- On 1 December, the city of Almería will host the first semi-final of the 2026–2028 edition of both competitions.
- The second semi-final will take place in Cambrils on 4 March 2027, and the grand final will be held at Alimentaria+Hostelco 2028.
Roquetas de Mar will host the first semi-final of the new edition of the Chef and Waiter of the Year Competition. The event will take place on 1 December and will bring together some of Spain’s finest up-and-coming professionals from the kitchen and front of house. The town in Almería will thus kick off the 2026–2028 edition of both competitions, organised by Grupo Caterdata. The Chef of the Year Competition is now in its eleventh edition, whilst the Waiter of the Year Competition is celebrating its seventh edition. The choice of Roquetas de Mar highlights the growing prominence of the province of Almería within the national gastronomic scene. Its agricultural wealth, locally sourced produce and the quality of its hospitality offerings make the town an ideal setting to launch this new edition.
During the semi-final, the contestants will demonstrate their talent, creativity, technical ability and mastery of their craft live on stage. They will all compete before judging panels made up of renowned professionals from the gastronomy and hospitality sectors. Prestigious chefs, front-of-house specialists, sommeliers and industry experts will assess the participants’ work and select those who will progress to the grand final. The composition of the judging panels for the Roquetas de Mar semi-final will be announced shortly.
In addition, the programme will feature competitions, culinary demonstrations, talks and other activities aimed at industry professionals. As a result, for one day, Roquetas de Mar will become a meeting point for chefs, front-of-house staff, producers, companies and institutions linked to the sector.
Two competitions to recognise talent in the kitchen and front of house
In the Chef of the Year Competition, participants must prepare a full menu comprising a starter, a main course and a dessert. Contestants will work live and will have a limited amount of time to create their dishes. The judging panel will assess aspects such as creativity, technique, flavour, presentation and the use of ingredients.
Meanwhile, participants in the Waiter of the Year Competition will face a comprehensive series of challenges. These will assess their knowledge and skills in areas such as front-of-house service, wine knowledge, mixology, coffee, customer service and the presentation of dishes to diners.
The top three finishers in each competition at the semi-final in Roquetas de Mar will secure a place in the grand final. They will be joined by those selected in the second semi-final, which will take place on 4 March 2027 in Cambrils, Tarragona. The Grand Final will be held as part of Alimentaria+Hostelco 2028, from 20 to 23 March at the Gran Via venue of Fira de Barcelona. Six chefs and six front-of-house professionals will compete for the titles of Chef and Waiter of the Year 2026–2028.
High-profile partners
In this new edition, Alimentaria+Hostelco, the competition’s founding sponsor, leads the institutional backing for the Chef and Waiter of the Year Competition. They also have the support of Cambrils Town Council, Juver, Cirio, Campofrío, Bonduelle, Mahou San Miguel, Café 170, Solán de Cabras, Nocilla, ColaCao, Vajillas Churchill, Aceites Rafael Salgado, Atún Rojo Fuentes, Duni and Gary’s.
Open call for kitchen and front-of-house professionals
Entries for this year’s competition are now open. Interested professionals can submit their applications via the official websites of both competitions.
Entries for the Chef of the Year Competition can be submitted at:
https://concursococinero.com/inscribete/.
Meanwhile, front-of-house professionals wishing to take part in the Waiter of the Year Competition can register at: https://www.concursocamarero.com/inscribete/.
About the CHEF AND WAITER OF THE YEAR COMPETITION
The Chef of the Year Competition and the Waiter of the Year Competition are biennial events organised by Grupo Caterdata. Both were conceived as sister events designed to promote emerging and established talent in the kitchen and front of house. Since its inception, the Chef of the Year Competition has become an important platform for professional advancement. More than 70 chefs associated with the competition have subsequently been awarded Michelin stars in Spain, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The list of winners of the Chef of the Year Competition includes Jordi Cruz (Àbac ***, Angle * and Atempo*), winner of the first edition; Beatriz Sotelo, winner of the second; José Carlos Fuentes (Barbudo), winner of the third; Víctor Manuel Rodrigo (Samsha), winner of the fourth; Joaquín Baeza Rufete (Baeza & Rufete*), winner of the fifth; Raúl Resino (Restaurante Raúl Resino*), winner of the sixth; Álvaro Salazar (Voro**), winner of the seventh; Cristóbal Muñoz (Ambivium*), winner of the eighth; Toño Rodríguez (La Era de los Nogales*), winner of the ninth edition; and Paula Gutiérrez (Tayta*), winner of the tenth edition held in 2026.
For its part, the Waiter of the Year Competition was established with the aim of highlighting the essential role of front-of-house professionals. The competition recognises the skills of the maître d’, the sommelier, the barman, the head of service and all other roles that form part of the service in a hospitality establishment. The winners of its six editions have been Beatriz Bravo García, in the first; Óscar Quintana, in the second; Ángela Marulanda, in the third; Mireia Riba, in the fourth; Miguel López, in the fifth; and Javier Gil, winner of the sixth edition held in 2026.
Source: TOMCOM VIDEO