Adalberto Venero Lemus, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, has stated that the public's backing of the Varadero Gourmet Festival 2025 is a driving force behind Cuba's tourism recovery. This claim comes at a time when most Cubans are struggling to secure their daily meals, highlighting the stark contrast between official promotion and the harsh reality that citizens face.
While millions of Cubans were left in the dark due to the collapse of the National Electric System (SEN), the Cuban government lavishly opened the latest edition of the International Varadero Gourmet Festival at the Plaza América Convention Center, located in the island's premier resort in northern Matanzas province.
Under the theme “Flavors Without Borders,” the event features participation from entrepreneurs, specialists, and academics. The program includes keynote speeches such as “Two Cuisines, Cuban and Spanish and Their Fusion,” “Casabe: The Art of Making Casabe,” and “Inclusive Gastronomy: Delights to Share,” as highlighted by a report from the state-run news agency Prensa Latina.
Miguel Ángel Jiménez, a corporate chef for the Iberostar hotel chain and noted as the personal chef for Lis Cuesta, the wife of the ruling figure Miguel Díaz-Canel, emphasized that the creole cuisine with Spanish roots is a heritage worth preserving. Chef Omar Rodríguez from La Filarmónica restaurant noted that the festival helps revive traditions like making casabe, a cassava and manioc dish declared a cultural heritage of humanity in 2024 in Asunción, Paraguay.
New this year, the festival, running until September 13, will host the first edition of the International Workshop on Cuban Tourist Franchises, focusing on brands like La Bodeguita del Medio, Floridita, and Café Concert Gato Tuerto. This initiative aims to create alliances, business opportunities, and enhance international brand protection with the involvement of both foreign and domestic franchisees.
Authorities tout the event as a platform to establish Cuba as a destination of culinary excellence, yet the populace faces a backdrop of shortages and hardships that the official narrative neglects. Amid one of the most severe energy crises in recent years, the gastronomic festival in Varadero lays bare the privileged bubble of the state tourism elite.
The gap between the official rhetoric of “resilience” and the extravagance of the event is becoming increasingly untenable for a population burdened by scarcity, where many wake up with nothing to eat and go to bed on an empty stomach.
The Varadero Gourmet 2025 not only underscores the regime's disconnect from the everyday struggles of Cubans but also reveals its priorities: maintaining the country's tourism image while citizens endure daily power outages. The promotion of “fusion cuisine with a Cuban soul” starkly contrasts with the shortage of basic foods, the lack of electricity in homes, and the deterioration of national infrastructure.
For most Cubans, this gourmet culinary event, while leaving attendees with a positive impression and garnering favorable headlines in official media, is merely an empty spectacle that leaves a bitter aftertaste.
Understanding the Impact of Varadero Gourmet Festival on Cubans
How does the Varadero Gourmet Festival affect ordinary Cubans?
While the festival is promoted as a boost for tourism, many ordinary Cubans face daily hardships such as food shortages and power outages, making the event seem disconnected from their reality.
What is the theme of the Varadero Gourmet Festival 2025?
The theme for the 2025 festival is “Flavors Without Borders,” which includes a variety of international cuisines and culinary traditions.
What new feature is being introduced at the festival this year?
This year marks the first edition of the International Workshop on Cuban Tourist Franchises, focusing on famous Cuban brands and involving franchisees from around the world.