The initiative, promoted by the Community of Madrid, the Alcalá de Henares City Council, Alcalá Desarrollo, and the Alcalá Gastronómica-Fomentur collective, aims to merge Spanish culinary tradition with the flavors of the continent. Participants reinterpret recipes from the 27 European Union countries, presenting them in the popular tapa format.

The official presentation of the event took place at the historic Hostería del Estudiante, a key location in the city. During the event, the mayor emphasized that this edition represents a “unique experience that unites gastronomy, culture, and tourism,” solidifying the proposal as a distinctive brand for the city.

The route offers a diversity of proposals, from the traditional “Baltic bite of rye, herring, and dill sour cream mousse” inspired by Estonia, to reinterpretations of dishes like the Polish sour soup zurek or Greek pork souvlaki. Other examples include Swedish Köttbullar, Belgian vol-au-vent, Portuguese spiritual cod, and Romanian spiced sausages.

The European Tapas Week not only celebrates culinary diversity but also highlights the evolution of Alcalá de Henares as a gastronomic destination. The city, known for its heritage and university atmosphere, is now projecting itself as a culinary space with its own identity, where local hospitality takes creative risks without losing its connection with the public.

This event symbolizes an everyday, mixed Europe, closer to the streets and bar conversations than to institutional offices in Brussels. It allows visitors to explore the city through its bars and restaurants, enjoying a sum of differences that, when combined, offer a surprisingly harmonious experience.