Cristina Pons Benavides is preparing for her participation in the ‘European Young Chef Award’

Cristina Pons Benavides, winner of the local Young Chef Menorca 2023 contest promoted by the Menorca Tourism Promotion Foundation (FFTM) and Menorca European Region of Gastronomy and held last March 11 at the Ca n’Aguedet training center, has been preparing since months ago to participate in the European Young Chef Award gastronomic regions competition, which will take place between November 20 and 24 in Le Touquet de Hauts-de-France, European Gastronomy Region awarded in 2023.

The 24-year-old, who has completed the Superior Degree in Culinary Management at the School of Hospitality and Tourism in Barcelona, will represent the European Gastronomy Region in Menorca in the seventh edition of the annual competition organized by the International Institute of Gastronomy , Culture, Art and Tourism (IGCAT) that brings together young culinary talents.

It should be noted that among the members of the jury who will evaluate the nine finalists who will participate in the final of the European Young Chef Award; will be the Menorcan Pau Sintes, who last year was proclaimed winner in the final of the international contest that took place in Trondheim-*Trøndelag (Norway) with a traditional and innovative version of stuffed aubergines, a dish inspired by an old 19th century Menorcan recipe.

Sílvia Anglada and Toni Tarragó, who in 2022 were the mentors of Pau Sintes and also of the representative of Menorca European Region of Gastronomy in the 2021 edition of the culinary contest, Cristina Llorens, have repeated the experience this year with Cristina Pons Benavides , who has also received English lessons from Mikey Lewis and French with Marc Gandolfo, thanks to the Menorca Adult School. Likewise, other companies such as Salines de La Concepció and Bodegues Sa Cudia have collaborated by offering their products for the preparation of the Menorcan recipe that will be prepared in Hauts-de-France and Uniformes Menorca has in charge of the young cook’s wardrobe.

During the celebration days of the European Young Chef Award; a presentation video of each of the participants will be shown and, in the case of Cristina Pons Benavides, the audiovisual projection, prepared by the FFTM for Menorca European Region of Gastronomy, highlights the gastronomic richness of the island and defines the cuisine of Menorca “like a symphony of flavors that reflect the harmony of this territory”.

The video also makes direct reference to Menorca’s commitment to sustainability and respect for the environment, as well as the excellent work of local producers.

Cristina Pons Benavides promotional video

ESP- https://youtu.be/ubzhYV-fCcM
ANG- https://youtu.be/RiXKBJSVgoY