Dobrogea, European Region of Gastronomy 2029 candidate, presented its flavours at BIAS 2026
Bucharest, 3 September 2026 – Harghita – European Region of Gastronomy 2027, Banat – European Region of Gastronomy 2028, and Dobrogea – European Region of Gastronomy 2029 candidate, came together at the Bucharest International Air Show (BIAS) 2026 to jointly promote Romania through gastronomy, local products and authentic experiences.
On 28–29 August 2026, the three regions were present at the TAROM stand – “STEP INTO ROMANIA”, where each region presented its identity, producers and local stories to a large audience. Their joint presence put into practice one of the important directions of the IGCAT network: cooperation between regions and the development of projects that promote European gastronomic diversity through collaboration.
For Dobrogea, participation through the Flavours of Dobrogea project was another opportunity to continue promoting the region’s candidacy for the title of European Region of Gastronomy 2029 and to show how gastronomy can become an ambassador for a destination.
Harghita 2027, Banat 2028 and Dobrogea 2029 – Cooperation between regions
Harghita – European Region of Gastronomy 2027, Banat – European Region of Gastronomy 2028 and Dobrogea – European Region of Gastronomy 2029 candidate are part of the World Regions of Gastronomy Platform, coordinated by IGCAT – International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism.
At BIAS, this collaboration also became visible through the Passport of Gastronomy, a shared passport that invited visitors to travel through all three regions, discover different flavours and stories, and collect a stamp at each stop.
“The fact that the three gastronomic regions – Harghita 2027, Banat 2028 and Dobrogea 2029 – were together at BIAS is very important. We are building together an image of Romania as a gastronomic destination. Each region has its own identity, its own products and its own stories, and together we can show how rich Romania is.”
— Carmen Ispas, Executive Manager of the Flavours of Dobrogea project
Dobrogea – A region to be discovered through taste
For Dobrogea, participation at BIAS brought before the public a selection of products, dishes and experiences reflecting the diversity of the region – from the Black Sea and the Danube Delta to vineyards, local communities, fishing and culinary traditions.
Over the two days, the stand was visited by approximately 2,500 people. Visitors took part in tastings, completed the Passport of Gastronomy, spun the Wheel of Fortune and entered the “Step into Dobrogea” raffle.
The Wheel of Fortune put 500 vouchers and benefits into circulation, offered by local partners including Techir, Crama Hamangia, Dobrodulce and TripiGo. The raffle continued the same idea of turning the BIAS encounter into an invitation to discover Dobrogea at home: the first and second prizes included stays at Hotel IAKI Mamaia and Hotel Venus Mamaia, respectively, complemented by local experiences coordinated with the support of TripiGo, while the third prize was a basket of products from local producers in the region.
Gastronomic moments and tastings
Chef Marian Scarlat, from Complex Răsărit Corbu, joined Flavours of Dobrogea on both days, preparing fish-based dishes for visitors to taste. Together with wines from Crama Hamangia, these tastings brought to the stand a natural combination of local products, gastronomy and Dobrogean terroir.
“For us, Dobrogea’s gastronomy is first and foremost about people and places. At Răsărit Corbu, we try to preserve the connection between what the land offers us and what reaches the plate. Participating in BIAS was an opportunity to show a very diverse audience that Dobrogea has flavours, products and stories worth discovering.”
A special moment was dedicated to piperchi țârgâsiti, a traditional Macedonian dish and one of the gastronomic expressions of Dobrogea’s multicultural character. Chef Moumen Al Hamoui – Habibi, from Restaurant La Liman, presented the dish to the public and brought it to life at the stand through a preparation, serving and tasting moment, while also sharing the story behind it.
Producers and partners who brought Dobrogea to BIAS
The products, tastings, activations and prizes were made possible through the involvement of a network of Flavours of Dobrogea producers and partners: Dobrodulce, Rozefir, Migdale de Jurilovca, Techir, Crama Hamangia, Complex Răsărit Corbu, Restaurant La Liman, TripiGo, Hotel IAKI Mamaia, Hotel Venus Mamaia, Punctul Gastronomic Local “La Mirela în Ogradă”, Suvenir din Dobrogea and Aurelia Lăpușan, author of monographs and works about Dobrogea.
The stand also featured local products offered for tasting or included in the campaign prizes: honey and pollen from Dobrodulce, rose products from Rozefir, Migdale de Jurilovca, Techir products and wines from Crama Hamangia.
The visual storytelling component was complemented by the Constanța Vizual album, displayed at the stand and available for purchase through a QR code, as an invitation to discover Constanța through images as well.
Also within the area of heritage and storytelling, the public could discover the volume “Marea care vindecă”, written by Aurelia Lăpușan, a book that brings to the forefront the story of the coastline and its therapeutic resources, naturally complementing the gastronomic and tourism perspective on Dobrogea.
From promotion to a tourism experience
The presence at BIAS created a direct connection between gastronomic promotion and tourism promotion for Dobrogea. TripiGo, a project partner, supported this direction through the local experiences included in the prizes and the vouchers offered to visitors.
“For us, Dobrogea 2029 means more than promoting products or dishes. It means creating concrete experiences through which people can get to know the places, producers and communities behind these products. At BIAS, we were able to show that gastronomy can be a gateway to tourism and that a good experience can turn curiosity into a journey.”
BIAS – A platform for promoting Romania
The context provided by the TAROM stand – “STEP INTO ROMANIA” – was particularly relevant for the joint presence of the three regions. Aviation and tourism naturally meet in the idea of discovering new places, while gastronomy adds the taste and identity of each destination to this experience.
Through Harghita 2027, Banat 2028 and Dobrogea 2029, the TAROM stand became, for two days, a space where Romania could be discovered through different regions, placed side by side and connected by the same idea of cooperation.
You do not have to choose just one destination. You can discover them all, one by one.
Step into Romania. Taste the regions.
Gastronomy – Heritage, economy and tourism
Dobrogea’s candidacy for the title of European Region of Gastronomy 2029 aims to highlight gastronomy as an important part of regional identity and as a tool for development.
Gastronomy connects local producers, communities, heritage, tourism and the local economy. Through events such as BIAS, Dobrogea’s story reaches new audiences and creates opportunities for local products and experiences to be discovered in an accessible and memorable way.
Participation at BIAS demonstrated once again that gastronomy can be an ambassador for the region and, at the same time, an ambassador for Romania.
Dobrogea 2029. One region. One identity. One story told through taste.
About Flavours of Dobrogea
Flavours of Dobrogea is an initiative dedicated to promoting the gastronomic and tourism identity of Dobrogea, bringing together local producers, entrepreneurs, chefs and tourism stakeholders around a common vision: highlighting gastronomy as living heritage and as a driver for the promotion and development of the region.
The project supports Dobrogea’s candidacy for the title of European Region of Gastronomy 2029 and promotes the region through local products, gastronomic experiences, tourism and stories about the people who give Dobrogea its identity.
Contact
📧 office@unpr-rse.ro
Facebook: Flavours of Dobrogea
Instagram: @flavoursofdobrogea
