Culinary Arts Empower Women: Event Highlights Their Role in Zaragoza

The «Gastronomy is Female» event was held in Zaragoza, highlighting the crucial role of women in rural cooking. Organized by the Federation of Associations of Cooks and Restaurateurs of Spain (FACYRE) and the Association of Cooks of Aragón (ACA), this initiative aims to make visible the female contribution to the development of depopulated areas.

Notable Participation of Women in Rural Gastronomy

The event featured prominent women from the hospitality sector in Teruel, who gathered in two roundtable discussions. Among them, Mónica Alejandra Benítez, executive chef of La Torre del Visco, and Esther Barroso, a cooking teacher at IES Pedro de Luna, shared their experiences and challenges. The discussion focused on the value chain of gastronomy, from the field to the table, highlighting the need for greater visibility and salary equity for women.

Additionally, topics such as work-life balance and access to leadership positions were addressed, identifying the unequal distribution of caregiving responsibilities as a significant obstacle. The participants received purple jackets in recognition of their work, with a special mention of Amparo Cuellar, General Director of Innovation and Agro-Food Promotion of the Government of Aragón.

Female Entrepreneurship in Rural Areas

The second roundtable focused on entrepreneurship in rural areas, with the participation of female entrepreneurs and representatives from the Government of Aragón. Despite challenges such as bureaucracy and the lack of services, the participants expressed their commitment to rural areas, valuing the proximity to local products. This approach highlights a favorable moment for rural restoration in Aragón, where female leadership plays a fundamental role.