LEIOA GASTRO + KOM
What is Leioa Gastro + Kom?
Leioa Gastro+ KOM 2025 builds on last year's project , which was organized by the Leioa City Council along with the UPV's School of Fine Arts and the Leioa Catering School. This year, the School of Social Sciences and Communication is joining the team, bringing in fresh ideas and perspectives. The project is part of our Multimedia and Transmedia Storytelling class. We worked in groups focusing on different areas like web design, writing, translation, and collecting videos and photos, all collaborating to share the story of the Leioa pepper.
The Leioa pepper (NKPI-06) is a unique variety from the Basque region, known for its vibrant red color and sweet, smoky taste. It thrives in the mild Basque climate, taking about 150–180 days to grow, and is often dried for use in traditional dishes like Bacalao a la Vizcaína. This pepper is more than just an ingredient; it represents Leioa's farming traditions and culinary culture.
Our website:
Leioa Gastro+ is an idea that emerged from the Strategic Tourism Plan developed by the Leioa City Council in 2021 to define Leioa’s gastronomic profile. The purpose of Leioa Gastro+ is to connect the Leioa City Council, as coordinator and host, with the UPV/EHU and Leioa Catering School. The goal in the upcoming years is to share gastronomy with other educational areas of the UPV/EHU in the Leioa campus, and position Leioa as a place of innovation, knowledge, and culinary education.
Our website shares the story of the Leioa pepper through different sections, combining history, culture, and creativity. The Home page introduces the project and explains why the Leioa pepper is an important part of local culture. In the Leioa section, we explore the town’s history, economic changes, farming traditions, and historical landmarks.
The Seedtime section explains the NEIKER Institute’s role in developing and protecting the seed of the new Leioa red pepper. The Gastrotourism section shares how Jata Ondo supports local farmers by promoting regional products, like the Leioa pepper, and boosting sustainable tourism through food fairs and year-round products. In Marmalade, we highlight how culinary students created a special marmalade using the Leioa pepper.
The Collaboration section shows how different schools and students worked together to build this website, promote the project, and help prepare the marmalade. In Team, you can meet the students behind the project, who worked on writing, design, translation, and media. We’ve also included interviews with the people who made this project possible and play a critical role in preserving the Leioa pepper.
Leioa's Mayor
Iban Rodríguez Etxebarria
Iban Rodríguez Etxebarria, born and raised in Leioa, has served as the town’s mayor since 2019, representing the Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ-PNV). His leadership reflects his strong commitment to prioritizing community well-being, promoting sustainable development, enhancing public spaces, and actively responding to local concerns. He is also known for supporting open and shared leadership, making sure local people can take part in decisions about the town’s future. In the Leioa section of the website, you can also find interviews with the mayor, offering insights into his goals, projects, and vision for the town.
Introduction of the project
Hopes for the project
Iban Rodriguez Etxebarria (mayor) introduces the Leioa Gastro+KOM project. Video: Leire Mojas. Sound: Jezabel Álvarez.
Iban Rodriguez Etxebarria (mayor) explains his expectations of the Leioa Gastro+KOM project for Leioa. Video: Leire Mojas. Sound: Jezabel Álvarez.
The mayor explains that the Leioa Gastro Plus project aims to expand by involving more schools of the UPV/EHU, including Journalism, to promote Leioa as a gastronomic city. Building on last year's success, the project also seeks to boost the visibility of the local hospitality industry both within and beyond Leioa.
To sum up...
Video production, video edition and voice-over by Natasha Nurse
Project carried out by the students of the Multimedia and Transmedia Storytelling course, taught by Professor Ana Mendieta, in the Journalism Degree at the School of Social Sciences and Communication, for the Leioa City Council.
