Lamego hosts the final of the biggest cooking competition in the country

Daily

Six chefs meet in Lamego to find out who the “Chef of the Year” is. The competition is organized in that city for the second consecutive year. The test is scheduled for May 22nd

Photographer: João Beijinho

For the second consecutive year, Lamego hosts the final of the Chef of the Year competition. The competition is scheduled for May 22nd and brings together six chefs who will compete for first place in what is considered the biggest and oldest national cooking competition for professionals.

The finalists are Diogo Novais Pereira (Porinhos restaurant in Fafe), Francisca Dias (Casa do Gadanha in Estremoz), João Costa (Euskalduna Studio in Porto), Jorge Bolito (The Yeatman in Vila Nova de Gaia), Mário Santos (Rossio Gastrobar – Altis Avenida in Lisbon) and Pedro Dias (Cult of Bacalhau in Porto). Bruno Augusto, from Tivoli Carvoeiro, and João Carvalho, from World of Wine, are the substitute competitors.

The organization expects a hard-fought final at the Centro Multiusos de Lamego. “It’s the details that will decide who will be the winner. I saw an evolution this year compared to past editions of the competition, with competitors increasingly showing a high level of concern in the packaging of the products, as well as the techniques they present in the dishes and the final flavor”, anticipates the jury president, António Bóia, chef at JNcQUOI Lisbon.

The six finalists were selected after competing in the regional stages, which took place during the month of April at the Porto School of Hotel and Tourism, the Estoril School of Hotel and Tourism and the Portimão School of Hotel and Tourism.

In addition to the final, the Pensar Cozinha initiative will also take place, a forum that addresses topics related to gastronomy and which has free entry. The event features moments of conversations and cooking demonstrations with guest chefs.