Festival celebrates 'Reviro' dish, keeping local memory and tradition alive

Encarnación, Paraguay, hosted the fifth National Reviro Festival, an event dedicated to preserving and celebrating the traditional regional dish known as reviro. The festival, held in the Plaza de Armas, drew large crowds eager to experience the culinary heritage linked to 19th-century history.

A central attraction was the "Reviro Apo" contest, which saw more than 30 participants, including one from the United States, compete. Attendees were captivated by the aromas and sights of reviro being prepared over wood-fired braziers in traditional iron pots. The visual presentations of the dish evoked memories of past decades, with participants using vintage plates and tin cups.

Verónica Stefani, Secretary of Tourism for the Itapúa Governorate, emphasized the festival's aim to enhance the symbolic significance of reviro for the region. Reviro is a key element of local gastronomy, particularly for breakfast, valued for its affordability and satiating qualities, making it ideal for physically demanding work. While popular in rural areas, it has also become a sought-after appetizer in urban eateries.

Stefani highlighted that reviro gained popularity during last year's World Rally Championship in Itapúa. "As a country, we have a marked tradition, but at the regional level, we have our own identity, and that is what we want to promote," she stated. The origin of reviro is linked to the "mensú," historical laborers in the region.

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As a country, we have a marked tradition, but at the regional level, we have our own identity, and that is what we want to promote.