The UCAM Gastrolab, Calasparra rice, Jumilla wine, and cuquillo olive oil have taken center stage during the first session of the program ‘Gastronomy Without Borders: Mediterranean, Northern and Middle Eastern food cultures in dialogue’.

This innovative project, developed within the framework of the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP), is bringing together students and faculty from the Gastronomy Degrees of Munster Technological University (MTU) in Cork (Ireland), Karabuk University (Turkey), and UCAM (Spain) throughout this week.

Beyond Traditional Cooking

The program aims to differentiate the Bachelor’s Degree in Gastronomy from traditional hospitality schools by integrating academic disciplines such as anthropology, history, and social customs through intercultural exchange.

This vision was put into practice this Thursday at the UCAM Gastrolab. During a hands-on kitchen session, students from Spain, Ireland, and Turkey worked in mixed teams to create fusion dishes that blended the flavors and techniques of all three nations.

"The central objective is to share and learn from one another," noted Adela Abellán, Vice-Dean of the Gastronomy Degree, and Manuel Hernández, BIP Coordinator and professor.

Exploring Regional Heritage

The itinerary for the week includes several immersive cultural and technical visits:

• Viticulture: A visit to Bodegas Alceño (DOP Jumilla) to study wine culture and participate in sensory tastings of regional cheeses.
• Agriculture: A trip to the DOP Calasparra Rice region to observe the unique sowing process.
• Oleiculture: A visit to a local oil mill to discover the specific properties of the cuquillo olive variety.

In addition to these technical workshops, participants explored the historical and cultural heritage of Murcia and Cartagena.

A Multidisciplinary Collaboration

The initiative also featured a collaboration with students from the Faculty of Communication, who provided media coverage and content generation for the event. This partnership is set to continue with future sessions hosted at the university campuses in Ireland and Turkey.