On     September 27 and 28, Dénia will host the Mediterranean’s leading gastronomic event, which this year celebrates the tenth anniversary of the capital of the Marina Alta region being designated a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. This new edition of D*na reclaims cooking as the eighth art through an expanded programme that combines gastronomic experiences, exhibitions, and live music. Alberto Chicote rounds out a luxury lineup that includes haute cuisine figures such as Jordi Roca, Amaury Bouhours, Marcos Morán, and Pablo Montoro, alongside some of the best chefs in the Valencian Community.

The Mediterranean has once again reclaimed its place as a cradle of creativity. This morning, at the Valencian Community Crafts Centre, the eighth edition of D*na Festival was presented. It will transform Dénia’s Marineta Cassiana promenade into a grand gastronomic stage on September 27 and 28. Under the motto “All artists are welcome,” the event connects cuisine with the arts and celebrates the tenth anniversary of Dénia’s selection as a Creative City of Gastronomy by UNESCO.

Three-Michelin-star chef Quique Dacosta, festival curator, and illustrator and cartoonist Paco Roca shared an inspiring conversation about the relationship between gastronomy and art. “Cuisine is constantly evolving. When it explores new paths and manages to move, it becomes art,” Dacosta stated. The theme of this edition of D*na celebrates creativity in all its forms and in every gesture: that of the fisherman who hauls his nets, the farmer who works the land, the chef who reinvents a dish, or the mother who multiplies the Sunday table. For Quique Dacosta, “D*na is a powerful tool that brings everyone together: producers, chefs, and the public. Gastronomy is a universal language, and Dénia will be its stage.”

In line with these reflections, Paco Roca emphasized that “not all cooking is art, but there is a lot of art within cooking. Capturing your vision of the world on a plate is like doing it in a cartoon,” and he emphasized that “in a dish, as in a cartoon, there is chance, improvisation, and a perspective on the world. That is also the essence of art.”

The presentation also featured a speech by Marian Cano, Regional Minister of Innovation, Industry, Commerce, and Tourism, who emphasized that “D*na not only nourishes the body, but also the soul and the pride of being Mediterranean.” Cano emphasized that the festival places Dénia “at the epicenter of culinary and artistic creativity, where local products coexist with music, dance, and cinema.” The Regional Minister emphasized that gastronomic tourism is “a tool to show the world the best of our land,” and congratulated the project for “making the Mediterranean a place where art is served on a plate.”

For his part, Vicent Grimalt, president of the Dénia Creative City of Gastronomy Foundation and mayor of Dénia, highlighted the importance of this edition: “This year we celebrate ten years as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. D*na has made us aware of our potential, and today we are a world leader thanks to the authentic artists of the sea, land, and kitchen.” He added, “Gastronomy is art, and this year we are celebrating it at a major gathering where all artists are welcome.” 

An edition with an international vocation

The SEA STAGE will bring together haute cuisine figures such as Jordi Roca, Alberto Chicote, Amaury Bouhours, Marcos Morán, and Pablo Montoro, along with prominent chefs from the Valencian Community such as Lluis Valls, Borja Susilla, Gonzalo Herrador, Giuseppe Vono, Carolina Ávarez, and Gonzalo Silla.

As a major new development, the CREATIVE CITIES STAGE will bring together chefs from Mérida (Mexico), Tsuruoka (Japan), Nkongsamba (Cameroon), Zahlé (Lebanon), and Parma (Italy), all members of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Ibiza will join as a guest city and Dénia as the host city, as part of its tenth anniversary as a Creative City of Gastronomy.

Workshops, experiences and live music  

The public will be able to participate in more than 40 workshops and cooking demonstrations spread across three themed spaces: the Aqualia Space, with engaging and interactive culinary demonstrations; the Liquid Universe Space, dedicated to wine, oil, coffee, and vermouth tastings; and the Cooking Space, which will showcase traditional recipes and products such as cocas (flat cakes), pickles, and artisanal ice cream. The workshops will be open to the public upon prior registration on the event website, starting September 18 at 10:00 a.m.

The festival will also feature Aprosdeco’s “8 at the Table” exhibition, showcasing the creativity of people with disabilities, and a 500-square-metre artistic flavour market, where producers and restaurateurs will offer their creations as authentic ephemeral works for tasting.

The programme will be rounded out with concerts and DJs, as well as a highly anticipated new feature: sunset boat trips, which will combine food tastings and live music.

More info: https://www.dnafestivaldenia.com/en/

Report by ‘24/7 Valencia’ team

Article copyright ‘24/7 Valencia’