De Xarxa Llull Al Mon: Territori, llengua, cuina (From the Xarxa Llull network to the world: Territory, language, cuisine)

The latest edition of De Xarxa Llull al món took place at the headquarters of the Institut Ramon Llull in Barcelona, bringing together members of the Xarxa Llull network for a special session dedicated to a theme that connects culture and everyday life: gastronomy.

This year’s event explored how cuisine (much like language) plays a fundamental role in expressing the identity of a country. Catalan gastronomy, traditional yet bold and deeply Mediterranean in spirit, provided the starting point for a conversation about culture, creativity and heritage. The session opened with an interview with Professor Rosi Song from Durham University, a specialist in gastronomy and cultural studies, who reflected on the cultural significance of food and its relationship with identity and storytelling.

This was followed by a lively round-table discussion moderated by journalist Paula Molés, featuring three chefs from across the Catalan-speaking territories: Pau Sintes (Menorca), Carlota Claver (Catalonia), and Mar Soler (Valencia). Together, they discussed their culinary paths, the influence of place and tradition on their work, and the evolving role of gastronomy within contemporary culture. Throughout the session, participants also watched several short videos created by students from UK universities who have been exploring gastronomy in the classroom and putting their knowledge into practice during a cooking workshop held earlier in February. The event concluded with Martí Sales, who brought a literary perspective to the discussion and helped strengthen the dialogue between gastronomy, language and artistic creation.