Marta Minoves Tor, a 22-year-old Catalan chef, has been awarded first place at the European Young Chef Award 2024, held in Sicily from November 27 to 30. The jury unanimously recognized her dish, “Fonda Tor”, as the best proposal in the competition.
The 8th edition of the European Young Chef Award, hosted in Sicily (Italy), included several phases, among them the reinterpretation of a traditional recipe from each finalist’s region.
Minoves’ winning dish, an evolution of her recipe “Interpretation of Grandma Marta’s Patates Emmascarades”, had already brought her recognition in the regional competition held at the Hospitality and Tourism School of Sant Pol de Mar (EUHT) in March, where she was named Best Young Chef of Catalonia.
During the competition, Minoves received support from CETT-UB, the Barcelona School of Tourism, Hospitality, and Gastronomy, as well as guidance from renowned chef Carme Ruscalleda. Additionally, she collaborated with Luesma Vega, a specialized design workshop that crafted an exclusive set of tableware for the final presentation, inspired by the traditional dishes of Fonda Tor, the family-run establishment that gives her winning dish its name.
Marta Minoves expressed her vision, stating:
“I wanted to showcase my deep respect for local ingredients, my homeland, and the Catalan cuisine passed down to me by my grandmother, the chef of Fonda Tor. My goal was to introduce the jury to the unique flavors of Catalonia’s mountain cuisine, which is often overlooked, while staying true to the essence of traditional resourceful cooking.”
The European Young Chef Award competition took place at IPSSEOA “Giovanni Falcone” in Giarre (Catania, Italy) and featured eight finalists from across Europe.
- 2nd place: Jasmin Kärkkäinen (Saimaa, Finland)
- 3rd place: Rosaria Grasso (Sicily, Italy)
