The eighth edition of D*na celebrates Dénia’s tenth anniversary as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy with a weekend packed with workshops, tastings, and showcookings . Jordi Roca, Alberto Chicote, and Amaury Bouhours headlined the first day of this benchmark event on the national gastronomic calendar.

 Dénia’s Paseo de la Marineta Cassiana witnessed the opening of the eighth edition of the D*na Gastronomic Festival, which will transform this well-known spot in the capital of the Marina Alta into a showcase of flavors, talent, and creativity throughout the weekend. Under the slogan “All artists are welcome,” this edition celebrates cuisine as an art form within the framework of Dénia’s tenth anniversary as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.

The official ceremony took place yesterday at noon with an official tour led by the Regional Minister for Innovation, Industry, Commerce, and Tourism, Marian Cano; the Mayor of Dénia and President of the Dénia Creative City of Gastronomy Foundation, Vicent Grimalt; the Vice President of the aforementioned foundation and of AEHTMA, Amor López; and the three-Michelin-star chef and festival curator, Quique Dacosta.

During his speech, Vicent Grimalt underscored the importance of the event in the city’s history: “We are celebrating 10 years since Dénia was recognized as a Creative City and eight years since the D*na Festival, which is what sets us apart and places us on the map of Valencian gastronomy and throughout Spain.” The mayor of Dénia took the opportunity to especially thank Quique Dacosta for his unconditional support, describing the chef as “a fundamental element in the promotion of Dénia and its gastronomy.”

For her part, Amor López praised the essential role of producers, chefs, farmers, artisans, and all citizens, who each year come together to showcase the best of Dénia. López expressed her gratitude for this collective effort, which turns the city into a unique culinary showcase, noting that “it’s a luxury to be here, at this endless bar facing the sea, sharing the value of our region and the passion of those who make it possible.”

Along the same lines, the Regional Minister of Tourism, Marian Cano , highlighted the importance of this event as a cultural and economic driver for the region. “At the Generalitat Valenciana, we will always support the DNA,” she stated, emphasizing the importance of highlighting local products and the Mediterranean identity: “This festival is an example of how to build a territory, showcasing our land, our gastronomy, and our way of life.”

 Finally, Quique Dacosta recalled that recognition as a Creative City implies the challenge of staying alive and expressing oneself through the language of cuisine, and he wanted to recognize the collective spirit that has made the festival possible since its inception. “The most important value of D*na is that each and every one of us who are part of it—chefs, producers, institutions, and the public—are necessary. Thanks to everyone.”

“The festival still exists,” he stated. For the chef, this collaboration has a concrete and powerful symbol: “a kilometer-long table that unites us all,” a space that represents unity, participation, and the inclusive nature of the festival.

Following its official opening, D*na has begun welcoming thousands of visitors who can explore it on Saturday, from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., and on Sunday, from 11:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Since its opening, the public has enjoyed the first workshops, cooking demonstrations, tastings, and the flavor market that brings together producers and artisans from the Marina Alta region, in an atmosphere enlivened by live music.

The afternoon promises exciting moments with top-level chefs taking center stage. Alicante native Pablo Montoro opens the programme at Escenario del Mar, followed by Borja Susilla (Tula, Jávea) and the eagerly awaited Alberto Chicote, ready to bring his direct and creative style to the audience, before giving way to the international flair of Amaury Bouhours (Le Meurice Alain Ducasse, Paris). The day’s closing act is provided by the renowned Jordi Roca, who will thrill the audience with his artistic and always surprising pastries.

In parallel, other festival venues host wine, oil, and beer tastings, traditional cooking workshops—such as cocas and pickles—as well as inclusive and participatory activities. All of this takes place in a festive atmosphere filled with families, tourists, and foodies eager to enjoy this authentic Mediterranean celebration.

Tomorrow, Sunday, the programme will continue with a focus on UNESCO Creative Cities, represented by chefs from Mexico, Japan, Lebanon, and Italy, along with Ibiza as special guest and Dénia as host. National and regional icons such as Marcos Morán (Casa Gerardo, Asturias) and Luis Valls (El Poblet, Valencia) will also take the stage, with the eagerly awaited finale featuring Carolina Álvarez and Quique Dacosta from their restaurant in Dénia.

With this launch, the D*na Festival 2025 reaffirms its spirit as a grand Mediterranean gathering where gastronomy transcends the culinary to become a shared art.

 D*na Festival 

D*na Festival is organized by the Dénia Creative City of Gastronomy Foundation (composed of Dénia City Council, CEDMA, AEHTMA, and Baleària), in collaboration with Dénia City Council, Turisme Comunitat Valenciana, the Costa Blanca Provincial Tourism Board as an institutional collaborator, and with three-Michelin-star chef Quique Dacosta as gastronomic curator. The eighth edition of this festival consolidates it as one of the great gastronomic events in our country and positions the city of Dénia—which was named a Creative City of Gastronomy by UNESCO in 2015—as the gastronomic capital of the Mediterranean.

More info: www.dnafestivaldenia.com

Report by Will McCarthy

Article copyright ‘24/7  Valencia’