On the occasion of the 10th edition of the International Gastronomy Village in Paris, Haiti will showcase one of its most iconic dishes: tchaka.
On the occasion of the 10th edition of the International Gastronomy Village in Paris, Haiti will showcase one of its most iconic dishes: tchaka. Led by chef Carline Irantus, this participation goes beyond just a culinary showcase to become a true celebration of Haitian identity, memory, and heritage.From September 10 to 13, 2026, the scents of the world will come together in Paris for the tenth edition of the International Gastronomy Village. More than eighty countries will showcase their culinary traditions, expertise, and gastronomic heritage in a celebration where food becomes a universal language.
This year, Haiti will be represented by chef Carline Irantus, who has made a choice that is as daring as it is deeply symbolic: highlighting tchaka by offering it for free tasting to the thousands of visitors expected. This choice goes far beyond simply promoting a national specialty. It tells a story.Tchaka isn’t just a dish for special occasions. It’s a heritage. Made from corn, beans, salted or smoked meat, and various spices, it’s one of the oldest dishes in Haitian tradition. Long associated with rural areas, big popular celebrations, and certain spiritual ceremonies, it reflects a cuisine born from endurance, creativity, and sharing.
Through it, you can read a collective memory: that of a people who, despite the wounds of history, turned necessity into culinary wealth.
Gastronomy is one of the most powerful forms of cultural diplomacy. It lets you discover a civilization without translation, simply by sharing a meal.
Every spoonful of tchaka offered freely thus becomes a gesture of hospitality, an invitation to experience Haiti in a different way.It’s not the first time that Carline Irantus has represented Haiti at this international event. Her commitment to promoting Haitian culinary traditions is part of an effort to pass them on, highlight local products, and encourage dialogue between cultures.
The International Gastronomy Village is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. For four days, the Place de la Concorde will host chefs, artisans, producers, artists, and visitors from all five continents. Tastings, cooking demonstrations, concerts, and meetings will make this space a true laboratory of cultural diversity.
In this mosaic of flavors, the Haitian booth will remind everyone of a simple truth: cuisine is also a form of political memory.Tchaka is the dish of harvests, gatherings, and solidarity. It evokes the land, ancestors, and collective work. Through it, a whole idea of community is expressed: one where cooking is about welcoming, where sharing comes before owning.
In Paris, the world capital of gastronomy, this popular dish will remind people that there are heritages that cannot be measured in stars or rankings, but by their ability to be passed down through generations.
For a few days, Haiti will not only be present on a world map. It will be in the plates, in the scents, in the conversations, and perhaps in the memories of thousands of visitors who will discover that a simple bowl of tchaka can tell the story of an entire people.
