By Jesús Armando Eraso Yela
Social networks: @jesuseraso51
These days the famous “Burger Master” is taking place in Colombia, one of the gastronomic festivals with the greatest economic impact that takes place year after year and generates surprising sales records for hamburger merchants in the country. . For example, in its 2023 edition the Burger Master achieved the historic figure of 3 million hamburgers sold with a total value of 57 billion pesos.
What does it consist of?: It is very simple, restaurants sign up seeking to win the title of having the best hamburger in the country on their menu, which is why they must propose a new recipe, which must also be sold at an accessible and established price. throughout the days that the festival lasts.
Now, if these types of innovative festivals generate so much impact, why not couple the idea to the gastronomic reality of Nariño and thus be able to generate local dynamism? A great friend, who was one of the best Senators that Nariño has ever had, said that the server’s best tool is the imagination. How good it would be if the Government, Chamber of Commerce, Unions and Mayor’s Offices promote the first version of the “Cuy Master Nariño” with the aim of generating dynamism in one of the most symbolic productive chains in our department.
How would it be?: Very simple, the objective would be the same as that of all these festivals: to search for the best guinea pig from Nariño in its 2024 version. To do this, an invitation would be extended to all producing municipalities, which in our department add up to a total of 54, and an agreement on an average price would be sought in order to encourage diners. But in reality, beyond the same recognition as such, what would be sought with this type of ingenious proposals is to generate positive economic impacts for a market of broad economic importance for the region. In Nariño, approximately 3 million guinea pigs are consumed per year, with this market supporting more than 30,000 families throughout the Department, of which 70% are led by mothers who are heads of households.
In Nariño, the largest producers of guinea pigs are Pasto, El Tambo, Túquerres, Pupiales, Ipiales, Ospina, Buesaco, Linares and Guachucal, and there are a total of 76 restaurants specialized in the sale of this product. I am sure that with the holding of this type of festivals the numbers and records of this market would be much more significant, cultural appropriation would skyrocket and a quite striking dynamic would be generated at the regional level.
To finish: through social networks I made the proposal known and it has already been sold, generating a cool debate about which is the best guinea pig in the Department: some say that Pinzón in Túquerres, others that the one at the Casa de los Cristales in El Charco , others than Catambuy in Catambuco, I say that I keep an eye out for those from El Tambo who are very good and I would invite my friend Cruz Helena, from over there in my village La Laguna in Linares, to compete because the tastiest guinea pig she prepares…
And for you: which is the best guinea pig in Nariño?
