The Gourmand Awards started in 1995, initiated by Edouard Cointreau a descendant of Cointreau and Rémy Martin families. The awards aimed to respect and to honor culinary authors and publishers, and build bridges between cultures.
Journalists often compare the Gourmand Awards to the Oscars in the film industry for the glamour, the role of television, and the deep emotion in the room and on stage, when the Best in the World learn they have won.
Last year out of more than 12,000 entries from the 205 countries competing in 109 categories (79 cookbooks, 27 wine and drinks, 3 television), 92 countries made it into the short list and 49 countries were in the top position. Among the top winners were: China Cities Food Culture (China), Samira’s International Cookbook (Iran), The Burma Cookbook (Thailand), Green Gourmet (Switzerland), One Day One Sweet (Japan),
This year there are 209 countries competing in 92 categories covering Cookbooks and Food Culture, as well as 29 categories for Wine and Drinks. The organizer received more books, with many countries sending double the quantity of books compared to last year.
Trailing the Taste of Gorontalo, a book published by Omar Niode Foundation is a national winner and has made it to the Cookbooks and Food Culture Shortlist 2016 in two categories:
*Best Asian Cuisine Book from Asia
*Best Charity and Fund Raising Cookbook in Asia
Other books from Indonesia are also on the shortlist: 30 Indonesian Traditional Culinary Icons by Bondan Winarno in the Special Awards category, and Selamat Makan by Spice it Up- Indonesia Travel in the Culinary Travel category.
Trailing The Taste of Gorontalo is a collection of writings about Food Travel in Gorontalo on the Island of Sulawesi Indonesia, situated on the Wallacea, a transition zone between Asia and Australia. It illustrates pleasure, satisfaction, a sense of awe, zest, and curiosity on food, drink, history and culture of Gorontalo expressed by travelers and those who live in the area. Containing a total of 24 articles, 57 images, 10 testimonials from food & drink public figures, and 9 recipes, the book is an ideal reference for those who are interested to try food travel in Gorontalo.
Among the articles are two informative features by Erik Wolf, the Executive Director of the World Food Travel Association:
*Food and Drink: The Perfect Tourism Products
*Food Tourism: The Latest Fad or Here to Stay
The Olympics inspire the Gourmand Awards process, with decisions on national winners that will compete for the Best in the World Awards that will be announced in Yantai, China. There will be two awards ceremonies: wine and drinks culture on 28 May 2016 and cookbook and food culture on 29 May 2016.
In celebrating the awards ceremonies there will be tastings, presentations, conferences, show kitchen, exhibitions, and sponsors stands.
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Images: Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, Omar Niode Foundation, Shandong Tourism.