Spain’s TVE1 to Promote Thessaloniki’s Rich Culinary Heritage

A market in Thessaloniki.

Thessaloniki’s culinary identity and its local food production businesses will be promoted on Spanish state television channel TVE1.

The production team of TVE1 for popular television show “Aqui la Τierra” recently visited the Greek northern city following an invite by the Thessaloniki Tourism Organization (TTO) in cooperation with the Greek National Tourism Organization’s (GNTO) Spanish branch head, Kalliope Kourousia.

“Aqui la Tierra” is a highly popular Spanish TV program on six days a week that has a focus on environmental issues, tradition and gastronomy. The show is watched by 1.2 million viewers on a daily basis.

Spanish journalist Angeles Cortina led the “Aqui la Tierra” team to a series of shooting locations around Thessaloniki to capture the city’s rich culinary tradition which gave it UNESCO’s  “Greece’s Capital of Gastronomy” coveted title.

Angeles Cortina in Thessaloniki. Photo source: TTO.

“By promoting local products, we strengthen the brand of Thessaloniki as a culinary destination,” commented TTO President Voula Patoulidou.

While in Thessaloniki, the Spanish journalist herself tried to follow making the famous Thessaloniki “bougatsa” and the traditional Christmas sweet treat “melomakarona”.

The TVE1 team also visited MEVGAL, a Greek company that produces dairy pasteurized products, and filmed how Greek feta and the local Kasseri Cheese of Sohos are made, since both are considered two of the oldest cheeses in the world.

“A region’s gastronomy, based on local ingredients and traditional production methods, is more than enough to attract someone to visit a country,” she added, underlining that the organization aims to support any future activity that aligns with the promotion of the city’s tourism product.