As millions of Cubans sat in darkness due to a massive blackout following the collapse of the National Electric System, the Cuban government extravagantly kicked off the 15th International Varadero Gourmet Festival 2025. The culinary event is taking place at the Plaza América Convention Center in the Varadero resort, starting with a display that starkly contrasts with the harsh realities faced by the rest of the nation.
The official opening was led by Lázaro Darién Casabella, the general director of the Palmares extrahotel chain, and Adalberto Venero, the deputy minister of Tourism. They praised the sector's workers and highlighted the “professional exchange opportunities” the event presents, while notably omitting any reference to the severe energy crisis plaguing the island.
A Gourmet Festival in a Powerless Nation
The festival will continue until September 13 under the theme “Flavors without Borders: The Magic of Fusion Cuisine with a Cuban Soul.” The agenda is packed with wine, rum, and Cuban coffee tastings, workshops, high-level conferences, and gourmet samplings. Renowned chefs, sommeliers, industry entrepreneurs, and local producers are participating in this showcase, which even includes an International Franchise Workshop. However, the general population is excluded from this “feast of flavors” that the state media touts.
Meanwhile, Cuban workers and citizens endure endless days without electricity, lacking refrigeration to preserve their limited food supplies and with restricted access to basic services.
Nationwide Blackout and Official Silence
The complete failure of the national electrical system occurred on September 10 at 9:14 AM, following the unexpected shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant in Matanzas. The Cuban Electrical Union confirmed this was the second nationwide blackout this year, highlighting a structural crisis and an energy system on the brink of collapse.
Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz urged the public to remain confident, asserting that “everything possible and impossible” is being done to restore service. Yet, he failed to provide any timeline or technical details about the extent of the damage.
A Privileged Bubble
As Cuba grapples with one of its most severe energy crises in recent years, the festival in Varadero once again underscores a privileged bubble maintained by an elite tied to the state-run tourism sector. The contradiction between official rhetoric about “resilience” and the opulence of such events is increasingly difficult to justify to a population worn down by hardship.
In this context, the Varadero Gourmet 2025 not only highlights the regime's disconnect from the everyday realities of Cubans but also reveals the government's priorities: maintaining the international image of its tourism destinations while households across the nation endure life in the dark.
The focus on “fusion cuisine with a Cuban soul” starkly contrasts with the shortage of basic food items in markets, the lack of electricity to cook at home, and the deteriorating national infrastructure. Gourmet gastronomy becomes a hollow spectacle for a country struggling to fill its pots. While the festival might leave a positive impression on attendees and generate headlines in state media, for most Cubans, it leaves only a bitter taste.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis and Varadero Gourmet 2025
What caused the massive blackout in Cuba?
The blackout was caused by the unexpected shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant in Matanzas, leading to a complete failure of the national electrical system.
How does the Varadero Gourmet Festival contrast with Cuba's current situation?
The festival showcases opulence and professional exchange in the culinary field while the rest of the country struggles with severe energy shortages and basic needs.
Who are the primary participants in the Varadero Gourmet 2025?
The event involves renowned chefs, sommeliers, industry entrepreneurs, and local producers, but it is inaccessible to the general Cuban population.