Once again, this year Gastrofestival Madrid will return to surprise foodies with its activities and experiences. From 21 January to 5 February the capital will play host to this gastronomic festival, now in its eighth edition, with a comprehensive programme that was presented today by Madrid?s mayor, Manuela Carmena, along with the president of Asisa Madrid Fusión, José Carlos Capel, in an event that featured the participation of, among others, chefs Rodrigo de la Calle, Diego Guerrero, Javier Aranda and Juan Antonio Medina, who have recently earned a new Michelin star for their Madrid-based restaurants.

The Madrid City Council ?through the Madrid Destino Tourism Department? and Madrid Fusión organise this gastronomic event, which for over two weeks and coinciding with the Asisa Madrid Fusión international culinary summit fills the city with all sorts of culinary propositions. The event serves to showcase Madrid?s gastronomy, one of the capital?s main tourist attractions, in addition to providing an opportunity to explore the culinary arts through other artistic disciplines such as painting, literature, fashion and theatre, among others.

This year some 450 establishments will participate in a programme based on the slogan ?Madrid para comérselo?, which will once again consists of six main categories: Sensory Experiences, GastroCulture, Gastronomic Madrid, GastroFashion, GastroHealth and Wine Culture.

Mercamadrid and other markets in Madrid
Wine and other tasting and pairing sessions will once again be the main focus of Sensory Experiences. Mercamadrid will offer a tour of the city?s central markets, led by chefs and professional buyers who will convey their passion for ingredients and markets to attendees, which will end with a tasting. Markets in the city?s various districts will also have a presence, with activities offering a chance to taste and become familiar with local and international delicacies. More than 20 activities will be hosted by these markets.

Also of particular note in this category are the children?s workshops, where young participants can learn techniques, preparation methods and new recipes for both sweet and savoury dishes.

Gastronomy and culture
In GastroCulture, art, literature, music, film, photography and theatre come together. The Thyssen-Bornemisza, Reina Sofía, National Decorative Arts, National Anthropology, Madrid History, Romanticism, Lázaro Galdiano, Féliz Cañada, National Science, Contemporary Art, Cerralbo and Garment museums will offer nearly twenty activities.

Of particular note among the tours, exhibitions and workshops to be held in Madrid?s museums is the exhibition at the Garment Museum, consisting of 15 garments made from vegetables from the Calahorra Garden which reproduce the most representative designs of international artists like Alexander McQueen, Cristóbal Balenciaga, Coco Chanel, Elie Saab and Madeleine Vionnet (18 January-5 February).

As the festival?s main cultural venue, Conde Duque Cultural Centre will hold multiple activities including the Socratic wine tasting (26-27 January), the now customary Gastrotonadilla (a bit of 18th century musical spice) on 1 February, made possible by the collaboration of the Historical Library, the Zanhona, Cheese & Tea tasting and concert (2-3 February) and the gastronomic greguería (aphorism-style literary form) illustration competition organised by the Museum of Contemporary Art for the second year running.

GastroHealth has added one of the event?s biggest new features, ?And for Coeliacs?, which will see 23 restaurants offer special set menus for customers with coeliac disease as part of Asisa?s healthy menus. Once again in the GastroFashion section diners will be able to enjoy Menus by Elle, offered by 32 of the capital?s trendy restaurants, and Wine Culture will include wine and other tasting sessions and master classes.

Gastronomic Madrid will feature the largest number of options, making it hard to choose between tapas, set menus consisting of Spanish and global cuisine, cocktail bars, markets and special tours. Some of the category?s new features include the exquisite breakfasts put together by over 24 establishments, a pincho contest for fans of this form of snack food and the book that will be published containing recipes from customers of the San Antón Market. The now traditional Degustatapas will also return, offering the chance to enjoy some 90 different tapas, both traditional and innovative in nature.

4-Hand Dinners by Mastercard Priceless Cities will see Spanish chefs act as hosts, opening their restaurants? doors to master chefs from abroad, and will feature the participation of Mario Sandoval alongside the Filipino Tatung Sarthou in El Jardín del Orfila and Aurelio Morales alongside Colombian Charlie Otero in Cebo. Chilean chefs Kurt Schmidt & Gustavo Sáez will also cook with Roberto Cabrera in Huerta de Carabaña, and chef Martín Omar from the Dominican Republic will team up with Pedro Larumbe in El 38 de Larumbe. The full festival programme can be viewed on the official website: www.gastrofestivalmadrid.com.

Sponsors
Gastrofestival is an example of how public-private collaboration enables the Madrid City Council to develop important projects to bolster the city of Madrid?s economy and tourism. The sponsorship of Mahou, Tapas, Asisa and Mastercard, in addition to the collaboration of El Tenedor, the participation of JCDecaux, Iberia Express and La Casa del Libro, as well as that of ELLE as a media partner, have made it possible to develop the programme for this eighth edition./