Segunda edición de «Saborea nuestros vecindarios» en Zaragoza superará las 134 unidades de 2024

The second edition «savor our neighborhoods» begins this Thursday, March 27, and until September 27, you can taste the covers of units in rural districts and neighborhoods in Zaragoza, grouped into five sections of data distributed to avoid overlapping and so that citizens can complete the full circuit. It is expected that the 134 bars that participated in the first edition of 2024 are outdated.

Owners can register on the website and, as candidates, they can create a single cover to offer to the public, maintaining the unit price of four euros along with a consumption, an amount that remains entirely in the unit’s profit account. Awards will be given based on artistic, technical, and gastronomic criteria.

During the competition, the program to taste the tapas will run from at least 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and from 8:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., except for the weekly day of rest. Participating hotel units have total creative freedom, and a jury will visit them and, as in the first edition, select the top ten tapas to go to the final.

The jury will announce the well-deserved prizes of the competition, the first, second, and third-place winners, who will receive a commemorative trophy.

The finalists again have free registration as representatives of the district in the XXIX edition of the prestigious official Tapas competition of Zaragoza and the province, the oldest in Spain.

The calendar distribution focuses on five sections, where different districts will be grouped to showcase the creative and culinary talent of their professionals.

Competitors will offer their tapas from Thursday to Sunday from March 27 to September 21, in different stages marked on the calendar.

The first group will be the University, Casablanca, and the District, between March 27-30 and April 4-6, 2025; The second group consists of the districts of San José, Torrero-La Paz, and Las Fuentes, from April 24-27 and May 1-4; And the third groups are Delicias, Valdefierro-Oliver, Almozara, and Miralbueno, between May 22-25 and May 29-June 1.

This is followed by those in the neighborhoods of the historic district, La Aljafería, Arrabal, and the rural areas between June 12-15 and June 19-22; and the Central and Santa Isabel districts, between September 11-14 and September 18-21.

This second edition is presented by the Mayor of Zaragoza, Natalia Chueca; the municipal councilor for the economy, Carlos Gimeno; and the president of cafes and bars in Zaragoza and the province, José María Martá.

During a press conference, Chueca said that it is «good news» in this second edition of the contest following the «success» of the first edition, with over 26,000 tapas made and over 130 units in all districts and rural neighborhoods of the city. «A success that helps us continue to strengthen Zaragoza as a gastronomic reference, not only nationally but also internationally,» she said.

The mayor also referred to the «important work» of this initiative to stimulate consumption, the local economy, and to explore that gastronomic offer beyond the usual bars of each. In addition to «promoting professionalism through a healthy competition and sparking curiosity.»

She praised the activity of the cafes and bars in Zaragoza and the province, as they have all the experience in this type of competition, as the value of this Tapas competition is the oldest in Spain, now in its 35th edition.

In her speech, she emphasized that public-private collaboration is «fundamental» to achieve multiplier results, as seen in the city, and this is another example for which the local council allocates 18,000 euros.

For Chueca, this «golden and transformative moment» that Zaragoza is experiencing is «an impetus and growth that reaches everyone,» including the hospitality and gastronomic sector, which represents over 20,000 jobs, a turnover of over 2,000 million euros, and a contribution to the GDP of Aragon of more than 5 percent.

«There are data that leave no doubt that we are experiencing a good time. This is because when the city is doing well, all sectors of the local economy thrive, and when the Municipal Council invests in hosting major cultural or sports events, the economic impact is direct and tangible in the hotel sector, which is the commitment of the municipal government.»

In her view, these gastronomic competitions are beneficial for the sector, generating new customers and also for «raising the gastronomic level» and encouraging the units in Zaragoza to also strive to elevate their gastronomic level. «It is good not only for the quantitative side but also for the qualitative side,» she said.

Natalia Chueca expressed the «pride» of Zaragoza’s gastronomic level. «It is a treasure to have» arguing that there have been other regions historically more famous, but in recent years «we can compete with anyone face to face,» she said.

In this regard, she further emphasized that «savoring our neighborhoods» is important to enhance the emerging and young talent in the sector, to increase this healthy competition and innovation.

The sector was told that they have the challenge of «continuing to be proud of the profession, surprising new professionals who want to dedicate themselves to the world of hospitality, and who are motivated and dedicated with passion because, otherwise, it is unsustainable to maintain our hospitality.»

Therefore, this type of competition is a «stimulus» that makes the profession for young people who want to dedicate themselves to hospitality more interesting. In addition, these events demonstrate the «commitment» of the Municipal Council of Zaragoza to hospitality, young talent, and the ordinary talent, which is the one with all the experience.

The president of cafes and bars in Zaragoza and the province, José María Martá, emphasized that promoting local and regional gastronomy through tapas as a unique and reference gastronomic product «is part of the DNA» of this organization. He announced that this year they are celebrating the 30th edition of the official Tapas competition in Zaragoza and the province, the oldest in Spain, and the finalists from each district will be able to participate for free, with the winners having a direct transition to the semifinal.

«We have excellent professionals and a competitive gastronomic offer not only from the doors but also from the gates,» he praised to encourage units to participate in this competition and the 30th edition of the official Tapas competition of Zaragoza and the province, which will take place between November 6 and 6.

Chueca wanted to have words to honor the memory of the president of the Hospitality Business Confederation of Spain, José Luis Yzuel, who passed away a few days ago, «we always keep him in our memory.»

Martels commented that Yzuel was a hotelier from the fourth generation, who had fought throughout his life to position and dignify this sector, especially in the «difficult times» of Covid-19. «Wherever you are, you have all our recognition, love, and thanks,» he added.

FUENTE