Showcookings and tastings take Catalan cuisine worldwide on the 2025 National Day

Gastronomy was a leading feature of the institutional events held abroad for Catalonia's 2025 National Day. The Government's delegations championed Catalonia's culinary potential in more than fifteen capitals, in a year marked by its recognition as World Region of Gastronomy.

In Washington, the Delegation to the United States and Canada hosted a tribute to Catalan cuisine at Patterson Mansion in the heart of Dupont Circle. The exhibition "Catalonia, the cuisine of wonders. From medieval recipe books to World Region of Gastronomy 2025" was the thread of a round table with chefs Rubén García and Pepe Moncayo, ending with refreshments made from Catalan products.

📸 The Diada also included the exhibition 'Catalonia, the Cuisine of the Prodigies', which explores a 50-year journey that has changed the world of gastronomy. pic.twitter.com/N0PXtwvnYT

— Catalan Gov. United States and Canada (@Catalonia_US) September 11, 2025

In Paris, the Delegation to France brought together institutions, business and civil society at an official reception on Friday 12 September. Chef Maria Nicolau gave a live showcooking, complemented by a performance from the band Alosa, in an event designed to strengthen Catalan cultural outreach in the neighbouring country.

The Delegation to Central Europe, based in Vienna, also held an official reception that included gastronomy within a broader cultural programme, with music from the duo Jansky as a highlight of the day.

In Italy the Delegation worked with the "Girona Excel·lent" board, which ran a series of food tastings in Rome, while in Alghero the reception was completed with music and human towers.

The Latin American delegations also highlighted the role of Catalan cooking. Buenos Aires and Bogotá held official receptions with food tastings, and in Mexico City the programme included a tasting of Catalan products at the Miguel Alemán Foundation House Museum.

North Africa emphasised the heritage dimension with the cultural and culinary exhibition "One sea, a shared history", presented in Rabat as a symbol of the Mediterranean connection.

Switzerland and Croatia also championed Catalan cooking with tastings prepared by Catalan chefs. In Geneva the reception offered a showcase of Catalan cuisine, and in Zagreb chef Jacint Carafí ("Cintet") presented a tasting as part of the official event.

Salt cod esqueixada, coca de recapte, leek with calçots sauce, roast cannelloni, fish suquet and crema catalana — some of the Catalan dishes in Geneva today! #Diada pic.twitter.com/JXQ5MrBnmF

— Catalan Gov. Switzerland (@Catalonia_CH) September 10, 2025

Andorra added a more academic angle with the talk "Food, cooking and health, a shared challenge", given by experts and the Alícia Foundation, strengthening the food sector's scientific and research dimension.

In Asia, Catalan cooking was also centre stage. The delegations to Japan and South Korea held tastings of Catalan products at their respective official receptions, complemented by performances from cellist Taichi Tsukumo and singer Ariadna Colomer.

📍서울에서 카탈루냐 공동체와 함께 ‘Diada’를 기념했습니다. 

🎶 Ariadna Colomer님의 공연과 함께 카탈루냐 음악과 문화를 함께 나누는 뜻깊은 시간이었습니다. 

함께해 주신 모든 분들께 깊이 감사드립니다. pic.twitter.com/ypctuR3j9S

— 주한 카탈루냐정부 대표부 (@Catalonia_KR) September 12, 2025

Beyond these cases, delegations in cities such as São Paulo, Berlin, Mexico City, London and Buenos Aires added cultural activities to the commemoration, consolidating a global programme that has helped put Catalonia on the international map.

The 2025 National Day showed that gastronomy is a strategic element of cultural diplomacy, able to build rapport and strengthen the country's image around the world.