Pepa’s presentation is called “How Wild Fennel Keeps Our Roma Hearts Alive”
During this presentation, participants will embark on a journey towards understanding the mythological role of wild fennel in Spanish Romani cuisine. The goal is to bring Romani culture closer to the audience through a language we all speak: the language of myth, the language of the heart.
Wild fennel is an essential ingredient in the Romani culinary imaginary. Against this background, participants will have the opportunity to understand how this herb embodies nearly all images of the Romani worldview, which is surprisingly ecological!
So, through a psychological and symbolic analysis of the images that emerge from wild fennel, participants will learn about the intrinsic relationship between the herb and Romani’s core values. Finally, participants will have the chance to connect and live up to these values when discovering the curious recipe for wild fennel that is cooked in my family and that keeps our Romani hearts alive.
About Pepa
Pepa Cartini is a passionate food copywriter and storyteller. Since 2016, she has been dedicated to helping food creatives and entrepreneurs discover, embrace, and share their unique stories, guiding them in finding their voice and connecting with their audience. Pepa’s love for food and storytelling also relates to her work as an instructor at Cadiz University and Rey Juan Carlos University in Madrid, where she teaches Food Storytelling.
Raised in Málaga, a vibrant city in the sunny Andalucía region of Spain, Pepa grew up amidst the rich cultural tapestry of her Spanish Roma father and German mother. This multicultural background deeply influences her perspectives on gastronomy and fuels her creative exploration.
In her ongoing journey of learning and self-discovery, Pepa is pursuing a Diploma in Mythology and Symbolism at the Superior Institute of Religious Sciences (ISCREB). Her Final Project, “The Symbolic-Psychological Analysis as a Methodology and Teaching Technique in Gastronomic Sciences,” delves into the intriguing realm of food mythology, the symbolic significance of food traditions, and the mythological connections humans create through food.