The Elenski But will apply for a protected geographical indication as proof of the quality of the pork delicacy.
Today and tomorrow in Elena, a town in the Bulgarian Renaissance, the culinary festival "Holiday of the Elenski But" will be held for the 12th time. It began with a procession with a 124-meter Bulgarian flag dedicated to the 124 settlements in the municipality.
The deer leg is the second Bulgarian meat delicacy that will apply for the right to use a pan-European designation of quality and origin.
"We are officially starting the protection of the deer leg as a protected geographical indication", said Martin Truhchev, whose family is one of five in the Elenski Balkan region that produce the pork delicacy.
The producers received the support of Yordanka Chobanova, Head of the European Commission Representation in Bulgaria:
"In general, the EU policy is to protect those geographical products that have their own uniqueness and character, which is exactly what the deer leg is. Once registered, they lead to much higher profits".
The town of Elena welcomes thousands of guests today and tomorrow with culinary attractions and a cultural program for the Elena But holiday, said Mayor Dilyan Mlazev:
"This year we are even more ambitious to show all of Bulgaria and the world what a miracle the Elena But is".
Quality meat, the Balkan Elena climate and preserving tradition are the recipe for the unique taste, says producer Ivan Trukhchev:
"Only we know how the secrets of good appetizers are made".