If there is something we Valencians are proud of is our paella. Every family has its own way of making it and competing to find the best paella is not an easy thing to do. That’s why the slogan for this year’s International Paella Day, the World Paella Day, is “Paella, a universal language”, with the aim of reinforcing the idea that it’s not just a dish, but a form of community..
But you don’t have to be Valencian (or maybe you do) to make a good paella. During this day, which is held annually to coincide with the rice harvest on September 20, the World Paella Day Cup, an international tournament with a local flavor, is also held at La Marina in Valencia. It is a contest where 12 cooks from around the world will have to compete to make the best paella.
Where do the cooks come from?
These international chefs have been chosen from 50 candidates from all countries and will compete on Friday, September 20 to see who has the best international paella recipe. Will it be as good as ours? Expectations are high and the chefs seem to be up to the task.
The twelve cooks competing this year in the World Paella Day Cup will be:
- John Kenwright (Ireland)
- Jordane Estevez (France)
- Giuseppe Bardelli (Italy)
- Giuseppe Bardelli (Italy)
- Irina Cristina Turcu (Romania)
- Irina Cristina Turcu (Romania)
- Nick Todorov (Bulgaria)
- Nick Todorov (Bulgaria)
- Miguel Ángel Moreno (Colombia)
- Miguel Angel Moreno (Colombia)
- Jorge Alberto Castellanos Rodriguez (Mexico)
- Franklin Javier Dasso Seminario (Peru)
- Franklin Javier Dasso Seminario (Peru)
- Joe Padilla (Puerto Rico)
- Avinash Agarwal (United Arab Emirates)
- Avinash Agarwal (United Arab Emirates)
- Yuqin Yang (China)
- Yuqin Yang (China)
- Shingo Hinokio (Japan)
A contest with popular essence
During the time it takes to make the paella, from 10 am to 15h approximately, you can see the cooks in live from a giant screen in La Marina de Valencia, in the area of La Pergola.
In addition, although it is an international competition, as the roots of paella are popular and familiar, everyone who attends will be able to try a plate of paella for only 5 euros and the drink will cost 2 euros.
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