Aegean Cuisine Enters a New Era Focused on Digital Promotion and the Gastronomic Identity of the Aegean
Proposal to expand the initiative beyond restaurants to include producers, wineries, food processors and tourism businesses
The future development of the Aegean Cuisine initiative was presented by Yolanda Kappa during the Chamber of Commerce of the Dodecanese meeting held on May 23, 2026, in Kalymos .
Speaking to the chamber members, Kappa highlighted that Aegean Cuisine is celebrating 18 years of continuous operation and remains one of the most important projects promoting the culinary identity of the South Aegean region. She noted that the South Aegean Region continues to support the initiative, which was originally created through the cooperation of the Cyclades and the Dodecanese islands to showcase local gastronomy and high-quality regional products.
Particular emphasis was placed on the initiative’s new communication strategy, focusing on social media promotion and digital outreach. In this context, reference was made to collaborations with influencer Spyros Margaritis and other content creators aimed at increasing the visibility of Aegean Cuisine in both domestic and international markets.
Kappa stressed that the initiative should no longer be viewed solely as a quality certification scheme for restaurants. Instead, she proposed expanding its scope to include other sectors connected to gastronomy and tourism, such as agricultural producers, food processing companies, wineries, service providers and tourism-related businesses.
According to her presentation, no new restaurant certifications are expected to be issued in 2026. The priority will instead be placed on strengthening the digital presence of existing certified businesses and enhancing the promotional tools available to the network.
The presentation ended with the proposal of gastronomic tourism and food festivals as key priorities for the coming years. These events, she said, can serve as powerful tools for promoting local products, the culinary heritage of the Aegean islands, and the overall tourism experience offered by the South Aegean region.
