TASTING SPAIN
-Premier Open Day Sydney,Australia 2024
The premier occasion in Australia for showcasing and enjoying Spanish food and beverage products took place on July 1 st, 2024 at The Royal Exchange inSydney.
The anticipated Spanish Food and Beverage Open Day was an exclusive event organised by the Trade Commission of the Embassy of Spain in Australia and presented by Foods and Wines from Spain, a promotion programme run by ICEX Spain Trade and Investment whose role is to promote exports of Spanish food products to Spain’s priority markets, introducing new products and developing the market for more established ones.
Trad
Trade Commissioner Mr Rodrigo Tilve then proceeded to announce the Presentation of the Certification Programme ¨Restaurants from Spain¨ably assisted by his colleague Daniee Valente also from the Trade commission.
The Spanish Food and Beverage Open Day featured a distinguished lineup of industry experts, making it more than just a showcase of exquisite food and drinks. It will now serve as a future platform for fostering cultural and commercial connections and “deepening the appreciation of
Spanish cuisine in Australia.”
Event Director was Virginia Maroto Nieto with Rubén López Mesa who is Chef/ Founder of Eat Spanish
(who is part of the gastronomic association Eat Spanish
In the world of Spanish gastronomy, there are endless possibilities waiting to be discovered, far beyond what one imagines here in Australia. So guests and attendees were urged to “Consider this event as a friendly invitation to our home “our casa is your casa!” – Economic and Trade Commission of Spain in Australia.
The Event was organised by the Economic and Trade Commission of the Embassy of Spain in Australia in collaboration with ICEX España (Institute of Foreign Trade of the Spanish government)
Programme:
– The programme opened with greeting and reception by the Economic and Commercial Office represented by the Chief Economic and Trade Commissioner (Mr Rodrigo Tilve).
– Virginia Maroto Nieto (Market Analyst of the Food and Wine Industry among others and the Event Director) Daniel Valiente (Market Analyst) introduced the exciting new initiative ,..the Restaurants from Spain Certification Programme to all attendees.
Pintxos by Jon Ingunza Fernando Pavón and croquetas bySantiago Seco (La Croquetería)
– Not long after, guests were served Pintxos by Jon Ingunza Fernando Pavón and croquetas by Santiago Seco (La Croquetería)
– Then followed the eagerly anticipated Roundtable Discussion on Spanish Wine: A toast to Spain, which was hosted by Lea Margetic and a panel of wine experts including Beth Wilard who contributes features on Spanish wine for Decanter Magazine and serves as Chair of the Decanter World Wine Awards.
Also participating in the roundtable was Ian Sandler -owner of IS Wine-, who imports wines from 11 different Spanish producers and Javier Polo who entered Australia wine market in 2015 and founded Tablao Group to promote Spanish wines. In Sydney, he promotes Spanish culture and leads wine courses through the Amigoss Association.
The followed the Roundtable Discussion on Spanish Gastronomy: Tasting Spain led by Eat Spanish (Rubén Lopez and Ana Cortés), and with special guests such as Ben Groundwater(travel and gastronomy writer for the SMH ), Casey Merwood (from Biznaga) and Ernesto Rodríguez Nourish Ingredients)
– Advocating Spanish wine education Helena Edgerton from Sydney Wine Academy who presented information about the latest in wine courses.-
Sergio Perera was also a highlight of the evening with his presentation and gastronomic wisdom on how to incorporate Spanish products into the Australian pantry.He is both Chef and Nutrition Expert who has trained in top Spanish and Japanese restaurants, and became a renowned private chef for Hollywood, athletes, and royalty. He promotes the Mediterranean diet and optimised Chris Hemsworth’s nutrition for his role as Thor.
With a multicultural upbringing and culinary roots in Aragon, he also influenced by Kaiseki dining from Kyoto. Sergio combines culinary expertise with artistic contributions to food media and serves as brand ambassador for Winning Appliances, including projects like ORA Japanese dining in Sydney’s Waterloo.
Later in the evening guests enjoyed Paella and Basque Cheesecake by Mikki’s Paella and Churros by Mr. Spanish Churros
Later in the evening guests enjoyed Paella and Basque Cheesecake by Mikki’s Paella and Churros by Mr. Spanish Churro
Presentation of exhibitors: Meet the exhibitors
Consorcio del Jamón Serrano
Consorcio Serrano is the association of Spanish producers of the highest quality of Serrano Ham that has guaranteed quality with their control seal since 1990. Available in Coles, Woolworths, Harris Farm, Independents, Delis; on Restaurant menus. ‘Look for the Seal’.
The CJSE currently brings together 24 of the most important companies in the Spanish Serrano ham sector. All the companies are endorsed abroad by the Consorcio Serrano quality seal, present on the pieces they allocate for export.
Fino Foods
Fino Foods is a specialty food distributor, established in 2002 by Michael Dalton in Brisbane. We take great pride in selecting the finest artisan produce from around the globe, connecting it with chefs, restaurants and specialty retailers all around Australia.
Fino is privileged to present the following producers from their Artisan Spain collection:
Caprichos del Paladar
Conservas Olasagasti
Gardeny Vinagre
Jamones Blazquez
La Catedral de Navarra
Conservas La Narval
Munoz Rojo
Queseria Valdiveso
Safinter Saffron
Estrella Damm
Estrella Damm was founded in Barcelona in 1876 by two Alsatians who had arrived in the city fleeing the consequences of the Franco-Prussian War: August Küntzmann Damm and his cousin Joseph Damm. They created the Damm Corporation and opened a brewery where they produced their own beer: a lager lighter than those from Central Europe, adapted to the climate and tastes of the Mediterranean, which became known as Mediterranean lager beer.
Today, Estrella Damm, distributes more than 25 brands; owns 16 production and bottling plants for beer, water, cold drinks and coffee and 2 malting plants and operates in more than 133 countries.
Mate in Spain
Mate In Spain is for the food loving distributors, chefs and retail managers who love good quality, unique products with a strong origin story.
Following in the footsteps of the Rabago family, who owned a food shop in Madrid, Mate In Spain seeks out unique ingredients in Spain and curates a selection for the Australian market.
Mate In Spain aims to link the rich culinary world of its home country, Spain, with its new home, Australia, by discovering the very best artisan food products in Spain and bringing them to tables in Australia.
Importer and distributor of iconic Spanish brands such as:
Conservas Angelachu Olives Perello
Aged vinegar Cava Nadal
Gundillas Ubidea
Conservas Gueyumar
Nomad Distribution
Specialists in quality Spanish Food. Nomad Distribution are the producers of their very own award winning La Boqueria small goods and chorizo and have been importing,manufacturing, and distributing throughout Australia for over 20 years.
The largest single source of Spanish food products in the country, they supply the best of what Spain offers to shops, delis, butchers, cafes, bars, and restaurants.
Discover these premium Spanish brands with Nomad:
Don Bocarte
Julián Martín
Emily Quince
Galmesán
La Hoguera
Aceitunas Losada
Rodriguez Bros
Rodriguez Bros is a leading manufacturer of quality Spanish-style smallgoods in Australia. They also specialise in Spanish imported foods including ham, cheeses,olives, spices, paella equipment and ingredients, chocolates, biscuits, turron, Christmas sweets, and general Spanish groceries.
The Rodriguez family were one of the first producers of artisan Spanish-style smallgoods in Australia, starting in the 1970’s in Leichhardt. For over 50 years the Rodriguez family have been a trusted brand in authentic Spanish cuisine.
Rodriguez chorizos are made to a traditional Spanish family recipe and are featured in many of the Spanish restaurants in Australia. They also supply Australia’s leading wholesale and foodservice businesses with imported foods from Spain.
Distributor of iconic Spanish brands such as:
Bernal Olives
1880 La Despensa de Palacio
Arroz Calasparra
Carmencita
Dacsa Rice La
La Despensa de Palacio
Arroz Calasparra
Carmencita
Dacsa Rice
