*Spanish embassy brings celebrity Chef Marugan for master-class

The management of National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), organizer of the annual NIHOTOUR Gastronomy Festival has confirmed the participation of the following  diplomatic missions  in Nigeria: Spain, China, Senegal, Congo DR, Trinidad and Tobago.

The missions will be showcasing their countries’ foods and beverages at the food festival scheduled for Friday, May 31(this month) in Abuja. NIHOTOUR Gastronomy Festival is a masterpiece of gastronomy tourism that attracts over 5000 visitors and tourists. Theme for this year’s festival is “Sustainable Food Production from Farm to Table.” Participation in this leading food festival is free of charge to organisations, food exhibitors, tourists, and visitors. Moreover, NIHOTOUR Gastronomy Festival is organised, every year since 2021, to bridge the gap in the dearth of skilled gastronomy and culinary personnel in the sectors in Nigeria.

The festival provides  opportunities for hospitality and tourism personnel, stakeholders, students, and enthusiasts to have hands-on learning and experiences on the sustainability of gastronomy tourism in Nigeria. Typical of the Gastronomy Festivals, there will be exhibition of Nigerian foods and beverages, from the country’s six-geographic zones by NIHOTOUR, exhibition of international cuisines by foreign missions in Nigeria, and exhibition of signature foods by leading chefs and restaurant franchises in Nigeria. Other activities, in the arena of the foods’ exhibitions, are live cake making competition by culinary schools in Abuja.

Additionally, as part of the NIHOTOUR Gastronomy Festival programmes and activities for  this year, the Spanish Embassy in Nigeria, in partnership with NIHOTOUR, will host a Masterclass for culinary schools and Chefs in Lagos, on 26th of May and in Abuja on the 29th of May. Chef Alex Marugan, the celebrated chef from Madrid Spain, and his team, will be teaching the class. This will be Chef Alex Marugan’s second masterclass in Nigeria, courtesy of the Spanish Embassy. His first was at last year’s Gastronomy Festival in Abuja. NIHOTOUR Gastronomy Festival will be rounded-off in the evening with live musical performances by leading artists in the country at a Gala & Award Night where NIHOTOUR will induct new Fellows of the Institute (FHTI) for their outstanding contributions to the growth and development of the Hospitality and Tourism sectors in Nigeria.

The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) is established by Act of Parliament with the mandates to Train, certify and register personnel working in Nigeria’s hospitality, travel and tourism sectors. More so, NIHOTOUR is the coordinator of the Hospitality and Tourism Sector Skills Council of Nigeria (HTSSCN).