New phenomena in the gastronomy of Baranya: the emergence of the Mecsek–Völgység–Hegyhát gastronomic area

Abstract

The study presents the local gastronomy and gastrotourism offers and a possible development model of a LEADER region in Baranya County, Mecsek–Völgység–Hegyhát, and compares it with the development path of the Villány–Siklós Wine Route, which has a three-decade long history. As the result of the creation of a gastronomic guide, the study seeks to answer the question: what are the conditions for the creation of a gastronomic region and what are the factors that togethermake a region a gastronomic tourism destination? The study presents an overview of the natural, cultural, organisational, material and human conditions that allow a region to identify itself as a gastronomic area. It is difficult to identify which of the many variables plays a decisive role. It is rather their appearance, their interaction and their order that determine whether a region can develop a specific gastronomic character and offer.