A medieval Catalan recipe takes centre stage at Terra Madre Salone del Gusto in Turin on 25 September, as Durham University and the RELISH project bring together historical research, food heritage and contemporary gastronomy. Through tasting and discussion, participants will explore how a recipe can travel across cultures and centuries while continuing to evolve.
A recipe with roots stretching from ancient Persia to medieval Catalonia will be at the heart of a special taste workshop co-organised by Durham University and the RELISH project during Terra Madre Salone del Gusto 2026 in Turin.
‘Escabetx: Between History and Gastronomic Future’ will take place on Friday 25 September at 18:00 in Turin city centre. The workshop will invite participants to taste and compare historical and contemporary versions of escabetx, exploring what a centuries-old recipe can tell us about culinary memory, cultural exchange and the future of gastronomic heritage.
Participants will have the opportunity to compare and sample 14th-century and contemporary versions of escabetx, in collaboration with Fundació Alícia.
The tasting will provide an opportunity to explore how culinary traditions are reconstructed, transformed and given new meaning in the present. It will also raise broader questions about how historical recipes can contribute to the understanding and safeguarding of gastronomic heritage.
The experience will be accompanied by a selection of wines from Serra Ferdinandea, part of the Banca del Vino network.
The event forms part of Terra Madre Salone del Gusto 2026, which takes place across Turin from 24 to 27 September. Organised by Slow Food, the Region of Piedmont and the City of Turin, the festival brings together food producers, researchers, practitioners and audiences to explore biodiversity, food cultures and sustainable approaches to the future of food.
For Durham University and the RELISH project, the workshop provides an opportunity to bring research into direct conversation with culinary practice and public audiences, demonstrating how the study of medieval food can contribute to contemporary discussions about cultural and gastronomic heritage.
‘Escabetx: Between History and Gastronomic Future’ takes place on 25 September at 18:00 in Turin. Tickets are €35, with a discounted price of €30 for Slow Food members and UNISG students. Places are limited.
Find out more about Terra Madre Salone del Gusto 2026 and the programme of events in Turin.
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