'The best cuisine in the world': Catalonia launches global campaign to promote its gastronomy

The Catalan government officially launched a new international campaign on Monday to promote Catalan cuisine under the slogan "The Best Cuisine in the World."

Spearheaded by the Catalan Tourism Agency, the initiative brings together, for the first time, all key players in the region’s gastronomic sector.

"For many years, we've been told that we have the best cuisine in the world," said world-renowned chef Ferran Adrià, speaking at the launch held at the Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona.

Adrià emphasized that the campaign affirms Catalonia's place among the world's great culinary traditions: "This initiative recognizes that Catalan cuisine is as valuable as any other."

Reflecting on his own legacy, he added that his revolutionary cooking style of the 1990s helped inspire a global movement: "It showed countries that were not considered gastronomic powers that they could become just that."

Adrià was joined by over 100 Michelin-starred chefs to present the project.

Joan Roca, chef of the acclaimed El Celler de Can Roca, said Catalan cuisine is experiencing the "finest moment in its history."

"We have data to support this claim, and our kitchens are full of talent," Roca said.  "I hope that in the future, the spotlight is not only on established chefs like us, but on the emerging talent that is shaping what comes next," he added. 

From the farm to fine dining

The campaign aims to be a turning point in elevating Catalonia’s culinary identity on the global stage.

The initiative is part of Catalonia’s designation as the World Gastronomy Region 2025, and seeks to establish the region as a premier destination for gastronomic tourism.

One of the campaign’s key goals is to bridge the gap between the region’s agricultural and fishing sectors and its haute cuisine.

"We have the best products in the world. That is unquestionable," said chef Carles Gaig, a long-time advocate of traditional Catalan cooking. "Our land is our pantry, it feeds the excellence of our cuisine."

Gaig also expressed gratitude to chefs who specialize in avant-garde and creative cuisine for helping elevate Catalan food internationally: "They’ve made our cuisine known internationally and, in doing so, have also given visibility to our traditional dishes."

He highlighted a growing trend among young chefs who, after gaining experience in city restaurants, are now returning to their roots to promote local and traditional practices.

Italian-born chef Paolo Casagrande, who has built much of his career in Spain, emphasized Catalonia’s unique geographical advantage.

"Every chef would love to work with the kind of produce we have here," he said. "We are incredibly lucky with the Mediterranean, there’s nothing like it anywhere else in the world."

Food as culture and community

Catalan president Salvador Illa highlighted the broader significance of cuisine in today's global context, which he described as being characterized by "armed conflicts and rapid change."

He said that Catalonia must stand out as "a land of hope and reason" amid global confrontation and added that this "can be achieved through cuisine."

Illa also emphasized Catalonia’s exceptional status in the culinary world: "There is no other place in the world with such a high concentration of culinary talent."

The president also pointed out the deeper cultural significance of food in Catalonia: "Food represents identity, culture, kinship, history, solidarity, and future."

Reflecting on the current economic landscape, Illa noted that Catalonia is experiencing a "strong economic moment," but stressed that "the challenge now is to ensure this prosperity reaches everyone."

To learn more about Catalonia's haute cuisine scene, listen to this episode of our podcast Filling the Sink.