TEHRAN - The Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts is organizing a special cooking competition to highlight the culinary skills of people with disabilities.

Mehr reported on Wednesday that this event, which aims to bridge accessible tourism with culinary tourism, will focus on preparing traditional dishes by participants from four Iranian provinces: Gilan, Mazandaran, Golestan, and Tehran.

The competition is structured to celebrate and support individuals with disabilities, including those with physical disabilities, visual impairments, and Down syndrome, by providing them an opportunity to showcase their talents in preparing traditional dishes from their respective regions, the organizers explained.

“This initiative is not only a celebration of culinary arts but also an effort to promote self-confidence and empowerment among people with disabilities.”

The festival will feature participants who excel in cooking traditional meals from northern Iran, which is known for its rich and diverse culinary culture. Each province involved in the competition—Gilan, Mazandaran, Golestan, and Tehran—boasts unique traditional dishes that reflect the local ingredients and cultural heritage.

By selecting these provinces, the organizers aim to spotlight the diverse gastronomic traditions of the region while highlighting the cooking talents of individuals with disabilities. The festival’s slogan, “The Taste of Tourism with Influential People with Disabilities,” captures the essence of this event, emphasizing the significant role people with disabilities play in enriching cultural experiences.

The competition will unfold in three main stages. Initially, participants will first register and submit their entries, detailing the traditional dishes they plan to prepare. This stage will ensure that candidates meet the criteria for participating and understand the competition’s focus on traditional recipes.

Secondly, local competitions will be held in each of the four provinces, where participants will be evaluated based on their culinary skills and their ability to prepare authentic regional dishes.

In the final competition, which will be held in Tehran late in the summer, winners from the provincial rounds will compete for the top prizes.

As mentioned by organizers, the festival aims to promote traditional Iranian cuisine, emphasizing the importance of preserving local food cultures and traditions.

AM