Craiova, Eastern European Gastronomic Metropolis

“Such projects give young people serious reasons to build their future here. It is a project that highlights local resources and contributes to the development of Craiova's tourist and economic brand," said Laura Vasile, the high school Director.

 The promotion of the project is done on two levels: communication for the entire concept, but also focused on each restaurant or event in particular.

About the New Romanian Hospitality. This is an example, and even a differentiator compared to other actions promoting gastronomy. Romania, one of the largest countries in this part of the world, through Craiova, is becoming a catalyst and aggregator of regional gastronomy.

We think it's time to stand out through such actions that, over time, build a strong country brand and highlight not only multiculturalism, but also the famous hospitality that we have been proud of for some time. Craiova, Eastern European Gastronomic Metropolis is a community project through which students from Craiova High School of Food Industry, together with chefs from 11 restaurants in the city and with the help of Romanian and foreign specialists, cook for guests emblematic dishes from 11 European countries + food with Oltenia specific.

The project takes place during the Christmas Fair, November 15 - January 15 and is supported by Craiova City Hall and is implemented with the help of the "Courage Forward" Association which manages the research platform WeAreRomania.com / You Are Welcome and ARoTT – Romanian Association for Technology Transfer and Innovation who supports the promotion of the event.

The idea is simple: 11 restaurants have adopted a menu with traditional dishes from 11 countries.

Food and wines from: Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Greece, North Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Serbia, Turkey, Hungary.

We are talking about a different specific than the classic one of the restaurant. For example, a Mediterranean restaurant prepares several Polish dishes, and at the Ramada Hotel you can find a menu with Georgian specialties.

The dishes were chosen after consultations with chefs from the "adopted" countries, and the students benefited, in addition to practice in the kitchen, from a series of workshops and demo-cookings with Romanian and foreign experts.

In parallel, at the beginning of December a gastronomic fair-festival took place, a regional edition of the Gastronomy and Wine Congress with profile debates, masterclasses, tastings and conferences held by some of the most relevant associations in the field.

It is an unprecedented initiative that is meant to provide enormous know-how for future chefs, but also a unique and complex culinary offer to tourists, especially those who come to the Christmas fair.

The 11 restaurants included in the program will prepare and present for a long time, in addition to their usual menus, typical culinary dishes and drinks from one of the project's guest countries: Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Greece, North Macedonia, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Serbia, Turkey, Hungary.

Local restaurants participating in the program are: Artizan 35, Big Ben, Craft, Dolce Vita, Ellipse City Restaurant – Ramada Plaza, Epoca Steakhouse, Iberico, Olive, Steso, Nobel Cuisine and The Manor.

"Through this project, we want to be a tourist attraction throughout the calendar year. What could be more beautiful for a tourist than to find in the same place the most appetizing menus and wines from 11 European countries? Through this project, we will also reveal delicious recipes with traditional Oltenia delicacies, but we will also reinvent them with the help of skilled teachers and students from the Food Industry High School”, said Lia Olguța Vasilescu, the mayor of Craiova.

Those who want to feel the taste of Greek food no longer have to go to Greece, but can find such dishes at one of the restaurants included in the project.

Completely new recipes are also those specific to Georgian cuisine. And such dishes will be available to those who arrive in Craiova.

Students from the Food Industry High School are also part of the project “Craiova, East European gastronomic metropolis”, who enter the kitchens of restaurants and learn new recipes from skilled chefs.

Such recipes will remain included in the restaurant menus throughout the year. The goal of the project is to promote Craiova and Oltenia as a destination of European tourist interest where both local gastronomic offers and those from several East European countries can be discovered together. Leek, the symbol of the Oltenia region, will be the star of the dishes reinterpreted by students and teachers from the Food Industry High School.

“Such projects give young people serious reasons to build their future here. It is a project that highlights local resources and contributes to the development of Craiova's tourist and economic brand," said Laura Vasile, the high school Director.

The promotion of the project is done on two levels: communication for the entire concept, but also focused on each restaurant or event in particular.

About the New Romanian Hospitality. This is an example, and even a differentiator compared to other actions promoting gastronomy. Romania, one of the largest countries in this part of the world, through Craiova, is becoming a catalyst and aggregator of regional gastronomy.

We think it's time to stand out through such actions that, over time, build a strong country brand and highlight not only multiculturalism, but also the famous hospitality that we have been proud of for some time.