Gastronomic Culture
María Luisa García was a woman who dedicated her life to preserving and reviving traditional Asturian cuisine. A cook and writer, her books, published in the second half of the last century, made her the foremost popularizer of a popular gastronomy that in some cases was seriously threatened.
These activities are much needed in these times when it is clear that gastronomy, in its various forms, is destined to be one of the main lifelines for depopulated areas, an attraction that helps to retain the rural population and protect ecosystems. And in this endeavor, in addition to chefs and producers, the presence of people who work to recover and promote traditions is essential.
That was the task of María Luisa García, and that is the task of this year's national award winner, Rosa Tovar. A chef, researcher, writer, translator, teacher, and advisor to some of the most influential projects in contemporary haute cuisine, Rosa is one of the most authoritative and respected voices in Spanish gastronomy, especially in its historical aspect. There is her expertise in the history of Arab cuisine, her collaboration on Ferran Adrià's Bullipedia, and her work as an advisor to Paco Morales during the early years of his three-Michelin-starred restaurant Noor, which focused on Andalusian cuisine from the 8th to the 14th centuries. She is also the author of a dozen books, the latest of which, "De ida y vuelta" (Round Trip), recently published, reconstructs the invisible traces of Hispano-Muslim cuisine in America and Europe.
Other winners at this year's María Luisa García Awards, at the regional level, included Ramona Menéndez, a cook from Casa Belarmino, one of Asturias's leading traditional restaurants; the Cabo Busto pastry shop; and the family business Olaya Miel. These individuals and businesses contribute to the essential task of supporting rural communities through gastronomy.
