Pastry Chef Jordi Roca Delivers Talk on a Day at his World Famous Restaurant “Un día en El Celler de Can Roca”

Santo Domingo, May 22, 2019 – Pastry chef Jordi Roca, one of the world’s most distinguished experts in this field and co-owner of the Spanish restaurant “El Celler de Can Roca,” delivered a keynote conference on “A Day at the Celler of Can Roca” at the Dominican Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Chef Roca was invited by the local banking institution Banco ADOPEM and the Micro-Finance Foundation BBVA to participate in the recently launched Foreign Ministry initiative “Let’s Talk Gastronomy.” The initiative is sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Relations as part of the on-going agenda led by the Unit of Diplomatic Gastronomy.
Mercedes Canalda de Beras-Goico, president of Banco ADOPEM, and Hugo Rivera Fernández, the Ministry’s Vice Minister of Economic Affairs and International Cooperation also spoke during the event. Spanish Ambassador Alejandro Abellán also spoke during the event and welcomed his compatriot to the Dominican Republic. He also highlighted the extensive and fruitful career of Chef Roca, whose restaurant has received three Michelin stars.
The Bank’s executive president explained that for Banco Adopem and all its supporters it is a great privilege to receive in the country the visit of Mr. Jordi Roca, and hoped that the event itself will have a positive impact on local small producers and farmers in some of the country’s most remote areas.
Chef Roca’s work philosophy, and that of his entire family, inspires for its innovative approach, creativity and great sense of responsibility. This family has been an example for the communities where it has worked, and has demonstrated a tremendous entrepreneurial philosophy where quality and service can lead to world fame.
Vice Minister Rivera said that the Dominican Foreign Ministry “continues to work to position Dominican gastronomy as part of the country brand. These activities provide the local gastronomic sector with experiences and issues lived by successful entrepreneurs.
Dominican Chef Inés Páez (Chef Tita) – Advisor to the Ministry’s Gastronomic Diplomatic Unit – also highlighted the interest shown by Chef Roca for the small and medium-size producers and farmers of the Dominican Republic, and the interest shown by the sector to internationalize the local gastronomy.
The president of Banco ADOPEM and Mr. Ricardo Canalda, a member of the Council of Directors, distinguished Chef Roca with a special award and thanked him for his time and efforts to share his knowledge to the Dominican gastronomic sector.
Roca was also distinguished by Anyarlene Bergés, from INICIA and Luis Ros, president of the Dominican Academy of Gastronomy.
During his conference Chef Jordi Roca spoke to students, professionals and sector representatives who listened to his stories and experiences in the area. He explained that his most important motivation to travel to the Dominican Republic was to become familiar with the country’s traditional and most popular deserts, and to learn more about local cocoa projects. “We must give these sectors the importance they merit, especially when in the majority of cases cocoa can provide them with the possibility of coming out ahead in order to give their families a better future.”
About the Banco ADOPEM
In 2004 the Banco de Ahorro y Crédito (ADOPEM), S.A. began as a local NGO, headed by Dr. Mercedes de Canalda. The financial institution works with micro, small and médium-size businesses. Today, the bank has 74 branches and 200 banking sub-agents throughout the country. The bank offers a wide array of services. In 2012 the Bank became a member of the Fundación Microfinanzas BBVA.
About the Micro-Finance Foundation BBVA

The Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, was founded in 2007 by Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. (BBVA) as part of its social responsibility portfolio as a way to support, with its more than 150 years’ experience, vulnerable individuals who want to become involved in productive activities. The goal of the Foundation is to promote economic and social development, and sustainable and inclusive policies among the most vulnerable representatives of society through Productive Financing.

About Gastronomic Diplomacy
Last December 2018 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs formally launched the project “Diplomatic Gastronomy of the Dominican Republic,” as a way to promote the country’s national gastronomy as a country brand. The channeling of this goal would be through the country’s Foreign Service.
In order to strengthen this initiative, in March 2019 Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Tourism and with the financial firm INICIA.
“Let’s Talk Gastronomy” is a space that is carried out every month by the Ministry, with the support of national and international culinary experts who want to share their experiences, culture and innovation procedures.