Learning, Networking and Sharing on the Road to 2029
From 16–20 March 2026, Dobrogea joined representatives from more than thirteen awarded and candidate gastronomic regions at IGCAT’s 31st Platform Meeting of the World Regions of Gastronomy, hosted in Kvarner, European Region of Gastronomy 2026, by the Kvarner Region Tourist Board.
For Dobrogea, a candidate for the title of European Region of Gastronomy 2029, this was far more than a visit. It was a chance to learn directly from a region living its title year, to build new connections across the international network, to gather practical ideas for our own journey, and to share with the world why Dobrogea matters as a future European region of gastronomy.
The region was represented by Carmen Ispas, Executive Director of the National Union of Romanian Employers – Southeast Region (UNPR-RSE), together with our partner Alex Filip from Tu și Tulcea.
Four Days Across Kvarner’s Living Heritage
Over four days, the programme moved across the coast, islands and mountains, showing how a single region can weave food, culture, education and tourism into one shared identity.
The island days were a masterclass in regional branding: on Krk, indigenous Žlahtina wine and local products such as Krk Magriž cheese and bura-dried Krčki pršut; on Cres, olive oil, sheep’s cheese, rare sage honey and community-led projects at the restored Moise Palace.
A workshop with IGCAT regional representatives reminded us that telling a region’s story well is as important as the products themselves, a lesson we are taking straight back to Dobrogea. In the Gorski Kotar mountains, a rural development centre supporting more than 150 small producers offered a cooperative model that felt immediately relevant to our own network of producers.
The programme closed in Opatija, where the Kvarner Gastronomy Action Plan and Manifesto were presented and an IGCAT “Lessons Learned” session looked ahead to the next Platform Meeting in Crete.
The platform meeting wrapped up with the announcement of the Top 10 Foodie Websites and the Platform Gala Dinner at the Amadria Park Hotel Milenij.
What Dobrogea Brought Home
Kvarner showed us, again and again, that gastronomy is a powerful driver of regional development when it connects landscapes, heritage and people. Several ideas stood out for our own path to 2029:
- Indigenous products as identity. From Žlahtina wine to island cheeses and mountain honey, Kvarner builds its brand around what is uniquely local. Dobrogea, with its multicultural cuisine and its position between the Danube and the Black Sea, has the same opportunity.
- Storytelling and clear messaging. A region’s voice has to be crafted for every audience, producers, schools, tourism, authorities. Communication is part of the gastronomy.
- Cooperation among small producers. Shared infrastructure, trusted networks and joint promotion turn many small voices into one strong regional offer.
- Food, heritage and well-being together. From traditions to Opatija’s wellness culture, food is most powerful when it carries meaning, memory and community.
A Shared Vision for the Future
The 31st Platform Meeting reaffirmed what every step of this journey has taught us: real progress comes from learning exchanges, immersive experiences and genuine collaboration between regions.
For Dobrogea, Kvarner was both an inspiration and an affirmation. We return with new partnerships, concrete ideas and a renewed conviction that our region’s flavours, communities and traditions deserve a place on the European stage.
🌿 Dobrogea’s journey toward the title of European Region of Gastronomy 2029 continues inspired by collaboration, guided by tradition and fuelled by the belief that food connects us all.
