While the Cuban population faces one of the worst economic and food crises in its history, the regime inaugurated the 14th Varadero Gourmet International Festival this Wednesday, with great ostentation, which will run until September 13, at the Plaza América Convention Center in the beach city of Matanzas.
While the people have nothing to put on the table, due to the scarcity and inflation caused by the failed economic policies of the ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel, the participants in the event will discuss the topic of "The evolution of Cuban gastronomy," as reflected on the Excelencias Gourmet website.
The event brings together experts from the professional field through various conferences, and it will also include cooking, gastronomy, and cocktail competitions, as well as specialized exhibitions, all in a media and political construction that is very far removed from the reality of the everyday Cuban, who suffers from severe food shortages.
Despite this, Ariadna Viñas, commercial director of the Palmares Extrahotel Company, one of the participating entities, boasted that Varadero Gourmet will address other topics such as transformations in the kitchen, tradition and haute cuisine, artistic cooking, knowledge of alternative cooking, evolution or renewed tradition, and the teaching of gastronomy and its educational and cultural influences.
Similarly, Lázaro Casabella, deputy director of Palmares, pointed out that the event aims to showcase the evolution of gastronomy in terms of sustainability, as the Festival becomes a space for sharing experiences.
The officialist journalist Borge Alex stated on Facebook that Varadero Gourmet promotes "the development of the Cuban gastronomic sector" and encourages "the exchange of knowledge and trends."
Additionally, he described the event as "A journey through flavors," featuring exhibitions of culinary innovations, tastings of unique flavors ranging from Cuban cuisine to international trends, and workshops conducted by culinary experts.
Likewise, various entities will present a series of products that most Cubans are unlikely to ever see in their daily lives, but which are, nonetheless, displayed ostentatiously at this event.
The company Cuba Café pointed out that Varadero Gourmet will take advantage of “this opportunity and promote our exportable products,” while the people suffer from the shortage of one of their most cherished pleasures, that of a steaming cup.
For its part, Ronera Cárdenas announced that it will present "its distinctive brand Perla del Norte and its new projects."
And while this is happening in Varadero, the table of Cubans is facing an unprecedented scarcity.
The Cuban Observatory of Human Rights recently presented the VII Report on the State of Social Rights in Cuba 2024, with revealing results about the Cuban reality.
The non-governmental organization highlighted in the document that "89% of Cuban families suffer from extreme poverty," one percentage point more than last year and 13% more than in 2022.
One of its most significant pieces of data highlights that "7 out of 10 Cubans have stopped having breakfast, lunch, or dinner due to a lack of money or food scarcity."
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