Harghita County prepares for the 2027 Gastronomy Year involving local stakeholders

Programs aimed at presenting partnership opportunities and strengthening local gastronomic values were introduced at a press conference organized by the Harghita County Council on February 24, 2026, at the Hungaro Residence restaurant in Miercurea Ciuc, as part of the preparatory process following the awarding of the title of European Region of Gastronomy 2027.

The press event focused on initiatives through which local hospitality operators, producers, tourism service providers, civil organizations, and public institutions can actively participate as partners in the 2027 program. As is known, Harghita County will hold the title of European Region of Gastronomy in 2027, awarded by the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism (IGCAT) to communities that pay special attention to preserving their gastronomic heritage, developing local and sustainable food chains, and strengthening related tourism.

According to Barna-Botond Bíró, President of the Harghita County Council, in 2027 gastronomy will be the common language through which Harghita County’s past, values, communities, and future can be simultaneously showcased to Europe.

“The fact that Harghita County can hold the title of European Region of Gastronomy is the result of long-term, consistent work and proof that developing tourism and strengthening our local identity is a shared responsibility. The title not only brings international visibility for us but also offers an opportunity to build a strong professional network, create a gastronomic offer that consistently represents high quality, and strengthen local communities that proudly and authentically represent Harghita County. Our goal is for every local actor—from producer to hospitality provider—to become an ambassador for Harghita County through their services and together reinforce our identity as part of the European community, in flavours, traditions, and trust in the future.”

The coordination of preparations for holding the title is carried out by the Harghita Community Development Association (Visit Harghita). At the press conference, tools and programs were presented that serve to build the partnership system and involve local stakeholders.

As part of this, an informational handbook related to the European Region of Gastronomy 2027 program was prepared, providing detailed guidance on participation conditions, forms of partnership, and benefits of involvement. The document aims to provide a unified framework for all businesses and organizations contributing to the development and promotion of Harghita County’s gastronomic offer. A related code of conduct was also created, outlining the principles and professional standards that partners joining the program must follow.

“Work for the European Region of Gastronomy 2027 title began in 2023. Since then, active background preparation has been underway. Our goal is for the programs launched now to not only strengthen the 2027 year but also contribute long-term to Harghita County’s tourism development, reinforce cooperation between local producers and hospitality actors, and ensure the county becomes known as a sustainable, high-quality, and authentic gastronomic destination.”

– said Károly Szabó, Executive Director of the Harghita Community Development Association.

New initiatives to strengthen local gastronomic values

The press conference highlighted three main topics, which include selecting and promoting the county’s characteristic dishes, rating local hospitality establishments, and providing direct presentation opportunities for farms and producers.

The Signature Dish is a selection of Harghita County’s distinctive flavours, resulting from professional and community cooperation related to the European Region of Gastronomy 2027 title. The list was compiled based on a questionnaire survey and the joint evaluation of twelve chefs, and includes dishes and desserts reflecting traditions passed down through generations, the county’s cultural diversity, and authentic flavours. The program aims to present the region’s gastronomy uniformly, encourage collaboration between local producers and hospitality establishments, and increase the visibility of local ingredients and dishes.

The Myrmidone (orange butterfly) rating system is directly connected to the Signature Dish program and recognizes hospitality establishments offering a conscious gastronomic offer based on local ingredients and traditional flavours. Requirements for the rating include, among others, collaborating with local producers to include Signature Dish items in the menu, striving to reduce food waste, using ingredients sourced within a 100-kilometer radius, etc. The rating is named after the critically endangered orange butterfly (Colias Myrmidone), which occurs in only three European countries—Poland, Slovakia, and Romania—and in Romania is found only in two areas, including the border of Gheorgheni and Gheorgheni-Sânmărtin, in the Kürücök Valley. Its presence proves that Harghita County’s natural environment remains particularly valuable today. This clean, living environment is not only a heritage to be preserved but also manifests in the quality of local ingredients and the region’s gastronomy.

The Open Farm program offers local farms, agricultural producers, and food processors the opportunity to showcase their values to visitors in an organized and safe way. Participating units receive visitors by prior appointment, allowing them to meet producers directly, gain insight into daily activities, and experience first-hand how local ingredients and products are made. The program guarantees a quality experience and appropriate infrastructure, hygiene, and safety conditions. Open Farm participants will also be partners in the Open Farm weekend, which the coordinator plans to organize twice a year. During these weekends, each Open Farm will host special programs for visitors, thereby strengthening the direct connection between local producers and the public.

The presented programs represent an important milestone in preparations for 2027 and contribute to ensuring that Harghita County’s gastronomic and cultural values are showcased in a coordinated manner both nationally and internationally. Detailed information, criteria, and application forms are available on the Visit Harghita website and app.

European Region of Gastronomy

European Regions of Gastronomy (candidates and awardees), selected and guided by IGCAT, aim to contribute to the quality of life of their citizens by emphasizing the importance of cultural and gastronomic uniqueness, while also:

Encouraging creativity and gastronomic innovation,
Providing intellectual nourishment for 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 world 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 emphasize their gastronomic heritage through community collaboration under the principles of sustainable development. It places particular importance on preserving and protecting local foods, beverages, agricultural products, as well as cultural and natural values.

The title is an acknowledgment that widely promotes the region’s achievements, programs, community cooperation, and responses to future challenges but does not come with a monetary prize.

Members of the Harghita County Consortium: