CATALOGUING ETHNIC AND LOCAL CULINARY HERITAGE IN THE DANUBE REGION

The Culinary Trail project is an extensive initiative aimed at cataloguing the rich and diverse culinary heritage of the Danube Region.

A key component of this project is Activity 1.2, which focuses on cataloguing ethnic and local culinary traditions through a digital platform. This activity will gather data on various culinary heritage units to create an accessible and user-friendly digital catalogue.

What is a UCH?

A Unit of Culinary Heritage (UCH) can be a typical dish or beverage characteristic of the minority group covered by the Project.

Alternatively, a UCH can also be a unique culinary technique or technology which describes the preparation of the food or beverage characteristic of a particular minority group. The partners can document significant culinary traditions tied to festivals, historical events, or religious celebrations.

The catalogue will provide a comprehensive view of each culinary unit, including the geolocation and the identity of the artisan, restaurant, or craftsman responsible for maintaining culinary knowledge. This structure ensures that the catalogue remains both thorough and culturally accurate, reflecting the deep-rooted traditions of the Danube Region. Each participating partner will be responsible for contributing specific culinary heritage data from the ethnic communities or migrant groups assigned to them.

The ultimate goal of the Catalogue

The mission of Activity 1.2 is to ensure that the digital catalogue is informative and easy to navigate. As such, a key aspect of the process will involve gathering feedback on the catalogue's user experience (UX). After the initial data collection phase, a UX survey will be conducted with project partners to assess the tool's usability. Feedback will cover accessibility, ease of finding specific culinary units, and overall user satisfaction. Later, an open UX survey will be conducted with stakeholders and the public once the catalogue is available online. This will help identify any areas for improvement and ensure the catalogue meets the needs of its diverse audience.