• Throughout the weekend, the Gran Canaria Me Gusta Fair has been the meeting point for the island’s primary and gastronomic sector.
• The exhibitors have been grateful for the reunion with the public in person, which has demonstrated the recovery of the trade fair sector.

This weekend, Gran Canaria once again hosted its quintessential event for the island’s primary and gastronomic sector. After the health restrictions that marked the previous edition of the Gran Canaria Me Gusta Fair, visitors to this year’s event were able to enjoy an atmosphere that was evidence of a return to normality and, with it, the recovery of the trade fair sector.

Promoted and financed by the Cabildo de Gran Canaria and organised by Infecar, the Gran Canaria Me Gusta Fair closed its doors this Sunday after three days of intense activity in which around 7,500 people passed through the fairgrounds, who were able to buy directly from the producers, as well as enjoy a varied programme of activities for all the family.

The kitchens of the kitchen of the Gran Canaria Me Gusta Fair were the setting for the finals of the Regional Cooking Competition in the professional category and the Popular Confectionery Competition. Francisco Ruymán González, from the Pícaro restaurant in Gran Canaria, was the winner of the second edition of the Regional Cooking Competition, followed by David Lemes, from La Bodega de Santiago (Lanzarote), and Pamela Curioni, from El Guateque (Gran Canaria).

For its part, in the first time at the Gran Canaria Me Gusta Popular Pastry Competition, the winner was Nayarit Santana, while the other two finalists were Eleazar Rodríguez and Angélica Rivero.

This Sunday also saw the presentation of the ¡Qué Bueno! Gran Canaria Me Gusta for excellence in commitment to local produce, which went to El Equilibrista 33. The president of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, Antonio Morales, who presented the award to Luisa Florido, sister of Carmelo Florido, chef and owner of El Equilibrista 33, pointed out that the Cabildo de Gran Canaria “promotes these awards because we believe that the effort to promote local produce deserves recognition”.

Likewise, the twelve finalist restaurants received a plaque commemorating their links with local produce. They are: La Trastienda de Chago (Gáldar), La Tunera (Telde), Casa Romántica (Agaete), Nelson (Agüimes), Casa Enrique (Mogán), Biocrepería Risco Caído (Artenara) and El Padrino, Muxgo, El Equilibrista33, Cuernocabra, Tabaiba and El Bento Japonés, in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Origins Professional Conference

The final climax to the Gran Canaria Me Gusta Fair will take place tomorrow, Monday 2nd May, with the Origins Professional Conference, aimed at the gastronomy sector: chefs, restaurateurs, waiters, sommeliers, the primary sector, etc. and organised by the Regional Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

Participating in this conference will be the chefs Dabiz Muñoz (Diverxo, three Michelin Stars and three Repsol Suns); Aser Martín (Tabaiba, one Repsol Sun and Michelin Guide Recommendation); Carmelo Florido (El Equilibrista 33, one Repsol Sun and Bib Gourmand); Abraham Ortega (Tabaiba, one Repsol Sun and Michelin Guide Recommendation); José Luis Espino (Brevir, recommended by Guía Repsol); Juan Diego Sandoval (Coque, three Michelin Stars and three Repsol Suns); Juan Santiago (Hestia, recommended by Guía Repsol); Juanlu Fernández (Lú Cocina y Alma, one Michelin Star and two Repsol Suns); and Pepe Solla (Casa Solla, one Michelin Star and three Repsol Suns).

The Gran Canaria Me Gusta Fair is promoted and financed by the Cabildo de Gran Canaria and organised by Infecar. The Fair also has SPAR Gran Canaria as sponsor, Cajasiete as official collaborator; the Chamber of Commerce of Gran Canaria, Fegastrocan, Fagor Profesional, as collaborators; and Alcampo as official product supplier.