this The emblematic cuisine of Quarta Colônia, RS: territorial experiences from the basket of goods and services

Abstract

This article presents the findings of a qualitative investigation conducted between 2019 and 2023 in the Quarta Colonia, a territory comprising nine municipalities affiliated with the Quarta Colônia Sustainable Development (CONDESUS), located in the Central Region of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The main objective was to analyze the emblematic food of this territory using the theoretical and methodological approach of the Basket of Territorial Goods and Services (BTGS). For this purpose, a bibliography, documentary, and exploratory review was conducted, complemented by oral history: semi-structured interviews were carried out with fifteen families of Italian immigrant descendants residing in the region. Fourteen emblematic foods were identified as the main gastronomic assets of the territory, contributing to the enhancement of local tourism. Of these, nine of them exhibit greater touristic relevance: chicken risotto; breaded steak (beef or pork); agnoline soup; polenta; fortaia; cheese; salami; copa — All commonly featured in the “typical table” served at local restaurants and festivals. An additional five were recognized as potential emblematic foods: bigoli; talharim (taiadelli/taiadei); gnocchi; minestra soup; and morcilha (codeguim), as they carry the memories and identity of the communities descended from immigrants. Finally, the identification of a BTGS in the region emerges as an effective strategy for linking gastronomic heritage with the promotion of sustainable tourism development, by recognizing the agri-food knowledge of Italian communities as their leading product and primary territorial asset.

Keywords: territorial development; gastronomy; gastronomic tourism.