Valencia to host collaboration dinners with international chefs during the World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards

Valencia is set to become a global culinary hub this June as it gears up to host the World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards gala, an event that will witness a gathering of the world’s leading chefs. The programme, backed by the local government, will run from 18^th to 21^st June and feature unique gastronomic experiences, including the highly anticipated Signature Sessions, exceptional collaborations between local and international chefs, showcasing a fusion of innovation, tradition and technique.

18^th June, dinner: Riff + Steirereck: The German-Austrian-Spanish mashup
Tickets are priced at €185 per person, excluding drinks. Book here.

Riff is a Valencian restaurant, helmed by Bernd Knöller, known for its seafood specialities and German influences. For this special dinner, they will cook a meat and vegetable menu with Heinz and Birgit Reitbauer of Steirereck, one of the world’s finest restaurants, nestled in the heart of Austria. This is set to be a one-of-a-kind German-Austrian-Spanish mash-up for just 30 guests

19^th June, lunch: Arrels + Casa do Porco: Gender-defying democratic haute cuisine
The experience is priced at €175 per person, with taxes but excluding drinks. Book here.

Arrels and A Casa do Porco will bring together the vibrant flavours of Brazil with the fresh ingredients of Valencia in an extraordinary four-hand lunch that will not only break the barriers of geographical borders but also those set by gender stereotypes in haute cuisine.

Arrels, located in Sagunto, north of Valencia, is a respected name in the local food scene, led by the tenacious Vicky Sevilla. Known for her strong commitment to local produce and sustainability, Sevilla’s dishes often play on memory, creating a culinary narrative that pays homage to the region’s rich history and culture.

On the other hand, A Casa do Porco, based in Rio de Janeiro, is helmed by Janaina and Jefferson Rueda. The Ruedas earned international acclaim for their “democratic haute cuisine”, blending traditional Brazilian dishes with innovative gastronomy techniques – especially utilising pork meat.

19^th June, dinner: La Salita + Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester: Timeless elegance in a historic mansion
This experience is priced at €300 per person, excluding wine. Book here.

This collaboration between the charming La Salita, located in a historic mansion in the Ruzafa district, and the restaurant Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester, is set to be a sublime blend of French and Spanish fine dining.

Begoña Rodrigo, owner of La Salita, is one of the hottest chefs in Spain, and she will cook together with Jean-Philippe Blondet, the head chef at the Dorchester three-Michelin-star restaurant in London.  A series of appetisers will be served on the stunning terrace of La Salita, followed by five exquisite courses indoors, ending with petit fours and cocktails al fresco.

20^th June, lunch: Fierro + Mauro Colagreco: A taste of Argentina in the Mediterranean
Register your interest here.

Mauro Colagreco and Andrea Moscardino from Ceto restaurant in the French Riviera will cook in collaboration with Germán Carrizo and Carito Lourenço of Fierro. As chef-owner of Mirazur in Menton, Colagreco led his flagship restaurant to the top of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. He has since ventured into the realm of Ceto, another beautiful Mediterranean spot within The Maybourne Riviera hotel. This quartet will create a unique tasting menu experience, allowing guests to savour the intricate flavours of the Mediterranean.

21^st June, dinner: Ricard Camarena Restaurant + Lido 84: The cutting-edge experience
The menu is priced at €250 per person, with optional alcoholic (€390) or non-alcoholic (€330) pairings. Book here.

The 50 Best Signature Sessions will conclude on 21^st June with the most cutting-edge of the four-hands. Italian chef Riccardo Camanini of Lido 84, located on the shores of Lake Garda, and Valencia’s own Ricard Camarena – both celebrated for their commitment to local, seasonal produce and innovative seafood dishes – will join forces to reinterpret their culinary approaches and philosophies, offering guests a truly unique gastronomic experience.

The Signature Sessions will be an integral part of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants events programme. The programme will also include the thought-leadership forum #50BestTalks and the Chefs’ Feast, demonstrating the best produce and cooking from the Spanish region.

Furthermore, revered chefs will impart their knowledge to local culinary students through a 50 Best educational event, fulfilling the academy’s mission to encourage diverse voices, progressive discussion and greater gastronomic discovery.

Food Desk