#News • 1 October 2025

Registration Open for the 9th Edition of Chef Balfegó

• The Chef Balfegó gastronomic competition has officially opened registrations for its ninth edition, consolidating its position as one of the leading international contests dedicated to bluefin tuna.

This competition, which in its latest edition set a record for international participation with contestants from 9 countries, aims to find the new master of bluefin tuna cuisine to succeed the winner of the 2025 edition.

All chefs currently working in any restaurant in Europe can submit their application here until April 30.

An internal jury, made up of chefs and fine dining professionals, will select the 4 best proposals, which will compete with 8 European chefs coming from an international semifinal to be held next autumn.

The application process consists—besides completing the form with personal details and professional experience—of submitting a written preparation and a photograph of two recipes featuring bluefin tuna as the main ingredient. The first must обязательно use the bluefin tuna loin; the second can use any cut of the tuna, chosen from the more than 20 currently marketed by Balfegó.

A Legacy of Excellence: The European Triumph of 2025

The launch of this new edition comes after a historic eighth edition, in which German chef Franz-Josef Unterlechner, from the restaurant Schwarzreiter (Munich), claimed the award. Unterlechner impressed the jury with dishes such as his “Tuna Pearl stuffed with Ossetra caviar, oyster, and tagetes,” showcasing the competition’s ability to attract the highest level of culinary talent across the continent.

The 2025 podium was completed by Léo Besnard (Le Lion d’Or, Switzerland) in second place, and Athinagoras Kostakos (Noema, Greece) in third place, reinforcing the global nature of a competition that brings together technique, culture, and product.

Technical Excellence and a Legendary Jury

The twelve selected finalists —four national and eight international— will compete in a live cooking event at the facilities of Le Cordon Bleu Madrid on November 30. That same evening, the awards ceremony will take place at the Gran Teatro CaixaBank Príncipe Pío, where the winners will be announced in front of the press and attending audience.

The verdict will be entrusted to an exceptional jury chaired by Martín Berasategui (12 Michelin stars) and composed of renowned chefs and leading gastronomic critics. In the 2025 edition, Quique Dacosta, Fina Puigdevall, and Ricard Camarena were responsible for evaluating the finalists’ proposals.

The evaluation criteria will focus on flavor, aroma, and texture (40 points), presentation (30 points), balance of ingredients (15 points), and the proper handling of the product (15 points).

A Springboard for Fine Dining

Being named Chef Balfegó represents a decisive boost in any chef’s career. The prizes in this edition are valued at over €30,000, and for the first-place winner they include €6,000 in cash, a gastronomic trip to Japan, professional audiovisual coverage, and the prestige of joining a star-studded list of winners.

The new edition of Chef Balfegó is already underway, seeking chefs ready to turn bluefin tuna into a true showcase of talent, technique, and creativity.

Because the next great creation that puts these values at the center of the stage could bear your signature.