Considerations about Culinary Tourism near Belo Horizonte
Culinary tourism or food tourism is the exploration of food as the purpose of tourism. It is now considered a vital component of the tourism experience. Dining out is common among tourists and "food is believed to rank alongside climate, accommodation and scenery in importance to tourists. It is the pursuit of unique and memorable eating and drinking experiences, both near and far.
While many cities, regions or countries are known for their food, culinary tourism is not limited by food culture. Every tourist eats about three times a day, making food one of the fundamental economic drivers of tourism. Countries like Ireland, Peru and Canada are making significant investment in culinary tourism development and are seeing results with visitor spending and overnight stays rising as a result of food tourism promotion and product development.
Since the popularization of the gastronomic tourism concept, the number of people seeking to participate in these experiences has also increased.
Nowadays, when traveling, people do not only seek to visit the sights, museums and take pictures of the landscapes, but also, they aim to experience these gastronomic experiences. The gastronomy have also been manifesting as an opportunity to better understand the local culture through a sensorial experience. Because of this, the number of themed restaurants has also increased, since there is a return on these investments.
Minas Gerais is a state known for its warm interior landscapes, beautiful mountains and the climate, that was cool until recently. However, the cuisine of Minas Gerais also attracts attention, and once there is investment in gastronomic tourism, there are also restaurants that seek to reproduce this aesthetic of the state in its setting.
The restaurant we visited seeks to reproduce the culture of Minas Gerais through its architecture and decoration, but mainly through its cuisine. Located in Betim, near the big center Belo Horizonte, the restaurant is called "Quintal di Roça", and even its name refers to the orality of our state.
The decoration of the environment counts on wood stoves, gallons of milk and furniture that make reference to the rural space. The decoration of the environment counts on wood stoves, gallons of milk and furniture that make reference to the rural space.
Analyzing gastronomic tourism in an era where fast foods predominate is something interesting, since people tend to cherish for what is fast, and, theoretically, economical. As tourism gains strength, we realize the power of a real-life antithesis, as people are looking for sensory experiences that differ from a system established in the 21st century. Maybe it is a sign that in a fast world that reduces sensorial experiencies, there are still people looking forward to what is closer to the natural, healthier and enriching.
28