Argentina's Torta Argentina Festival Aims for Official Dessert Status

Dolores, Argentina, is hosting its 12th annual Fiesta de la Torta Argentina, a celebration dedicated to a layered cake with dulce de leche that has been made for over a century. The event, held just two hours from Buenos Aires, offers a sweet escape for dulce de leche enthusiasts.

This year's festival is more than just a culinary gathering; it's a campaign to have the Torta Argentina officially recognized as the national dessert. Attendees can sign a petition to support this initiative. The event is championed by local pastry chef Damián Betular, who hails from Dolores.

At the heart of the festival are 38 women producers who have prepared over 3,000 kilograms of the Torta Argentina. They are competing for the top prize and the title of ambassador for the next year. Anabela Castillo, the current ambassador, highlighted the strong bond among the producers, which contributes to the festival's success and harmonious atmosphere.

The judging panel includes social media personality Chef Ricardo Ríos, known as Mambrunense, and cook and publicist Silvina Trillo, also known as Alemendra. Mambrunense emphasized the importance of a delicate, high-quality dough, quality ingredients like butter and eggs, and the dulce de leche and topping. Alemendra added that the layers should not be too high or spongy, reflecting the cake's intended texture.