The town of Canet-en-Roussillon hosted the second edition of Les Méditerranéennes from November 6 to 8, an event dedicated to Mediterranean taste and knowledge. The Jean Piat Theatre was the venue for engaging discussions, solidifying this event's place in the local cultural calendar.
The opening on Friday, November 6, featured the vernissage of the exhibition « La Cuina del Pintor » by Roger Cosme Estève, accompanied by an olfactory installation by Isabelle Cutzach. During the official ceremony, Stéphane Loda, Mayor of Canet-en-Roussillon, highlighted the event's ambition: to celebrate the Mediterranean through its cuisine and the people who bring it to life.
The evening continued with a round table where renowned chefs debated the question 'What is the Mediterranean?'. Earlier that afternoon, a session titled 'Get Moving and Become a Chef!' had allowed young people to discover careers in gastronomy, hospitality, and catering.
Throughout the weekend, the public responded enthusiastically to a program blending round tables, workshops, tastings, and performances. Topics ranged from street food and culinary influencers to traditional and modern pastry, olives, natural wines, and rice, fostering rich exchanges between chefs, producers, artisans, researchers, and enthusiasts.
Among the highlights, the company La Lie added a touch of humor with its performance. The grand culinary dictation and the final of the great aioli competition, presided over by Henri Ronde of the Toques Blanches du Roussillon, brought together young and old in a festive atmosphere.
On Sunday, Jean-François Portarrieu, Member of Parliament for Haute-Garonne, invited by the Mayor, testified to the importance of wine tourism for the future of our territories, emphasizing a collective effort involving winemakers, tourist offices, and local authorities.
In terms of conviviality, the grand Catalan 'ouillade' on Saturday evening and the Catalan sausage grill on Sunday noon gathered large groups in the theatre's garden.
In parallel, the Canet-en-Roussillon Tourist Office offered two gourmet masterclasses. On Saturday morning, in the hall of the Jean Piat Theatre, Alain Delprat and Henri Ronde, chefs from the Toques Blanches du Roussillon, revealed the secrets of Catalan cuisine staples like sofregit, aioli, picada, and romesco sauce.
On Sunday morning, Aymeric Lanes welcomed participants to his restaurant Le Carré for a session dedicated to the art of preparing rice, from choosing the broth to cooking in a small pan, followed by a tasting. These sessions provided participants with valuable tips to replicate at home.
The City of Canet-en-Roussillon warmly thanked all the chefs, producers, artisans, winemakers, artists, and speakers who brought these three days to life. Special thanks were extended to partners: Cap Sud 66, Crédit Agricole, Toques Blanches du Roussillon, Archimed, Publisud, and the Casa de la Generalitat, as well as the Tourist Office for its masterclasses. A new edition is planned for next year.
