There is very little time left before Valencia will once again become the epicentre of haute cuisine on an international level. This will be in June when the city will host The World’s 50 Best Restaurant awards gala. This event, which will take place on 20th June at the City of Arts and Sciences, and bring together the best chefs in the world. The gala is being organised in Valencia thanks to the collaboration and support of Valencia City Council, through Visit Valencia, Turisme Comunitat Valenciana and Valencia Turisme.
Within the framework of this gala, Valencia will be the setting for a wide range of unique and one-off gastronomic events, including the 50 Best Signature Sessions – gastronomic experiences completed in pairs – and educational meetings between important chefs and cookery students.
The 50 Best Signature Sessions, set to take place from 18th – 21st June, will allow attendees to enjoy menus prepared by two renowned chefs, one local and one international, combining innovation, tradition and technique in equal parts to please even the most exquisite palates. These collaborations will be an opportunity to enjoy dishes that fuse the proposals of different renowned chefs with the influence, the product and the essence of Valencia.
- Riff+ Steireck: central European symbiosis
On 18th June, chef Bernd Knöller from Riff, the Valencian restaurant with the most German flavour, will join forces with the best couple in Austrian gastronomy, Heinz Reitbauer and his wife Birgit, from Steirereck restaurant, which is on the list of the 50 best in the world. Riff and Steirereck will offer a meat and vegetable menu which holds a pleasant surprise for all diners.
- Arrels+ Casa do porco
The unique fusion of Brazilian flavours and local produce from the Valencian market garden will be the common thread of the menu proposed by Janaina and Jefferson Rueda, from the Rio de Janeiro restaurant A Casa do Porco, and Vicky Sevilla, from the Arrels restaurant in Sagunto, on 19th June. An experience that pays tribute to women who break down barriers in haute cuisine and emphasises sustainability.
- La Salita+ Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester
A dream meal awaits diners on 19th June with the “French Connection” menu. This gastronomic experience will combine the magic of culinary guru Alain Ducasse and Jean-Philippe Blondet, head chef at London’s Dorchester Hotel, with the charisma of the Valencian Begoña Rodrigo, owner of La Salita, a restaurant located in a unique space: a historic mansion in the heart of the Ruzafa district.
- Fierro + Mauro Colagreco
On the day of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023 gala at Fierro restaurant, an exclusive lunch will be served in two shifts of 12 diners. The tasting menu will be prepared by award-winning chefs Mauro Colagreco and Andrea Moscardino of Ceto restaurant, who will team up with in-house hosts Germán Carrizo and Carito Lourenço.
- Ricard Camarena Restaurant + Lido 84
The 50 Best Signature Sessions will close with a dinner on Wednesday 21st in which the Italian Riccardo Camanini and the Valencian Ricard Camarena will review their culinary philosophy in a unique proposal, which will combine new dishes, some improvised and others based on their common trajectory of seasonal, local proposals made with vegetables and seafood.
Inspiring the next generation of chefs
The 50 Best Restaurants gala is a great opportunity for Valencian gastronomy and highlights the big step up that this sector has taken in recent years. Historically, many well-known voices have predicted the future of Valencian gastronomy, the talent of the professionals -both in the kitchens and in the dining room-, and the great quality of Valencian local produce. Now is the time to value not only the heritage of great Valencian chefs but also the legacy that this event and these circumstances will leave for future generations.
For this reason, as part of the most important gastronomic event in the world, the Petxina Sports and Cultural Complex will host an educational day for catering students. The aim is to promote learning and training by relevant chefs recognised by 50 Best, who will share their career, experience and knowledge with them.
The event will feature Jeremy Chan, from Ikoyi London, Joan Roca, chef and co-founder of Spain El Celler de Can Roca; as well as award winners Elena Reygadas and Pía León. Reygadas, chef of Rosetta Restaurant in Mexico, was recognised last year by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. For her part, Peruvian Pía León, chef at Central & Kjolle, won the award for the best female chef in Latin America and the award for the best female chef in the world in The World’s 50 Best, in 2018 and 2021 respectively.
Check out the full schedule of events at www.visitvalencia.com/en/50best