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The gastronomic Festival of the Val d’Aran, Era Mongetada 2016, it has gathered more than 3,000 people during the various events that have taken place over this issue.

The coincidence with the weekend of All Saints, an excellent weather and the many organized activities have achieved a complete success of this event.

For the president of the Gremi d’Ostalaria dera Val d’Aran, Ambròs Barberà, “this number of visitors, has reached both national and international recognition of this event linked with agriculture, gastronomy, heritage and culture, under the shelter of a own product of the Val d’Aran as the bean of Bossòst, the real protagonist of Era Mongetada “.

Also, Carlos Sanllehy, director of Era Mongetada, was satisfied “for having achieved the objectives of the festival, increasing the number of participants in the activities and enhancing quality gastronomic side with the development of the different menus every day.”

Monument to the “Mongeta de Bossòst”

Era Mongetada started on Friday with a charity dinner organized by the Gremi d’Ostalaria dera Val d’Aran in Vielha. On Saturday the village of Bossòst was the big star of the festival, hosting a large number of visitors throughout the day. In the morning, it was inaugurated the monument to the Mongeta of Bossòst, recognized as bean variety retrieved, in the category of “commercial variety”.

At midday the traditional “Dinar de Pagès ” which brought more than 500 diners with a menu prepared by chefs of the Gremi took place. In addition, coinciding with the gastronomic festival, the town hosted the Autumn Fair livestock and craft market, with great movement and atmosphere throughout the day.

Show cooking Era Mongetada

On Sunday the stage was moved to Garòs, where the gastronomic festival began with a demonstration of the work of traditional treatment of the bean. The city hosted the “Show-Cooking” Era Mongetada, which this year was attended by the American chef Daniel Garner, currently the head of the kitchen of the restaurant OKRA Hong Kong; and Tony Botella, responsible for TBTC cooking school in Barcelona. Along with the chefs of the Gremi d’Ostalaria dera Val d’Aran, developed spectacular culinary offerings for the 450 guests.

During the course of the day, the leaders of the organization of Era Mongetada, Ambròs Barberà and Carlos Sanllehy, delivered the “Mongeta d’Or” to Jose Spain in recognition for his career as a driver of Aranese gastronomy.

Era Mongetada closed on Monday with a meal and a talk by Ferran Latorre, after an ascent to Mauberme Pic and a cultural output around Salardu, Bagergue and Unha.

Culinary, agricultural and cultural activities will be held throughout next weekend in Bossòst, Vielha and Garòs for Era Mongetada.

With the aim to add value  to the agriculture, gastronomy and cultural heritage of the valley, the Gremi d’Ostalaria dera Val d’Aran organizes a new edition of Era Mongetada from 28 to 31 October 2016. This festival dedicated to the Mongeta de Bossòst, it seeks to sensitize the public about the nutritional benefits of legumes as grateful product, easy to care for, both dry and cooked, versatile development and combinable with many common products in the region.

Era Mongetada is sponsored by Torisme dera Val d’Aran and the municipalities of Naut Aran, Bossòst and Vielha, in addition to the collaboration of various public and private entities. Throughout the four-day gastronomic activities and popular foods, farm games, livestock fair, cultural visits and traditional dances in Bossòst, Vielha and Garòs be held.

Era Mongetada COOKING SHOW

The main culinary event is the “Gastronomic Menu” with a show cooking of the guest chefs, American Daniel Garnery Catalan Tony Botella. Both live draw various dishes based on beans, with the collaboration of the chefs of the Gremi d’Ostalaria dera Val d’Aran.

Besides in Era Mongetada can be tasted culinary specialties of the Aran in Vielha Solidarity Dinner in Bossòst Payés Meal and Night Skewers Garòs. Children may also try this delicious and nutritious beans with a special menu in a space intended for them.

In addition to the gastronomic activities, it was Mongetada organizes various events related to culture and heritage of the Val d’Aran, ranging from livestock activities to Aranese traditional dances or mountain activities to publicize the area.

Mongeta Bossost, “COMMERCIAL VARIETY”

The variety of Aranese recovered bean, was honored in 2014 with the category of “Commercial Variety” with the name “Bossost”. To celebrate this the city of Bossòst opened on Saturday 29 a monument to Era Mongetada.

On the other hand, this 2016 has been declared the International Year of Pulses by the United Nations General Assembly. The commemoration is a way to sensitize the public about the nutritional benefits of vegetables as part of a sustainable food production aimed at achieving food and nutrition security.

More information about the program and activities on the Era Mongetada website

From 6 to 8 October, coinciding with the arrival of autumn, take place in Val d’Aran major towns -Les, Salardú Vielha and Bossòst- a series of festivals on animals and trade, showing one of the activities of the Val d’Aran, livestock, main sector until several decades ago.

This event, which now attracts hundreds of professionals, curious and tourists, started more than a hundred years ago to show the native cattle used by farmers in the Aran fields. At present it has a more commercial and festive air with parallel organization of artisan markets and traditional folk events, along with the livestock show.

Les, October 6

Agricultural and Livestock Fair in Les is one of the major events held in the village, along with the Spring one in May and the Immaculate one in December. In the morning will be offered a popular breakfast with the collaboration of the Escola d’Hostaleria de Les.

Salardu, October 7

The origins of the Fair Livestock in Salardu back to the time when the people sold livestock that had just come down from mountain. Currently, besides the sale and exhibition of horses, sheep, cattle and goats, has the participation of traders and all kind of products. In the morning will be also held a popular breakfast offered by the council of Naut Aran.

Vielha, October 8

Traditionally, Vielha put an end to the fairs, but this year there will still be that of Bossòst. Usually livestock competitions including the XIIIè Morphological Competition “Cavall Pirinenc Català”, a popular breakfast, craft market and various activities in the fairground and in the Paseo de la Libertad are held.

Bossòst, October 29

This year Bossòst autumn fair has changed date to coincide with Era Mongetada, held at the end of the month. It shows the best specimens of sheep, goats, cows and horses across the region. That same day also take place in the village several exhibitions of agricultural and livestock traditions.

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Jointly organized by the Departament d’Agricultura, Ramaderia e Miei Naturau del Conselh Generau d’Aran and the Societat Catalana de Micologia, from 13 to 18 September will be held the X Jornades Micològiques of the Val d’Aran, with the cooperation of the Escola d’Hosteleria de Les. Journeys, workshops, tastings and exhibitions offer visitors a unique opportunity to deepen in the knowledge of mushrooms and their multiple gastronomic possibilities.

The program includes three field trips on 15, 16 and 18 September with the help of the Societat Catalana de Micología, a workshop of cuisine on mushrooms with the chef of the restaurant Era Coquela on Thursday 15 at the Escola d’Hosteleria and a conference on opportunities in the development of mycotourism by Fernando Martínez Research from the Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón and Joaquin Latorre du Programa de Micología de Castilla y León, MICOCYL-CESEFOR on Saturday 17. in addition, the weekend it is possible to visit the exhibition of mushrooms in the Conselh Generau d’Aran and a children’s space at the Escola d’Hosteleria de Les.

Also, bars of the Pintxo Pote routes of the Val d’Aran have signed up to the initiative and offer a mushroom pinxo: on 13 in Vielha, in Bossòst on Thursday 15 and Friday 16 September in Les.

Information and registration: Cristina Madruga E-mail: c.madruga@aran.org or Tel: 973 64 18 January.