On June 4, Diana Akgaeva, Director for Marketing and Commerce at «Caramel Catering» LLC, took part in the RBC panel discussion «The Standard of Russian Cuisine as a Tool for Developing National Gastronomy» at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum SPIEF-2026.

Today, Russian cuisine is not only a part of the cultural heritage, but also an important tool for developing the restaurant industry, domestic tourism and the country’s gastronomic brand.

The panelists discussed what the future standard of Russian cuisine should be, how to preserve the authenticity of national gastronomic traditions and at the same time give restaurants the opportunity for developing, interpreting and adapting to guests’ modern needs.

Special attention was paid to practical issues of the industry: staff shortages, increased operating costs, regulatory issues and conditions necessary for sustainable development of the restaurant business.

Experts agreed that Russian cuisine has significant capacities both inside and outside the country. Herewith, its development requires not only the preservation of traditional recipes and technologies, but also the creation of understandable quality standards that will help strengthen guests’ trust and increase the recognition of national gastronomy.