Polski
English
Русский
Chefs from Albacete, Málaga, Huesca and Barcelona to Compete for the Best Creative Dish with Elche Pomegranates
Four chefs from different regions of Spain will compete for the top prize in the final of the 15th Creative Cooking Competition with Elche Pomegranates, which will take place on Wednesday, December 10, at La Finca restaurant, run by chef Susi Díaz (1 Michelin star, 2 Repsol Suns).
The finalists are:
-
Antonio José González Navalón from the restaurant +IDEAS in Higueruela (Albacete), with his dish “Pato a l’Granada: Alma de Elche”
-
José Manuel Molina Cortés from La Brasería de Carmen (Torre de Benagalbón, Málaga), presenting “Ganbatte”
-
Osvaldo Andree Sejas Velasco from La Era de los Nogales (Sabiñánigo, Huesca), with “Rubíes Mollar de Elche sobre vieira y pepino”
-
Pedro Giménez Jaria from Finca Mas Solers, Grupo Peralada (Sant Pere de Ribes, Barcelona), with “Todo de la granada mollar y la gamba roja”
45 minutes to impress a prestigious jury
In the final round, each chef and their assistant will have 45 minutes to prepare their dish and convince the jury, which will assess technique, presentation, flavor, and the prominent role of the Elche Mollar pomegranate.
The jury will be chaired by renowned Elche-born chef and ambassador of the Elche Mollar pomegranate Susi Díaz, joined by Paco Torreblanca, one of the world’s most acclaimed pastry chefs and winner of the World’s Best Pastry Chef award in 2022, and Kiko Moya, chef of L’Escaleta restaurant (2 Michelin stars, 3 Repsol Suns) and a leading figure in contemporary Spanish gastronomy.
€2,500 in prizes
A total of €2,500 in prize money will be awarded thanks to the sponsorship of Cajamar and Tescoma, with the collaboration of the City Council of Elche, VisitElche, the Provincial Council of Alicante, the Costa Blanca Tourism Board, the gastronomic tourism brand L’Exquisit Mediterrani, Alicante Gastronómica, and the support of chef Susi Díaz, Eurotoques, and the gastronomy blog Carolus Cocina.
The winner will receive €1,500, while the second, third, and fourth place finalists will receive €600, €300, and €100, respectively.
A competition that promotes creativity and the culinary potential of Elche Mollar pomegranates
According to Francisco Oliva, President of the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) Granada Mollar de Elche, the competition is “an opportunity to continue promoting the use of the Elche Mollar pomegranate in haute cuisine and to highlight its potential as an emblematic product of our land.” He added that “after fifteen editions, the competition has become a well-established showcase for discovering new culinary proposals and innovative ways of working with a unique fruit.”
The land of Europe’s pomegranates
The geographical area covered by the PDO Granada Mollar de Elche—40 municipalities in the Alicante regions of Vega Baja, Bajo Vinalopó, and Alacantí—is considered the pomegranate heartland of Europe. It accounts for more than 75% of Spain’s total pomegranate production and is a world leader in the Mollar de Elche variety.
The Mollar de Elche is the only pomegranate in the world with Protected Designation of Origin status, renowned for its exceptional quality, sweet flavor, soft seeds, and distinctive exterior color, ranging from red to cream depending on sun exposure during growth.
Read more:
Livestock Cambodia 2026 – The Premier B2B Platform for the Livestock Industry in Cambodia
Belgian Minister Commends Biotrop’s Leadership in Sustainable Agriculture During Visit to Brazil
Biofuel Expo Kenya 2025 – A Key Platform for the Biofuel and Sugar Industry in East Africa
