Only ten days to go and the menu has been written up. San Sebastian Gastronomika-Euskadi Basque Country, the world's longest standing gastronomy event, is now ready to turn the Kursaal into the epicentre of gastronomy once again from 2 to 5 October. The programme, which this year is a nod to the ability of gastronomy to unite cultures with the slogan 'United Kulinary’, will be paying particular attention to the culinary panorama in the United Kingdom. 

There are also some thirty activities that will be staged in various rooms at the Kursaal during the three-day congress. Tasting sessions, gastronomy sampling, workshops, showcooking and competitions complement the educational content provided by the world's greatest chefs in the auditorium, and provide congress-goers and visitors with a host of opportunities to enjoy some unique experiences. This year Gastronomika will have a wide range of wine-tasting options - Torres, and wines from Tenerife, Chivite or Jerez - and workshops and showcooking sessions arranged by Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Burgos, Majorca, Extremadura and Cádiz, all led by the best wine experts and chefs in these autonomous communities.

The activities laid on by Balfegó, Winterhalter and Sammic will focus on product and technology applied to gastronomy, while the Aquanaria activities touch on pure cuisine and combinations. S.Pellegrino, with food by star chefs, headed up on this occasion by Lucía Freitas, or Pedro Subijana, who will be opening up his kitchen at Akelarre for a mini technical class. 

The Kursaal will also be the venue for seven competitions this year. The National Grill Prize has been awarded to the best grill chef on twelve occasions; the San Miguel National Russian Salad Championship moves into its fifth year for the best exponent of a popular recipe which arouses genuine passion, while the third National "Tierra de Sabor" Chickpea Championship pays homage to Castilla's most venerated legume.

This year's congress also features the National Tenerife Tropical Fruit Dessert Competition and the Spanish Apple Tart by Asturias Championship. A new “Oil Chef" event is also being staged this year, sponsored by the Jaén Provincial Council. Finally, Maison de Champagne Ruinart will once again be holding its seventh Ruinart Sommelier Challenge Spain at Gastronomika to find Spain's best sommelier.