The Basque Culinary Center gets underway

It was a project and a dream that began in 2009 thanks to Mondragon Unibertsitatea and the Basque chefs with the backing of the public institutions. The Basque Culinary Center raises gastronomy to university level for the first time in Spain.

The opening ceremony was attended by the Prince and Princess of Asturias, the President of the Basque Government, Patxi López, the Vice-Chancellor of Mondragon Unibertsitatea, Iosu Zabala, and the Director of the Basque Culinary Center, Joxe Mari Aizega, as well as all members of the Board and other authorities and important figures.

In addition, the event was attended by more than 200 guests, all related to the areas of public institutions, business, higher education, technology and culture. The Minister of Science and Innovation, Cristina Garmendia, the President of the Basque Parliament , Arantza Quiroga, Government Delegate in the Basque Country , Mikel Cabieces, and the Basque councillors, Iñaki Arriola and Isabel Celaá, the chefs, Juan Mari Arzak, Pedro Subijana, Eneko Atxa, Hilario Arbelaiz, Andoni Luis Aduriz and Martin Berasategi, and members of the BCC’s Board, to name a few.

In addition, in the evening a second event was held, but this time it was a more social occasion with over 3500 guests, mainly from the gastronomic sector, as well as an important number of people who collaborated in the design and preparation of the project. The moving event was held in the Basque Culinary Center Auditorium with ethnic music and a commemorative video, and the presence of the Director of the Basque Culinary Center, Joxe Mari Aizega, as the master of ceremonies, to pay tribute to cuisine and gastronomy and to welcome a new subject at the university.

A great day to launch a project for the future.