Délice network
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About

the network

Through collaborative projects, annual gatherings, study tours, and continuous exchanges, our network fosters a dynamic community where cities learn from each other, share best practices, and co-create innovative solutions for the future of food and gastronomy.

We invite cities that share our commitment to food-driven urban transformation to join us in shaping a better food future. 

Becoming a Food Capital

Becoming a member of The Food Capitals Network opens the door to a world of opportunities for your city to learn, share, and connect about its food & gastronomy initiatives on an international stage. Membership ensures your city is part of a vibrant global community, gaining visibility, insights, and influence while collaborating with peers who share a passion for food-driven urban development.

The Food Capitals HQ works with the member cities by:     

  • Offering a platform to capitalise on each city's strategy and intiatives
  • Organising knowledge transmission and creating intelligence
  • Coordinating global advocacy on food-related topics
  • Facilitating connections and partnerships and collaborative projects

How to apply?

Please contact The Food Capitals main office to share your city's interest in the network and to begin the conversation about membership. 

Information: Initial conversations provide a chance to share priorities, ask questions, and identify synergies.

Application: Interested cities prepare an application highlighting their gastronomic initiatives and motivations.

Collaborative Review: Applications are reviewed by the Network’s Executive Committee and then shared with all members for feedback, encouraging transparency and trust.

Welcome New Members: Once approved, the city signs a membership agreement and contributes the annual fee. The city is then officially welcomed into the global community of Food Capitals, with opportunities to connect, learn, and co-create projects right from the start!

Criteria

Applications from candidate cities wishing to become part of The Food Capitals will be reviewed based on the following criteria, ensuring that all members share the same values & objectives, and guarantee qualitative global work: 

  • City assets: current food and gastronomy policies, projects & initiatives; 
  • City vision: how food & gastronomy will serve the city on a local, national and international level
  • City motivation: the intention to engage actively in the Network
  • City political support
  • Alignment with the shared values of the Network, including the ability to host a meeting of the network welcoming all representatives of member cities, regardless of gender, religion or sexual orientation. 

What our Members Say

Birmingham

United Kingdom

The Délice gatherings are fabulous learning opportunities for professionals in the food industry. The study tours, presentations and discussions provide a creative forum to find out about the latest food trends and to see how gastronomy can make a positive impact on lives

Chef David Colcombe , Head of the food division at Liquid and a visiting professor of Culinary Arts at University College Birmingham

Torino

Italy

For years, Torino was reputed a capital of taste both thanks to an innate local talent for conviviality and for the international gourmet events. Local Institutions have made crucial investments to promote Torino’s gastronomic centuries -old tradition abroad: one of these steps has been joining Délice; the city is very proud to belong to this unique global network, sharing with other esteemed some best practices on gastronomy and culinary -related topics

Mariangela Chiapperini , Product Developer, Turismo Torino

Puebla

Mexico

You learn, you exchange, you laugh, you eat, you drink, you meet and great! Délice is an enriching experience through which cities from all over the world can gather to tell their stories, to share their successes and challenges. Puebla is glad to be part of this network and is committed to its standards and new goals

Alejandro Cañedo Priesca , Public Relations, Instituto Municipal de Turismo

Chicago

United States of America

The Delice Network allows international cities to collaborate, share ideas, and learn best practices for promoting vibrant culinary scenes throughout the world. As Chicago has grown into a culinary epicenter of the United States, our membership in the Delice Network has given us unique insights into global marketing, tourism, and gastronomic trends, and an international forum to elevate our own dynamic culinary scene.

Mary Kay Bonoma , Vice-President, Illinois Restaurant Association

Brussels

Belgium

Brussels has always considered food culture and gastronomy is a major asset of our city marketing. We’ve been enthusiastic about the Délice network from its very first days. It is the only platform where we can exchange good practices and knowledge, secure partnerships with cities sharing the same values and contribute to the economic growth of our city.

Olivier Marette , Project manager Gastronomy, VisitBrussels