Murcia and Cartagena became the epicentre of gastronomy by bringing together more than 300 professionals to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Euro-Toques. To mark the occasion, they took advantage of their 14th assembly where, in addition to celebrating, chefs debated sustainability, training and the complex employment situation in the sector. One of the most special moments of the gathering was the appointment of honorary members and the presentation of the 10th Euro-Toques Commitment Award to ITREM. Once again, Aquanaria did not want to miss the opportunity to accompany the association in this very special celebration.
Aquanaria is Spain’s longest-established marine aquaculture company. The experience gained over more than 50 years of activity has led the company to specialise in breeding sea bass for haute cuisine. The sea bass are raised in the cold, oxygen-rich waters of the Atlantic Ocean for four years. This allows them to develop a firm and silky texture, a mild flavour without unusual aftertastes, and a uniform, bright colour. For this reason, the most demanding chefs around the world choose them for their restaurants as a sustainable alternative to wild sea bass.
A VERY SPECIAL YEAR FOR THE EURO-TOQUES ASSOCIATION
Euro-Toques is an international organisation of chefs, founded in 1986 in Brussels by chefs such as Paul Bocuse, Pedro Subijana and Juan Mari Arzak, bringing together more than 3,500 professionals across 18 countries. Its aim is to defend European culinary heritage, food quality, local products and gastronomic training. In Spain, the association is chaired by Maca de Castro and currently has 850 chefs, with regional and provincial delegates. This year, 2026, marks its 40th anniversary.
This year, its 14th Assembly was also held, providing an opportunity to share knowledge, create new synergies and celebrate the anniversary. As in every edition, topics as crucial to the sector as labour challenges, culinary training and sustainability were addressed. During this gathering, very special recognitions were awarded for the organisation, including honorary membership to journalist Pepa Fernández and food critic Paco López, who have long supported the country’s gastronomy. The work of the Tourism Institute of the Region of Murcia was also recognised with the 10th Euro-Toques Commitment Award, since in addition to supporting the sector, it played a key role in 2024 during the DANA storms by serving as a home for many chefs and helping support the affected area.
AQUANARIA ACCOMPANIES EURO-TOQUES AT ITS 14TH ASSEMBLY
Although the key focus of the meeting was the celebration of its biennial assembly, attendees were also able to enjoy the gastronomy of the region in a relaxed setting during the three-day event. The regional delegate of Euro-Toques and chef of the restaurant Eszencia, Pablo Martínez, explained that his objective for the gathering was “to showcase our traditions and what we have experienced since childhood through gastronomy.” He did so from the very start with the welcome cocktail held at his restaurant by the port of Cartagena. In that fantastic setting, attendees were able to sample his dish of aged and smoked Aquanaria sea bass, served with a ñora pepper sauce.
The Official Commemorative Lunch for the Assembly and the 40 years of Euro-Toques took place at the wonderful Finca La Herencia. A beautiful venue that all attendees greatly enjoyed thanks to the fine weather throughout the day. They were also able to try ceviche and nigiri made with Aquanaria sea bass at the table we hosted during the pre-lunch cocktail reception.
AQUANARIA’S COMMITMENT
For Aquanaria, accompanying chefs at this type of gathering is a great opportunity to understand the concerns of the sector and learn from cooks committed to improving the gastronomy industry. It is a pleasure to support an organisation such as Euro-Toques, which values gastronomy and understands its role as an agent capable of positively influencing society..
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