9th Fòrum Gastronòmic food fair kicks off in Girona 

The 9th edition of the Fòrum Gastronòmic food fair began on Saturday in the northern city of Girona, attracting hundreds to an event that will cater to both food professionals and commoners for the first time ever from March 18 to 21.

This year organizers decided to hold two sub-events within the Fòrum Gastronòmic: the Fòrum Ciutat over the weekend at the city's Plaça Catalunya square to cater to everybody and the Fòrum Girona on Monday and Tuesday at Fira Girona conference hall for food-sector workers. 

Fòrum Ciutat

The Fòrum Ciutat, which will focus on vegetarian and sustainable foods, started off by providing attendees with a healthy breakfast. 

"Healthy eating is a trend that has not only seeped into restaurants, but also into our everyday lives," Albert Labastida, the event director, told the Catalan News Agency. 

"We believe that healthy eating and knowing where all the products we eat come from is important," he said. 

After breakfast, the fair's annual server race took place in which participants held trays with two glasses of beer on them while making their way through an obstacle course as they tried not to spill. 

A number of food-tasting sessions also took place, with attendees delighting in local charcuterie, chocolate, honey, cheeses, anchovies, milk, and gins, while chefs Ada Parellada, Raül Balam, Quim Casellas, Jeroni Castells and Nani Moré held cooking demonstrations and gave talks. 

In addition to the many food-related activities, visitors can also taste and buy food at the exhibitor stands. 

Fòrum Girona

Monday and Tuesday will be for chefs, servers, sommeliers, bakers, and more, with around 130 exhibitors at Fira Girona. 

The venue will be divided into five areas: an auditorium for debates, another for cooking demonstrations, a room for tasting, another for product displays, and another to showcase innovation in the sector. 

Featured speakers include Josep Roca, of the famed Can Roca restaurant, frequently ranked as one of the best in the world, as well as Fina Puigdevall of Restaurant Les Cols. 

This year's edition will once again pit chefs against each other to compete for the title of best steak tartar and the winner of the best gastronomic start-up prize will also be revealed.