What to do during the San Sebastián Gastronomika 2019

6 to 9 October 2019

The Gastronomika is our most important event of gastronomy, a congress aimed to professionals and cook gurus, but where foodies can also take a look and taste. This is the place to be concerning all the avant-garde movements and products.

This year, celebrating the 500th Anniversary of the first round-the-world-trip made by Elkano and Magallanes, the theme of Gastronomika will revolve around that feat in culinary terms, taking a culinary route from Getaria, going to Andalusia, passing through the Canary Islands, crossing the Atlantic and arriving to Brazil, Argentina and Chile and then cross the Pacific and arrive to Philippines and Indonesia before completing the return home. This tour will be featured by chefs from those countries who will research into the different products and flavors that those navigators could find. Of course, our great Gipuzkoan chefs – Aduriz, Arzak, Arbelaitz, Arguiñano, Subijana – will be there like good hosts.

How to access? There are multiple choices, from the premium pass, either for single days, half days or to the entire congress, and within each one you must choose between including or not tasting in real time during the presentations. Prices from € 95 for a half day and only assistance mode to € 395 of the entire congress in A zone with tasting included. Registration on sansebastiangastronomika.com.

But there are other much more affordable and also enjoyable options offered by Gastronomika, here are some highlighted:

• Street food on the external terrace of the Kursaal. Popular prices like pintxo + drink for € 4 (or 2 pintxos + drink for € 6), we can try pintxos designed by authors like Paulo Airaudo from Amelia Restaurant in San Sebastian or by Ly Leap (BCN) or Doña Petrona (Valencia).
• Workshops and activities. Oriented to small groups, prices between € 40 and € 70. Activities as interesting as the presentation by Dastatzen people of Latxo, the Basque lamb; a wine and water tasting is also offered by Fina Puigdevall (chef of Les Cols in Olot) and Juan Muñoz, president of the Spanish Sommelier Acedemia; as well themes about Burgos and Malaga cuisine that will be done at the Ni Neu restaurant. My favorite of these activities, which will revolve around Balfegó bluefin tuna.
• Be part of the jury in the Potato Salad championship or the Grill competition. For € 40 you can have a great time tasting the ten proposals prepared by various restaurants to choose the best potato salad (beer pairing included) or the best meat / best grill, presented the latter by our friendly chef David de Jorge.
• I Congress of Pintxos and Tapas. For free but tickets already sold out. Some chefs from places like Bar Zazpi in San Sebastian, Txoko at Getaria, Can Jubany (Calldetenes), Casa Marcial (Arriondas), among others, will show their techniques and procedures.

The agenda for the next four days is full, now it’s time to decide which one to attend. In case of being interested, do not hesitate much because many are already sold out.

Dirección: Kursaal, Zurriola Hiribidea, San Sebastián, España