Both within Hungary and abroad, increasing numbers of women are taking on important roles in gastronomy beyond the confines of home cooking and food blogs.

Women are shaking up this industry, responding to environmental and social issues, and focusing on a more sustainable and diverse future. Their role in gastronomy is becoming increasingly visible and prominent, and their work is being increasingly valued.

"This year at the Gourmet Festival, we want to showcase how female energy has been unleashed in recent years, in this traditionally male-dominated domestic profession," says Richard Nemes, the main organiser of the MBH Bank Gourmet Festival. "It is already clear to us that female participants and professionals not only dominate the field of gastronomic blogs, but are also increasingly prominent in restaurants and other areas of food culture.”

So, while last year’s focus was on the new generation, this year Gourmet focuses on the achievements of women. To promote this, three ambassadors will join the event, and dozens of female professionals will be introduced during the festival to be held at Millenáris. In addition, the best restaurants, pastry shops, and wineries will be showcased, alongside a wide-ranging menu of food and drink including coffee specialties, cocktails and champagnes.

Zsóka Fekete, who breeds Mangalica pigs on her own farm is the ambassador of this year's Gourmet Festival, in her role as a manufacturer of artisan food produce.

The premium products made in her small workshop are also extremely popular outside Hungary’s borders. After starting as an assistant to her grandmother, she became an animal breeder herself.

Zsóka Fekete’s work and her Mangalica products have received numerous domestic and international awards.

Also serving as a Gourmet ambassador is Gabriella Ormós, who gave up her career in communications to live through the enchantment of sourdough.

Her most important mission has been to teach as many people as possible how to bake delicious and healthy bread.

The ambassador lineup is also strengthened by Zsuzsanna Ötvös, who, as a doctoral student of classical philology, became a gastronomic blogger and then a pastry chef.

Over the past ten years, she has worked in several prestigious fine dining restaurants and is currently the pastry chef and assistant-chef at Laurel, Budapest.

From May 24-26, Millenáris will once again be the epicentre of Hungarian gastronomy. Since the closing day coincides with Children's Day, the organisers will dedicate the Sunday to families this year. Gourmet is preparing numerous activities for the younger audience, so that children arriving with their families, and all those under 18, can visit the MBH Bank Gourmet Festival for free.

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Gourmet Festival

Proofread by:
Marion Merrick 
Language editor and author: Now You See It, Now You Don’t  / Surprising Expats / Budapest Retro