On 13^th of October, 2022, Motii Tara de Piatra Association and Zlatna Municipality from Romania will organize an event that is scheduled within The Food Club Project (www.foodclub.blog), financed by the European Union under Project number 101053363 — TFC

The Food Club Project (TFC) uses food and local gastronomy to promote intercultural dialogue, social inclusion and to fight against racism and discrimination. The aim is to build knowledge and share best practices between partner municipalities, using food to reintegrate and promote sociality, especially after a period of forced social distancing. TFC also promotes sustainable behaviours related to food. Target groups include inhabitants of partner municipalities, encouraging the participation of natives, TCNs and people with different cultural backgrounds.

Total direct beneficiaries will count 1430 people, indirect beneficiaries will be 300000 people. Activities include workshops and study visits focusing on social food, intercultural dinners and exchanges will be promoted in each partner municipality.

The participants in this project represent five countries: COMUNE DI CASTELNUOVO DEL GARDA – Italy, MESTSKA CAST PRAHA-KOLOVRATY- Czechia, ASOCIACION BUILDING BRIDGES – Spain, MUNICIPALITY OF ALBA IULIA – Romania, COMMUNE DE SAINT-GERMAIN-EN-LAYE – France and ASOCIATIA DE DEZVOLTARE INTERCOMUNITARA MOTII TARA DE PIATRA – Romania.

Each event has been designed upon the specific characteristics of each municipality, their social environment and opportunities for the inclusion of all.

Statement from Mr. Silviu Ponoran, Mayor of the City of Zlatna and President of the

“Motii Tara de Piatra” Association

“Communication and preparations for the event from Zlatna started early this year. We work in a mixed team, made up of employees of the Zlatna City Hall and the “Motii Tara de Piatra” Association. Together with local producers and local community this extended team agreed on which of the particularities of our region will be promoted as most representative. After the event, the project’s working group will meet online to evaluate how the project went and to identify things that can be improved in the future. The outputs produced will include periodical reports, a cookbook containing the recipes produced during the activities, articles, blogposts, social media content and a handbook on best practices experimented by the partnership”.

The event in Romania is a full-day event that has 2 parts: “Workshop in nature” and “Dinner with local ingredients”

During the “Workshop in nature” event, all participants will be briefed on site about the activities, by local facilitators, at the beginning of the local event. All participants will scout a designated area to collect ingredients and to observe local farmers collecting and sorting raw food.

During the 2^nd part of the event, a “Dinner with local ingredients” will have place in the evening

The second event is a cooking experience, dedicated to preparing local traditional dishes for all participants from the workshop in the morning. During the same dinner, the local cooks will prepare international dishes from the countries of the participants to the Project, to be served for local population and to promote towards them the multiple options and various international cuisines and cultures. All the ingredients used will offer insights about their origin and will be compliant with bio rules under the Green Deal guidelines.

Estimated number of individual direct participants: 40 persons for “Workshop in nature” and 85 persons for the “Dinner with local ingredients”Target groups: representatives of partner municipalities (traveling delegations), citizens of Zlatna, including people with different cultural backgrounds, third-country nationals, minorities. Gender balance and the participation of young people will be guaranteed.

Zlatna (in Latin Ampelum) is a town in Alba County, Transylvania, Romania, consisting of the component locality Zlatna (residence), and from the villages of Botești, Budeni, Dealu Roatei, Dobrot, Dumbrava, Feneș, Galati, Izvoru Ampoiului, Pătrângeni, Părău Gruiului, Pirita, Podu lui Paul, Runc, Rusi, Suseni, Trâmpoiele, Valea Mică and Swirling. The Romanian name Zlatna is derived from the Slavic language, “zoloto” meaning “gold”. Until now, a series of archaeological evidences have been discovered in the current territory of the city of Zlatna, which prove the presence of human communities in these places since prehistoric times. Today, Zlatna is a city in continuous development. With total investments exceeding 95 million Euro made in the last 15 years, Zlatna City Hall is the biggest investor from the Apuseni Mountains, after 1990.

The Association aims to create the framework of cooperation between the administrative-territorial units in the area of Moților – Apuseni Mountains from Romania. In order to achieve the sustainable development goals, an integrated strategy will be implemented in the following areas: health, education, transport, tourism and leisure infrastructure, agriculture and animal husbandry, forestry, environmental protection and biodiversity, preservation of traditional culture, art and crafts. The Association also promotes Apuseni Region as an investment destination, by facilitating cooperation and information exchange between local authorities, companies and investors