Alicante aims to dethrone Switzerland with the best chocolate cake in the world

Alicante Gastronómica has a clear objective for its new edition: to find the best chocolate cake in the world. With this, the contest seeks to dethrone Switzerland's fame with this sweet through a competition that will bring together renowned top-level international pastry chefs.

This Friday, the winner of the first edition of the Paco Torreblanca International High Pastry Award, organized by Alicante Gastronómica in collaboration with the International School of Pastry Arts, for the best chocolate cake in the world, will be announced, for which a dozen prestigious experts in this dessert and ingredient are competing.

In the 'short list', Alba Gracia Elipe from Spain; Andrea Zemi from Italy; Estefania Aguilar Badilla from Costa Rica; Fran Segura from Spain; Javier Naranjo from Colombia; Javiera Villegas from Chile; Juan Sarango from Ecuador; Nathalia Escobar Rosales from Mexico; Pachi Larrea and Sergi Vela from Spain.

"This is a unique opportunity for pastry chefs to demonstrate their skill, creativity, and passion for pastry," explain the organizers, whose result will be judged by Italian Iginio Massari, French Frédéric Bau, and Spaniards Jordi Roca, Oriol Balaguer, Jacob Torreblanca, and Carlos Mampel.

This Alicante Gastronómica contest will be joined by another fortnight of competitions, which will be held from Friday 27th to Monday 30th September. Among them, the XVII Spanish Tortilla Championship-Tescoma Trophy stands out, whose jury includes Pepa Fernández, José Gómez 'Joselito', Paco Torreblanca, Kiko Moya (two Michelin stars, L'Escaleta), Carme Ruscalleda (two Michelin stars, Moments Mandarin Oriental), Fran Martínez (two Michelin stars, Maralba), and Alberto Ferruz (two Michelin stars, BonAmb).

Additionally, other contests such as the V Popular Contest for the Best Mediterranean Rice Dish, the II Contest for Monas and Toñas, the IV International Cooking Contest with Elche Dates, the IV Tapas Contest with Salted Fish and the II Professional Broth with Meatballs Contest seeking the best interpretation of this traditional dish will also take place.

The facilities of Fira Alacant will transform into an experience garden during the sixth edition of Alicante Gastronómica. More than 400 different activities will take place over the four days of the event. In them, all kinds of products can be tasted as well as dishes including tapas offered by chefs with Michelin stars and Repsol Suns.

Around 120 big names in gastronomy orbit around the fair, who hold Repsol Suns and Michelin Stars. Paco Torreblanca or renowned chefs with Michelin stars and Repsol suns such as Hermanos Torres, Carmen Ruscalleda, Kiko Moya, Alberto Ferruz, Fran Martínez, Susi Díaz or pastry chefs like Albert Adriá, Jordi Roca, Oriol Balaguer, Iginio Massari illuminate many of the events of this long gastronomic weekend program.

The fair invites visitors to participate not just to watch or look beyond simple tasting where it is possible to immerse oneself - through more than 250 exhibitors - in the world of gastronomy from top culinary masters, pastry or major producers in the sector.

This edition features Morocco as a guest country and has its most recognized and valued chef worldwide,Najat Kaanache, as a great ambassador for everything that elegant Moroccan cuisine offers including its products and recipes.