to exemplify a local conscience and spread this...

Amand P. Veranneman

Amand P. Veranneman Van Hoeck is a gastronome, restaurateur and official Ambassador for Gozo, European Region of Gastronomy awarded 2026.

Ana Roš

The best female chef in the world according to the World’s 50 Best Restaurants academy. Her cuisine is known for innovatively re-writing...

Anastasios Papadakis

Anastasios Papadakis is Executive Chef and President of the Chef’s Club of Crete.

Anna Marie Galea

Anna Marie Galea is a food writer and official Ambassador for Gozo, European Region of Gastronomy awarded 2026. She is a vocal supporter of...

Anni Inkeri Korhonen

For me as a hostess, the greatest sense of accomplishment and satisfaction arises, when I see our guests relaxed next to meat pots after their...

Anssi Kantelinen

I believe in the quality of food and putting the flavour first. I have a long history in the restaurant business, and I have had the opportunity...

Argiro Barbarigou

Ambassador for South Aegean, European Region of Gastronomy awarded 2019, chef, TV host, restaurateur, representative of Greek cuisine in countless...

Astrid Aasen

“The way we work along the Golden Road has been an inspiration for similar initiatives both in our region and in Norway. The development of local...

Carme Ruscalleda

“Catalonia is committed to raising the quality of local cuisine and food products.”

Daniela Kramarić

Nature has left us an inheritance of exceptional foods, we cherish them with tradition, and today we shape them with knowledge and passion. Being...

Dario Gašpar

Dario Gašpar, a winemaker from Umčani, is the co-founder of the “Days of Dalmatian Prosciutto and Wine” festival.

Davor Andrić

In the Croatian language, we have a beautiful word, blagovati (to dine). It denotes the hedonistic enjoyment of food with all the senses, in the...

Deni Srdoč

Cooking makes me happy, and the joy I can give my guests through food is the reason why I am in this business. My constant inspiration is my...

Diana Hounslow

‘We are what we eat.’ Hauts-de-France culinary tradition is as warm, generous, genuine and unique as the men and women who populate...

Dr. Alexandros Stefanakis

Dr. Alexandros Stefanakis is a Veterinarian and a Scientific providing technical support to companies and institutions in the agri-food sector.

Dražen Lesica

The project ‘Kvarner – European Region of Gastronomy 2026’ signifies, for me as a restaurant owner from this area, the international recognition...

Eeva Mertanen

“The best thing in the region is the power of nature and the communality of those who work with food. The producers are passionate and do it...

Egle Katunar

Wine is not just our business; it is our lifestyle, which is why we aim to create poetry in a glass.

Elise Bratteng Rønning

Viktorija Rađa is a passionate advocate for Dalmatian gastronomy and lifestyle, promoting healthy, sustainable living and local cuisine.

Espen Laumann

Viktorija Rađa is a passionate advocate for Dalmatian gastronomy and lifestyle, promoting healthy, sustainable living and local cuisine.

Francisco de Calheiros

“Minho IN aims to create synergies with other areas that share the same views on competitiveness and economic development.”

George Borg

George Borg is a renowned chef, TV personality and recipe book author in the Maltese islands, and official Ambassador for Gozo, European Region of...

Giannis Apostolakis

Giannis Apostolakis is Executive Chef of the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (MAICH) and President of the Board / Head of the Cretan...

Halvar Ellingsen

Henri Jauhiainen

“Savo is a matter of taste. For me, gastronomy is about good times spent with people that are close to you. At the same time, it is about...

Isabella Zampetaki

Isabella Zampetaki is a Food & Travel Writer and Author.

Janez Bogataj

“We eat to live, but not live to only eat.” A retired university professor, co-author of the Slovenian Gastronomy Strategy, the gastronomy...

Jarna Kaplas

“We have many unique flavours across Kuopio that are associated with certain locations or moments. Enjoying a bite of Hanna Partanen’s...

Jyrki Tsutsunen

I think that eating is a multi-sensory and multi-dimensional experience where not only tasting but also listening, smelling, looking and feeling...

Klaudio Jurčić

Throughout my career I have been committed to quality, indigenousness, gastronomy culture, and education for constant progress. I am happy that...

Konstantinos Chartzoulakis

Konstantinos Chartzoulakis is an Agriculturist, Senior Researcher at NAGREF – Institute for Olive Tree & Subtropical Plants and former...

Krunoslav Kapetanović

Entrepreneur, hotelier and restaurateur with many years of experience, he is a promoter, motivator and initiator of numerous actions to improve...

Luka Košir

“I work in the food and hospitality industry because I do it with joy, with heart. There is no need to create fairy tales.” Luka Košir is among...

Maret Ravdna Buljo

Marija Lulić

Marija Lulić, a renowned chef from Split with over 44 years of experience, is vice president and mentor at ŠKMER Culinary Academy.

Marinko Kauzlarić

Forest is to the people of Gorski Kotar what the sea is to the islanders. I am working on protecting and promoting the ecologically clean area of...

Mikael Forselius

“In Trøndelag we enjoy the perfect conditions, at an unusually northerly latitude. Because of the currents we are able to grow things here that...

Mira Šemić

“Water is necessary for life, and wine for joie de vivre.” She is a world-class Slovenian culinary and wine expert, a sommelier with a level 4...

Nenad Kukurin

Will, strength, enthusiasm, and passion are the main driving forces of Nenad Kukurin, one of the pioneers of the “slow food movement” in...

Nikos Frantzeskakis

Nikos Frantzeskakis is President of the Board of Agroxenia Association – Hellas Agrotourism and Multifunctional Farms.

Nikos Miliarakis

Nikos Miliarakis is a Winemaker and President of the Board of the Wines of Crete cluster/network.

Panagiotis Magganas

Panagiotis Magganas is owner of Peskesi Restaurant and Peskesi Organic Farm. His approach is “Authentic Cretan Cuisine, Farm to table...

Petar Vlak

Petar Vlak, a chef from Split, blends Dalmatian tradition with modern creativity. He teaches at ŠKMER Culinary Academy and has won several...

Petros Marinakis

Petros Marinakis is an Entrepreneur, Founder and Director of the Botanical Garden of Crete.

Răzvan Pascu

Răzvan Pascu is a Tourism Marketing Consultant for the Harghita County, Romania

Robert Benzia

I enjoy my work and I am proud to contribute, and with my support I will continue to contribute to the development of our beautiful Kvarner into a...

Robert Palmer

“European Region of Gastronomy is a pioneering project of cultural and economic significance to all regions who participate.”

Roderick Sloan

Saimi Hoyer

The serenity in the wilderness of the Saimaa region has been hidden from visitors for too long. When I moved to Punkaharju, to my beloved...

Sevasti Krasanaki

Sevasti Krasanaki is President of the Women’s Association of Episkopi “Ergani”.

Stelios Trilirakis

Stelios Trilirakis is Owner of the traditional Cretan gastronomy centre “Ntounias” (agricultural farm and tavern), livestock and...

Stiven Vunić

I believe that the Kvarner region belongs to a group of European regions that think in a very similar way about gastronomy and share a passion for...

Timo “Sir Lintsi” Linnamäki

“The essence of food is in its flavor.” Timo “Lintsi” Linnamäki is the owner and founder of the legendary Muru restaurant in Helsinki...

Ulla Liukkonen

The shores of Lake Saimaa are my home and my main task is to take the industry forward and ensure that knowledge is passed on to future...

Viktorija Rađa

Viktorija Rađa is a passionate advocate for Dalmatian gastronomy and lifestyle, promoting healthy, sustainable living and local cuisine.

Vlasta Brozičević

I am honoured to support the Kvarner region’s participation in the European Region of Gastronomy project for several reasons: healthy...

Wassim Hallal

“Aarhus/Central Denmark Region 2017 will celebrate our widespread and innovative use of local ingredients.”

Željko Neven Bremec

Željko Neven Bremec is one of Croatia’s most influential culinary educators. As President of ŠKMER in Split, he leads and teaches at its Culinary...

News

IGCAT’s 31st Platform Meeting of the World Regions of Gastronomy successfully hosted in Kvarner

Strategic policy and programmes to develop a region’s culinary identity and strengthen collaboration between tourism, agriculture and education...

North-East England Joins European Region of Gastronomy Platform as Candidate for 2029 Award

In a proud milestone for the United Kingdom, North-East England has officially joined the European Region of Gastronomy Platform as a candidate...

South Aegean Shines at the 2026 “Chrysoi Skoufoi” Awards

The South Aegean region continues to affirm its position as a gastronomic hub of Greece. This year, 20 restaurants across the Cyclades and...