Cross-border project «Carpathian Culinary Heritage Network», financed by The European Union within the framework of the Hungary-Slovakia-Romania-Ukraine ENPI Cross-border Cooperation Program 2007-2013, started in April 2012 is coming to its end (January 31, 2014). The Action covered the territory of Ivano-Frankivsk Region in Ukraine, Maramures and Satu Mare Counties in Romania, Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County in Hungary and Kosice Region in Slovakia. Main project implementing partner is the Tourist Association of Ivano-Frankivsk Region (Ukraine).
On January 23-24th, 2014 the final Project Steering Committee meeting took place in Yaremche (Ukraine). The meeting was attended by the representatives of Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State Administration, Ivano-Frankivsk City Council and Executive Committee, the Association “Ecologic”, Satu Mare Chamber of Commerce (Romania), Szamos-bazár Association (Hungary) and Kosice Regional Chamber of Commerce, as well as experts in the field of tourism, restaurant business and food production, representatives of educational institutions from the target cross-border regions of the project.
During the event the achievements and results of the project were presented. The project activity aimed at maintaining and promotion of the roles and diversity of Carpathian cuisines and culinary traditions as a factor of sustainable regional development and preservation of local cultural heritage. Till present moment over 350 companies and organizations that preserving and multiplying the Carpathian gastronomic heritage have joined under the unique brand – a symbol of the Carpathian Culinary Heritage Network. All of they are included in the database of companies that producing traditional food and providing travel services in targeted regions / countries. The database is located on a web page – www.culinaryheritage.org.
The Action developed five culinary tours as network regions under the one title “Carpathian Culinary Heritage Trails”: “Ukraine. Hutsul Adventure: in quest of culinary treasures “,” Romania. Discover the taste of Maramures and Ancestral traditions in history and traditional dishes of Satu Mare “,”Slovakia. Harmony of food and wine “,”Hungary eats”. 40 companies and entrepreneurs providing tours services received targeted assistance for promotion their business and Network brand.
55 entities that work towards to preservation of the traditional gastronomy and local cuisine traditions were certified under the Network certification programme and were awarded by membership certificates and special outer sign displaying the logo of Carpathian Culinary Heritage Network. The sign means the expert’s recognition of the quality of product and services and that these objects have a direct connection with the ancient culinary traditions, and / or using old recipes and / or with special local ingredients in their dishes, and / or promotion of the unique elements of local culture, which are closely associated with traditional gastronomy. So the main aim of sign is to promote the awareness of the Network brand, indicate the appropriate level of quality and ensures the connection for visitors with the Carpathian Culinary Heritage Network.
Within the project prepared electronic Carpathian culinary heritage cook-book, which includes more than 200 original recipes, that were wrote from the oral retellings of the common people or skilled chefs, culinary legacy carriers of the four target regions. E-collection of recipes from the Carpathian Culinary Heritage Network is available on web-site www.culinaryheritage.org.
The prominent international events were competitions and festivals of the Network: a competition to create a brand of Carpathian Culinary Heritage Network, Culinary Competition among students of culinary schools from Carpathian countries, the International Carpathian Culinary Heritage Network Festival, that took place in Ivano-Frankivsk and the equivalent regional festivals in Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. The visit through the destinations of Carpathian Culinary Tour was organized for travel columnists and tour operators. Due to the results of those visits the famous authors glossy magazines prepared 10 articles that were published and distributed with a total circulation of over 583,000 copies. To created A series of promotional printed editions in different languages and promotional video of the Network were created to participate in international tourism events and to promote the brand of the Network to support Carpathian Culinary Tours and other products of the project.
Chairperson of Tourist Association of Ivano-Frankivsk (TAIF), the author of project Mr. Oksana Fedorovych, stated that, the biggest achievement of this project is the Carpathian Сulinary Heritage Network itself, the partnership and the atmosphere that were created by the project. So we managed to carry out all that was planned at the stage of project preparation and loudly declared on its start.
