Overview

• Chef semifinalists are Borja Moncalvillo (Origen, Castro Urdiales), Daniel García Peinado (Ama Restaurante, Benalúa de las Villas), Juanma Salgado (Dromo, Badajoz), Paula Gutiérrez (Víctor Gutiérrez*, Salamanca), Pedro Montolio (Dagma, Barcelona) and Roger Julián (Simposio, San Antonio de Benagéber).
• The front-of-house field features Paloma Sánchez (Restaurante Santa Ana, Murcia), Ángela Rodríguez (Bodega Ayrén & Restaurante, Alicante), Diego de Obeso (Hotel del Oso, Cosgaya), Javier Gil (Gaytán*, Madrid), Juan David Marco (Saddle Madrid*, Madrid) and Juan Pedro López (DelARDE, Navas de San Juan).
• In the kitchen contest, six teams have five hours to create a three-course menu, with a prestigious jury selecting three finalists for the 2026 grand final.
• The Alicante jury is co-presided by Susi Díaz and Joaquín Baeza Rufete, with notable members including chefs Raúl Resino and Iván Domínguez and journalists José Carlos Capel and Julia Pérez.
• The day-long program blends competition with talks, tastings and showcookings, concludes with an awards gala attended by Mayor Luis Barcala and regional minister Marian Cano, and forms part of Alicante’s Spanish Capital of Gastronomy 2025 agenda.