From commercial to cultural: The role of the festival “Firatast una fira boníssima” in the promotion and appreciation of Catalan cuisine

Abstract

The article presents a study on the profile of the visiting public to the 23^a Firatast Una fira boníssima and perceptions regarding its organization, and the gastronomic and cultural elements presented during the event. The methodology employed is both qualitative and quantitative, using direct observation, survey questionnaire scripts with 119 participants, and in-depth interviews with the festival’s managers. The highlight of this research is to have identified that, although originally created for commercial purposes, the festival has gradually turned into a cultural event and is now perceived by its public as a tool for enhancing and promoting the techniques and traditions of Catalan cuisine.

Keywords:

• Culinary festival
• food heritage
• food festival
• gastronomy promotion
• Girona

Acknowledgments

The Company Incatis for the opportunity to administer the questionnaires at the Firatast festival.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.