A photo which speaks to much more than gastronomy Some pictures not only capture a moment but also sum up a way of seeing the world. The photo topping the bill in the “Catalonia, the best gastronomy in the world” campaign is a prime example of this. It is not a conventional portrait; it does not seek familiar faces or individual recognition. It is a group, symbolic and thought-provoking composition devised by acclaimed photographer and architect Jordi Bernadó to capture the essence of Catalan gastronomy: its community-based, deep-rooted and essentially creative spirit. The setting chosen for this photo is as significant as the visual approach. The Palau de la Música Catalana, a masterpiece of Catalan Art Nouveau built between 1905 and 1908 by architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, is one of Catalonia’s most iconic cultural landmarks. Yet its value lies not only in its architectural elegance but also in its origin: it was funded through contributions from all kinds of people, from anonymous workers to eminent members of the Catalan upper-middle class, who came together to build a shared cultural venue. This egalitarian spirit, devoid of hierarchies, perfectly symbolises the guiding philosophy of contemporary Catalan gastronomy. The photo purposely rips apart the usual style of illustrious portraits. The key participants – chefs, producers, sommeliers, confectioners, fishers, farmers – are not looking at the camera. They are randomly spread around the space, unfettered by any order or distinction founded on fame, awards or professional career. They all have the same pose: they are looking towards the stage. This common gaze is a powerful metaphor: Catalan gastronomy is not a hierarchical structure but rather a network. It is not a display of individualities, but instead collective harmony. Pictured from behind, names and faces blur out to make way for the message. It is not a question of recognising a specific person but rather of acknowledging a way of doing things, of cooking, of living. This image speaks of memory, experience, shared wisdom and looking to the future. It is a tribute to everything which has made Catalonia the best gastronomy in the world and an artistic statement of intent. Internationally acclaimed leadership The photo does not spring from any symbolic intuition but instead a robust and globally recognised reality. Catalonia is now a World Gastronomy Region 2025, an accolade awarded by the renowned International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism (IGCAT) which acknowledges gastronomic excellence, cultural impact and connection with the local area. This recognition culminates decades of gastronomic leadership. Catalonia is the only region on the planet which can boast that three of its restaurants have been chosen as the best in the world by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants: elBulli, which turned contemporary gastronomy on its head under the leadership of Ferran Adrià; El Celler de Can Roca, featuring a family and artistic vision which has made its mark globally; and Disfrutar, an example of the new generation of chefs who are continuing to innovate creatively and meticulously. Besides this track record, there are also 62 Michelin-starred restaurants which have been awarded a total of 77 active stars, the highest clustering by territory. Furthermore, talents such as Albert Adrià, lauded as the second best chef in the world in 2024 by The Best Chef Awards, are cementing Catalonia’s leadership at the culinary cutting edge. Yet apart from the accolades, Catalan gastronomy stands out for its vibrant ecosystem embedded in the territory. More than 573,500 professionals make up this value chain: farmers, fishers, stockbreeders, winegrowers, processors, wait staff, sommeliers, chefs and confectioners. The industry accounts for 20% of Catalan GDP and is arranged in 12 protected designations of origin (PDO), 13 protected geographical indications (PGI) and 12 wine designations of origin (DO). This framework preserves tradition and is also committed to research and development with annual investment in innovation coming to over €85.7 million. A campaign to share Catalan gastronomy with the world To share this bounty and complexity with the world, the Government of Catalonia has run the campaign “Catalonia, the best gastronomy in the world”. It is an ambitious communication initiative designed to reveal the spirit of this gastronomy not simply through its dishes but also through the people, landscapes and values which make it unique. The campaign is anchored by a key video showing the journey of the produce from the countryside, the sea and the mountains to the plate. The story travels through seven great gastronomic landscapes in the territory: Barcelona, Costa Brava, Costa Daurada, Terres de l’Ebre, Terres de Lleida, Pyrenees and the Barcelona landscapes. Signature dishes are featured in each scenario including Pals rice, grilled spring onions with romesco sauce, Palamós prawns, Lleida snails and rack of kid goat with ratafia. The video brings to the fore the real heroes who make this gastronomy possible: producers, processors, chefs, many of them globally acclaimed. The grand finale comes with a large shared table where a toast is made with local wines to celebrate Catalan gastronomic excellence. The music, based on the traditional song Nyam nyam bon profit (yum-yum enjoy your meal), is the soundtrack to the whole story with an uplifting, thrilling and identity-based vibe. This campaign is not just tourist promotion: it is also a national celebration, a way of acknowledging a gastronomic culture which has evolved without losing its roots, which is committed to quality and local produce and sees gastronomy as a setting for creation, memory and community. Catalonia is showcased In Jordi Bernadó’s photo, Catalonia has done something which is much more than symbolic. It has brought its best gastronomy to the world not to show it off but rather to share it. In this picture, as in the Palau de la Música, everyone has a place. There are no pre-set positions or prominent names. There is a common direction of travel, a shared horizon and a way of doing things which turns gastronomy into identity. This photo, which has already been prominently displayed everywhere in the media, is not simply a portrait: it is a visual manifesto, a turning point, a group tribute to a gastronomy which has made history and continues to write more and more of it every day.