Azerbaijan joins int'l photo-culinary festival in France
By Sabina Idayatova
An international photo-culinary festival has taken place in France where pairs of photographers and cooks contested the top spot, Azertag state news agency reported on October 1.
Azerbaijan joined this prestigious event at the initiative of the Azerbaijan House in Paris for the first time.
According to project executives Mirvari Fataliyeva and Jala Babayeva, professionals from Japan, Belgium, Britain, France and other countries competed for the prize in the Oloron city, which is located on the foothills of Pyrenees Mountains. The jury selected 18 from among some 100 pairs.
The jury consisting of well-known French cooks and photographers as well as the heads of prestigious publishing houses evaluated the photos based on different criteria.
The main purpose of the two-day festival was to present local products along with the exchange of different cultures.
Pilaf, a dish of the rich Azerbaijani cuisine, was described with fire and steam in the picture named "Odlar Yurdu" (Land of Fire) presented by Azerbaijan Photographers Union member Etibar Jafarov and member of the National Culinary organization Agha Ashurov. Burning fire reflected Azerbaijan as the "land of fire" and the steam reflected the Caspian Sea.
A Japanese pair was the winner of the festival.
The presentation of the Azerbaijani pair, which ranked among the top five countries, was of interest for the jury.
Representatives of "Azerbaijan house" told Oloron Mayor Bernard Uthurry, president of the festival jury Marie Kasabane and chairman of the panel of judges, well-known French cook Pascal Barbot about the activity of the organization they represent, presented books about Azerbaijan and pastry samples.
The project, carried out with the support of the Azerbaijani embassy in France, provided an opportunity to establish close ties with the mayor's office and local organizations.
Azerbaijan is also scheduled to participate in the next festival to be held in 2015.