Lisbon, 27 November 2025 - The Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Portuguese Republic, with the sponsorship of the Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan in Northern Portugal, Mr Gil Fernando Vieira, and the company MPL Culture, organised a distinguished gastronomic evening under the theme “The Steppe and the Ocean”, bringing together the finest culinary traditions of the Kazakh and Portuguese peoples.

The event, held in celebration of the 35^th anniversary of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Republic of Kazakhstan, took place on 27 November at the EPUR restaurant in the historic centre of Lisbon. The renowned Michelin-starred chef Vincent Farges welcomed Artem Kantsev, one of Kazakhstan’s leading culinary masters, representing the Qazaq Gourmet restaurant and a laureate of the prestigious French gastronomic ranking La Liste 2026.

The dinner, prepared jointly by the two chefs, received the highest acclaim from the distinguished guests. Among those in attendance were Carlos Fontão Carvalho, President of the Portuguese Academy of Gastronomy; Alberto Guimarães, Secretary-General of the Lisbon City Council and President of the European Community of Gastronomic Culture; Francisco Rocha Gonçalves, Vice-President of the Oeiras City Council, CEO of one of Europe’s leading science and technology parks - Taguspark - Eduardo Baptista Correia, as well as representatives of governmental institutions, the business community, and the national media.

In his address, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Portugal, Mr Jean Galiev, emphasised that a nation’s cuisine, rich in diversity, stands as a profound expression of hospitality and an integral component of its cultural heritage.

“For the first time in the history of relations between our two countries, a gastronomic bridge has been built between two ends of Eurasia – the boundless steppe and the vast ocean,” - the Ambassador remarked.

He further noted that the event marked the official launch of the Embassy’s cultural diplomacy initiative, “Discover Kazakhstan Through the Five Senses”. In the near future, the tasting of Kazakh cuisine will be followed by exhibitions of paintings, sculptures and traditional carpets, as well as concerts of music and vocal performance in various cities across Portugal.

At the conclusion of the evening, the Ambassador presented the guests with a commemorative gift - the Coat of Arms of the Republic of Kazakhstan, crafted in the traditional Portuguese azulejo style, as a symbol of cultural convergence and the strengthening ties between the two peoples.

The introduction of Kazakhstan to the Portuguese public through such initiatives is intended to strengthen bonds of friendship and to stimulate broader exchanges in cultural, humanitarian and economic spheres.

Background: Azulejo (from the Portuguese azul – “blue”) is a traditional form of decorative ceramic tile widely used in Portuguese architecture and interior design, and is considered a national cultural treasure.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-lisbon/press/news/details/1115314?lang=kk