In the upcoming week Lublin will smell great! During the eleventh edition of the European Festival of Taste we will taste Lithuanian specialties. It couldn't be any different in the jubilee year of 450 years of the Union of Lublin. 

The Inspiration Fair will start on Wednesday - we invite you for a walk through the streets of the Old Town. The exhibitors from Poland and Europe will take us to the culinary world of their nations. There will be time for shopping and tasting delicious food and drinks. Culinary workshops and shows will take place on the stage at the Po Farze Square. For children, a culinary workshop "Queen Bona's Pizza" was prepared by the Winnie the Pooh's Academy. At the Łokietek's Square we will discover the flavours of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. This year's festival, as the organizers emphasize, will be very eco. Products from local sources will be used for the shows.

Lublin restaurants will become the Laboratories of Taste, and in the 2 Pi Er restaurant a Historical Dinner will be held as part of the I Eat Theatre, during which we will find out an answer to the question: "did Zygmunt August eat squirrels?".

During the festival, the producers from the Lublin Region will compete in the competition for the "Best Taste of the Lublin Region". Unique products of the region will be selected, distinguished by visual, taste, and aroma qualities. The competition will take place in 9 categories (dairy products, meat products, oils and fats, fishery products, fruits and vegetables, bakery and confectionery products, honey, as well as beverages (including alcohols), and others.

Traditionally, the 19th National Tincture Competition will come to Lublin and the Old Pub restaurant. Tincture makers will compete in two categories: Lithuanian and Crown liqueurs and the "Plum and other" liqueurs. The best chefs will compete in the national "GOOD CHEF" competition.

The organizer of the event - Kresowa Akademia Smaku, together with the Lubelskie Voivodeship and the Caritas of the Lublin Archdiocese join the #Respect food, no waste campaign. They want to encourage the inhabitants of Lublin and the Lublin region to share good food, and thus inspire the local community to prevent the waste of food.

The European Festival of Taste is not only a culinary experience - art lovers will also find something for themselves. In the cloisters of the Dominican Monastery we will see a photo exhibition "Hagiography" depicting 12 figures of holy women, inspired by icons. In the program of Monday's vernissage we'll find the premiere of the exhibition, calligraphy workshops, St. Dorothy's song, and Saint Hildegard's cookies. Another exhibition will be available at the Arche Hotel. "Magic of Podlasie" is a collection of photographs of five authors, thanks to whom we will get to know the soul of Podlasie along with its unusual nooks, landscapes, and portraits of its inhabitants. During photographic workshops with Piotr Marek, Leica cameras will be presented and the participants will face the topic "What did Jan Matejko see outside the window?". At the end of the festival there will also be a Debate of the Two Pulpits "Taste of the Cross" in the Dominican monastery.

In cooperation with the Lublin Museum, the dominicans invite to see the Living Painting "Union of Lublin" by Jan Matejko. Katarzyna Mieczkowska, the director of the museum, will identify the characters depicted in the painting presented with special technique.

Together with Mrs. Małgorzata Sulisz we'll once again go back in time to the XVI century, all thanks to the moving pictures and beautiful costumes. The Black Lady (Barbara Radziwiłłówna) and king Zygmunt August himself will make an appearance at this year's Historical Walk.

Fashion shows are the traditional element of the European Festival of Taste. At the Po Farze Square we will see the stars of the Polish silver screen, this time in outfits referring to the jubilee of the Union of Lublin.

Everyone will find something for themselves in the rich programme of concerts. Among the artists that will perform we can mention: Orkiestra Prowincjonalna, Pablopavo i Ludziki, Stanisław Soyka, Lidia Biały with a repertoire of the hagiographic songs, Paweł Małaszyński & Cochise. A rock band Lorien will perform The Invocation known from Adam Mickiewicz's "Sir Thaddeus", and the songs of the Nightwish band will be performed by Natalia. Kaja Mianowana, who won the spectators with her voice last year, will also perform during the event. The artist will perform at the Dominican Monastery - it shall be a concert inspired with the sephardic culture.

An accompanying event will be the POP Arena 80's Festival concert on Saturday at the Lublin Arena. We will hear the biggest stars of the 1980's, such as Sandra, Thomas Anders & Modern Talking Band, Fancy, C.C.Catch, Savage, and Joy. 
 

The full programme is available at: www.europejskifestiwalsmaku.pl