Gastronomy has served as a pretext in Canarias to foster intergenerational conversations and reflect on the transmission of the Islands' cultural heritage. Under the slogan 'From the kitchen of the past to the table of tomorrow,' the Gen Match program gathered students, chefs, communicators, and senior participants at the rectorate of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The event, promoted by the Social Welfare Department of the Government of Canarias, aims to create meeting spaces and combat unwanted loneliness.
The Vice-Minister of Social Welfare of the Government of Canarias, Francisco Candil, highlighted during the inauguration that cooking together is an intrinsically intergenerational activity. The initiative culminates previous work where participants of diverse ages and backgrounds shared culinary knowledge and memories, addressing the importance of preserving the Canarian gastronomic legacy and adapting it to modern times.
Specialized journalists Vanessa Santana and Vanesa Delgado discussed gastronomic communication, emphasizing the need to rigorously disseminate the history behind traditional dishes and warning about the risks of simplifying or decontextualizing culinary narratives. Delgado also advocated for the domestic preparation of food as a 'revolutionary act' against current fast consumption habits.
Chefs such as Carmelo Florido and Abraham Ortega, along with gastronomic students like Julio González and Estrella Trejo, and content creators like Sara Nuez and Acoidán Gil, participated in the discussion. They advocated for the coexistence of tradition and innovation, noting that tradition itself implies innovation and Canarian cuisine has the capacity to integrate external influences.
Sara Nuez highlighted the importance of valuing the knowledge of older generations and adapting it to new communication formats, while Acoidán Gil emphasized the new perspectives discovered. Ismael García, owner of the Taiguy cheese dairy, championed the value of local products. The day concluded with a showcooking and tasting, bringing together the shared experiences around a table.
