The certificates of the Myrmidone (orange butterfly) certification were awarded in a ceremonial event today, on September 16, at the Park Hotel in Miercurea Ciuc. The certification system is a flagship initiative of the Harghita County – European Region of Gastronomy 2027 program, recognizing conscious hospitality built on local ingredients, producers, and the gastronomic heritage of Harghita County.
A total of 67 hospitality venues applied for the 2026 certification, of which 59 met the conditions set out in the criteria system and the Code of Conduct. The certified venues include restaurants, bistros, and local gastronomic points, among them four establishments from Covasna County. Among the certified venues, eight received one butterfly, eleven received two butterflies, and forty received three butterflies.
Myrmidone is not simply about offering local dishes, but represents a comprehensive hospitality approach that connects stakeholders in the region from local producers and ingredients to the gastronomic experience of the guest. An important element of the certification is the use of ingredients and beverages sourced, where possible, from within a 100-kilometer radius, cooperation with local producers and making them visible, as well as preserving and transmitting the traditional gastronomic values of Harghita County. The system also pays attention to reducing food waste, the Signature Dish list of characteristic local dishes, and multilingual communication.
The certification is named after the strictly protected orange butterfly, Colias myrmidone. This rare species occurs in Europe only in Poland, Slovakia, and Romania, and within Romania it can be found in just two areas, including the Kürücök Valley near Lăzarea and Gheorgheni. The presence of the orange butterfly is a strong indicator of the region’s exceptional natural values, which are closely linked to the quality of local ingredients and the gastronomic heritage of Harghita County.
The Myrmidone certification is closely linked to the Signature Dish list. Within this initiative, which collects the characteristic dishes of Harghita County, a questionnaire survey was used to identify those dishes and desserts that the community considers most representative of the region. The results were evaluated together with twelve local chefs, leading to a selection of fifty highlighted dishes in the Signature Dish collection.
In the future, certified venues will benefit from using the Myrmidone visual identity and the Harghita County – European Region of Gastronomy 2027 logo, as well as enhanced visibility on Visit Harghita platforms, in the program’s communication, and on the region’s gastronomic map. The certification also provides opportunities for participation in various promotional and professional initiatives, including study visits, publications, newsletters, and professional events.
With the certificate award, a community has begun to take shape whose members work together to ensure that the local flavors, producers, gastronomic traditions, and hospitality venues of Harghita County are more prominently represented in the region’s tourism offer. The aim of the Myrmidone certification is that local values should not only appear on the plate, but come together as a comprehensive gastronomic experience that connects the local community, the natural environment, and hospitality.
European Region of Gastronomy
European Regions of Gastronomy (candidates and awardees), selected and managed by IGCAT, aim to contribute to improving the quality of life of their citizens by raising awareness of the importance of cultural and gastronomic uniqueness, while:
- encouraging creativity and gastronomic innovation,
- intellectually nourishing children and adults through culinary education,
- improving the quality of sustainable tourism,
- strengthening circular economies in both urban and rural environments,
- supporting the well-being and health of communities and the environment.
IGCAT provides the award with the support of international and European institutions. Regions also join the global platform of awarded and candidate Gastronomic Regions to promote long-term benefits, increase international visibility, and support knowledge sharing.
The European Region of Gastronomy title recognizes communities (cities, counties, regions, islands, or countries) that, in the spirit of sustainable development and through community cooperation, place strong emphasis on their gastronomic heritage. Preserving and protecting local food, drinks, agricultural products, as well as cultural and natural values, is of particular importance for them.
The title is a recognition that widely promotes the achievements, programs, community cooperation, and responses to future challenges of the given region, but it does not include a monetary prize.
Members of the Harghita County consortium:
- Harghita County Council
- Harghita Community Development Association
- Miercurea Ciuc City Hall
- Odorheiu Secuiesc City Hall
- Gheorgheni City Hall
- Association of Szekler Farmers’ Organizations
- Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania, Faculty of Miercurea Ciuc
- Páva KulinarIQum Association
- Boro Info
- Honline Media (Székely Konyha és Kert)
- Association of Ciuc Hospitality Providers
- Pro Economica Foundation
