On a joint proposal from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Mauritania, Unesco inscribed couscous as an intangible heritage of humanity on its 2020 list, allowing this emblematic dish made of cooked semolina steam on which vegetables and meat are served, to acquire its letters of nobility.
Paella and couscous are a democratic banquet by the sea where democracy was born. This year, ACM Foundation and Mostra Viva del Mediterrani proposing to deepen its gastronomic activities initiated in 2019, in collaboration with the collective “Cocinas migrantes”, by opening its doors to a debate around its two already universal dishes that were born in the Mediterranean.
Experts, artists, foodies and historians will discuss the enormous heritage of these two dishes and their potential to bring cultures and peoples together, accompanied by a publication and a tasting. This activity is supported by VisitValència, the Department of Tourism and Internationalization of the Municipality of València and the World Center for Sustainable Urban Food of València CEMAS.
Participate:
Emiliano García, Councilor of Tourism and Internationalization of the Municipality of València, which co-publishes the book “Paella y cuscús, una historia mediterránea. ”
Francesc Colomer, Autonomous Secretary of Tourism of the Generalitat de València.
Josep Piera: writer and poet, author of the book: El llibre daurat: La història de la paella com no s’ha contat Mai. Breu història de la paella.
Esther Cerveró: journalist specializing in gastronomy and communication manager of Arquetipo “Esta no es una historia cualquiera”.
Zino Seffadj: Doctor of Art History and cultural agent, coordinator of the ACM Circle of Algiers, “Paella y cuscús, una historia mediterránea. ”
Hadhemi Boukadida: PhD student in Social and Political Sciences, Sousse, Tunisia “El cuscús, una historia mediterránea.”
Francisco José Alonso Araujo, journalist and writer, creator of Wikipaella. “Paella: a sello de identidad para los valencianos”.
María Colomer, president of Mostra Viva del Mediterrani (MVM).
Vicente Domingo, Director of the World Center for Sustainable Urban Food of València CEMAS.
Vicent Garcés, President of the Mediterranean Citizens’ Assembly Foundation (FACM)
This activity is completed by a tasting of two Mediterranean dishes in collaboration with two exceptional chefs and restaurants.
• Paella tasting at the El Bobo restaurant.
• Couscous tasting at the traditional Andalusian restaurant in Valencia, Balansiya, with chef Rachid Ben-Hamza.