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IGCAT Newsletter First Quarter 2022 IGCAT VOICE

Georgian gastronomy – traditions that warm the heart and fill the soul Many of Georgia’s regions have developed their own distinctive contributions to the country’s gastronomic and culinary identity however, it is noteworthy that Zugdidi will be the first city in Georgia to integrate gastronomy into a local cultural development policy as a driver for cultural, economic and social development.

Georgia is considered the ‘cradle of wine,’ with archaeologists having traced the world’s first known wine back to the people of South Caucasus in 6,000BC; and, with its unique climate and topography, Georgian cuisine is diverse with assimilated flavors and aromas from Iran, Asia, Turkey and the Mediterranean. As a CEO and Founder of Creative Strategies Lab, an international policy design research center, I have been assisting Zugdidi Municipality (capital city of Samegrelo region) in its first ever cultural development strategy (supported by the EU under ‘EU4Culture’ project) aimed to position the city as Creative City of Gastronomy. Zugdidi cuisine displays the gastronomic flavors and quality food provided by the Samegrelo region’s natural elements, its people and history. Zugdidi is strongly committed to joining the IGCAT family, as it will be an incredible powerhouse to exchange knowledge, experiences and best practices, as well as be a catalyst for networking and cooperation. For this reason, Zugdidi wishes to nominate Samegrelo, as a candidate region for IGCAT’s European Region of Gastronomy in 2026 as testament to the great union between urban and rural aspirations. Levan Kharatishvili IGCAT Expert CEO and Founder of Creative Strategies Lab, Georgia

IGCAT News

European Young Chef Award 2022 officially announced 24 January 2022 - IGCAT has officially announced the 6th edition of the European Young Chef Award that will take place in Trondheim-Trøndelag, European Region of Gastronomy awarded 2022, on 10-13 November 2022. Under the theme Innovation on Tradition, the Europe … Read more

Call open for the Food Film Menu 2022! 19 January 2022 - A call for submissions to IGCAT’S Food Film Menu 2022 competition is now open to collect short food films that showcase awarded and candidate World and European Regions of Gastronomy and their culinary heritage. The competition invites dir … Read more

Call released for the Top Websites for Foodie Travelers 2022 18 January 2021 - IGCAT has announced the 1st edition of the Top Websites for Foodie Travelers Award to acknowledge websites that offer unique, creative, cultural and gastronomic experiences in the World and European Regions of … Read more

IGCAT launches the World Food Gift Challenge 2022 13 January 2022 - After two successful European editions, IGCAT launched the first World Food Gift Challenge to be celebrated on 7 April 2022 in Menorca, European Region of Gastronomy awarded 2022. IGCAT’s awaited competition will gather high-quality food and crafts … Read more

News from the World Regions of Gastronomy

Aseer recommended for World Region of Gastronomy 2024 title 3 March 2022 - An international jury comprising of four international experts accompanied by IGCAT’s President, Diane Dodd PhD considered the application of Aseer region for the title World Region of Gastronomy 2024. After r … Read more

Trondheim-Trøndelag to host Bocuse d’Or Europe 2024 29 March 2022 - Trondheim-Trøndelag awarded European Region of Gastronomy 2022 by IGCAT will host the Bocuse d’Or Europe 2024 competition. The announcement was made in Budapest during the 2022 championship, held on 23-24 March. “Trøndelag is one of t … Read more

Michelin guide highlights Slovenia’s young talent Leon Pintarič 7 March 2022 – Michelin guide released a video starring Leon Pintarič, chef from Gostilna Rajh who was the finalist representing Slovenia, European Region of Gastronomy awarded 2021 at IGCAT’s European Young Ch … Read more

South Aegean is a laboratory for sustainable tourism 7 February 2022 – The innovative Rhodes Co-Lab project has been launched in the South Aegean, awarded European Region of Gastronomy 2019 by IGCAT, for Rhodes to become a leader in sustainable tourism and destination management. Developed by the Go … Read more

Food lovers can now visit Menorca 2022’s official website 1 February 2022 – Menorca, European Region of Gastronomy awarded 2022 has launched its official website. Available in four languages (English, Catalan, Spanish and French), the website offers a glimpse on Menorca’s gastronomy and some of its most emblematic pr … Read more

Kuopio 2020-21 is a finalist at the EMBLA Nordic Food Awards 20 January 2022 – Kuopio, awarded European Region of Gastronomy 2020-21 by IGCAT, is a finalist in the EMBLA Nordic Food Awards in the Food Tourism Destination category. EMBLA aims to strengthen the knowledge of Nordic food and give international visibility to the ga … Read more

Current news from around the globe

No public health without planetary health By The Lancet 31 March 2022 - April 7 marks WHO's annual World Health Day, which this year has the theme “Our planet, our health”. The future health of the planet and human health are inextri … Read more

How Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will worsen global hunger By Thin Lei Win 9 March 2022 - From higher prices in nations already struggling with hunger crises – such as Yemen and Lebanon – to reduced h … Read more

Green Key International signs UNESCO Sustainable Travel Pledge By Marlena Rendeiro 29 March 2022 - By signing the UNESCO and Expedia Group’s Sustainable Pledge, Green Key further strengthens its mission of pr … Read more

How Should Art Reckon With Climate Change? By Zoë Lescaze 28 March 2022 - As the environmental crisis accelerates, contemporary artists have taken up the mantle of addressing the precarious present. The art world has been making up f … Read more

New ATLAS Bread Museums in Europe published By Dimitrije Vujadinovic 15 March 2022 - A new electronic edition of the ATLAS Bread Museums in Europe, edited by IGCAT Expert Dimitrije Vujadinovic has been published and is available on the Ac … Read more

IGCAT carries out research, collects knowledge and develops projects to support creative solutions in regional and local development. This newsletter is just a small selection of news from the past three months. IGCAT compiles trends and facts from around the world. www.igcat.org info@igcat.org