"Som Catalan Food": a month to win Mexico over with the flavours of Catalonia

Catalan cuisine is the star of the "Festival de Catalunya in Mexico", an international initiative run by Prodeca in collaboration with the Catalan Government Delegation to Mexico and Central America and the gourmet shop chain La Naval. The campaign forms part of the activities celebrating the Catalonia, World Region of Gastronomy 2025 distinction, a recognition granted by IGCAT (International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism).

Under the slogan "Som Catalan Food", the initiative seeks to make the quality, diversity and identity of Catalan agri-food products known in the Mexican market. Throughout May, eight La Naval stores in Mexico City will carry a broad catalogue of more than 47 brands and 300 Catalan gourmet products: wines, cavas, vermouths, extra virgin olive oils, cured meats, tinned seafood, vegetables, chocolate and dietary products, among others.

They also three La Quilla restaurants inside La Naval's shops (Insurgentes, Polanco and Río Lerma) will offer a special menu of iconic Catalan dishes such as pa amb tomàquet, fish suquet, escalivada, botifarra with white beans, veal fricandó and the traditional coca de Sant Joan, always paired with selected Catalan wines.

A month full of sensory experiences and tastings

The festival's programme includes four in-person tastings led by eight Catalan companies for sector professionals, importers, distributors and specialist media. These sessions offer a close look at Catalonia's wine offering, with wines from the best-known designations of origin: DO Catalunya, DOQ Priorat, DO Penedès, DO Costers del Segre and DO Cava.

On Tuesday 6 May there was the opening tasting, with a notable showcase of the country's wine potential. New tastings are scheduled every Tuesday of the month across the different La Naval shops in the Mexican capital.

Every day throughout May there will also be the "vermouth hour" at the La Quilla restaurant inside the La Naval gourmet shop at its Insurgentes branch. Vermouth is one of Catalonia's most popular culinary rituals, especially typical of the Reus and Tarragona area. 

Catalonia, a world culinary benchmark

Catalonia's recognition as World Region of Gastronomy 2025 (CRMG25) is a historic milestone for the country. It is the first time a European region has received this title, which recognises not only culinary excellence but also commitment to sustainability, quality and social cohesion.

The project, led by the Government of Catalonia, has the involvement of institutions, producers, cooks, restaurateurs and sector experts, positioning food as a driver of economic, cultural and tourism development.

With initiatives such as Som Catalan Food, Catalonia strengthens its international presence and projects its culinary identity as one of the strongest assets of its country brand.