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The cuisine of the Val d’Aran will be present in the days Gastropirineus from 13 to 15 November in the Seu d’Urgell.

Gastropirineus is an organized action with the aim of giving prominence and value in the cuisine, products and professionals of the sector of the restoration of all the Pyrenean regions of Catalonia. From La Vall d’Aràn to La Garrotxa, the initiative has been conceived transversally, to bring together the culinary legacy of these territories.
The conference aims to stimulate innovation, promote the food culture, collect and disseminate the knowledge of producers, processors and cooks. The objective is to improve the competitiveness of professionals and companies in the wine and gastronomic sector of our Pyrenees.
At the same time, in Gastropirineus there will be sample and tasting of products, demonstration of the elaboration of dishes of the cuisine of the Pyrenees, presentation of new dishes and products, iinterchange of ideas, debate and reflection and live cooking sessions.
The Aranese gastronomy will have a prominent role in the conference, with the demonstration of live cooking of the winter dishes of the Casa Irene Restaurant, by chef Andreu Vidal. Also, Cristina Madruga, Conselh Generau d’Aran, will present on Tuesday the Guarantee Mark Productes dera Val d’Aran.
Framed in the events of celebration of the year of Catalonia as European Region of Gastronomy 2016, Gastropirineus is a meeting point for professionals in the tourist and gastronomic sectors. Tourism and its associated services are essential to set the settlement of the population and guarantee and improve the quality of life of mountain dwellers.

The gastronomic Festival of the Val d’Aran, Era Mongetada 2016, it has gathered more than 3,000 people during the various events that have taken place over this issue.

The coincidence with the weekend of All Saints, an excellent weather and the many organized activities have achieved a complete success of this event.

For the president of the Gremi d’Ostalaria dera Val d’Aran, Ambròs Barberà, “this number of visitors, has reached both national and international recognition of this event linked with agriculture, gastronomy, heritage and culture, under the shelter of a own product of the Val d’Aran as the bean of Bossòst, the real protagonist of Era Mongetada “.

Also, Carlos Sanllehy, director of Era Mongetada, was satisfied “for having achieved the objectives of the festival, increasing the number of participants in the activities and enhancing quality gastronomic side with the development of the different menus every day.”

Monument to the “Mongeta de Bossòst”

Era Mongetada started on Friday with a charity dinner organized by the Gremi d’Ostalaria dera Val d’Aran in Vielha. On Saturday the village of Bossòst was the big star of the festival, hosting a large number of visitors throughout the day. In the morning, it was inaugurated the monument to the Mongeta of Bossòst, recognized as bean variety retrieved, in the category of “commercial variety”.

At midday the traditional “Dinar de Pagès ” which brought more than 500 diners with a menu prepared by chefs of the Gremi took place. In addition, coinciding with the gastronomic festival, the town hosted the Autumn Fair livestock and craft market, with great movement and atmosphere throughout the day.

Show cooking Era Mongetada

On Sunday the stage was moved to Garòs, where the gastronomic festival began with a demonstration of the work of traditional treatment of the bean. The city hosted the “Show-Cooking” Era Mongetada, which this year was attended by the American chef Daniel Garner, currently the head of the kitchen of the restaurant OKRA Hong Kong; and Tony Botella, responsible for TBTC cooking school in Barcelona. Along with the chefs of the Gremi d’Ostalaria dera Val d’Aran, developed spectacular culinary offerings for the 450 guests.

During the course of the day, the leaders of the organization of Era Mongetada, Ambròs Barberà and Carlos Sanllehy, delivered the “Mongeta d’Or” to Jose Spain in recognition for his career as a driver of Aranese gastronomy.

Era Mongetada closed on Monday with a meal and a talk by Ferran Latorre, after an ascent to Mauberme Pic and a cultural output around Salardu, Bagergue and Unha.

Culinary, agricultural and cultural activities will be held throughout next weekend in Bossòst, Vielha and Garòs for Era Mongetada.

With the aim to add value  to the agriculture, gastronomy and cultural heritage of the valley, the Gremi d’Ostalaria dera Val d’Aran organizes a new edition of Era Mongetada from 28 to 31 October 2016. This festival dedicated to the Mongeta de Bossòst, it seeks to sensitize the public about the nutritional benefits of legumes as grateful product, easy to care for, both dry and cooked, versatile development and combinable with many common products in the region.

Era Mongetada is sponsored by Torisme dera Val d’Aran and the municipalities of Naut Aran, Bossòst and Vielha, in addition to the collaboration of various public and private entities. Throughout the four-day gastronomic activities and popular foods, farm games, livestock fair, cultural visits and traditional dances in Bossòst, Vielha and Garòs be held.

Era Mongetada COOKING SHOW

The main culinary event is the “Gastronomic Menu” with a show cooking of the guest chefs, American Daniel Garnery Catalan Tony Botella. Both live draw various dishes based on beans, with the collaboration of the chefs of the Gremi d’Ostalaria dera Val d’Aran.

Besides in Era Mongetada can be tasted culinary specialties of the Aran in Vielha Solidarity Dinner in Bossòst Payés Meal and Night Skewers Garòs. Children may also try this delicious and nutritious beans with a special menu in a space intended for them.

In addition to the gastronomic activities, it was Mongetada organizes various events related to culture and heritage of the Val d’Aran, ranging from livestock activities to Aranese traditional dances or mountain activities to publicize the area.

Mongeta Bossost, “COMMERCIAL VARIETY”

The variety of Aranese recovered bean, was honored in 2014 with the category of “Commercial Variety” with the name “Bossost”. To celebrate this the city of Bossòst opened on Saturday 29 a monument to Era Mongetada.

On the other hand, this 2016 has been declared the International Year of Pulses by the United Nations General Assembly. The commemoration is a way to sensitize the public about the nutritional benefits of vegetables as part of a sustainable food production aimed at achieving food and nutrition security.

More information about the program and activities on the Era Mongetada website