Expoliva announces the winners of the Jóvenes Fogones del Sur Awards

Within the framework of the International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Exhibition (SIAOVE) Expoliva 2025, the I Expoliva Young Chefs of the South Contest was held with great success, an initiative organized by the Fundación del Olivar and sponsored by Gusto del Sur.

This contest was born as a firm commitment of the Fundación del Olivar for the gastronomic diffusion of extra virgin olive oil, promoting its use among the new generations of Andalusian cooks, as a fundamental ingredient of healthy, innovative and Mediterranean identity cuisine.

The objective of the contest was to recognize the creativity, technique and culinary commitment of young talents, while reinforcing the cultural and gastronomic value of EVOO in hotel and catering training.

The jury of the contest was made up of prominent personalities from the gastronomic and olive oil fields:

. Juan Casado, teacher of IES del Valle.

. Pablo Ruiz, Friends of the Holy Kingdom Gastronomic Association.

. Darío Díaz, president of the Friends of the Holy Kingdom Gastronomic Association .

. Javier Olmedo, managing director of the Fundación del Olivar.

During the final, held at Expoliva 2025, the young chefs had the same amount of time to prepare their proposals before the jury, using extra virgin olive oil as the basis of inspiration.

The decision was as follows:

1st Prize: Irene Jiménez Bejarano, from the Escuela Superior de Hostelería de Sevilla, with the dish “Raíces”.

2nd Prize: Arturo Villén Delgado, from C.P.I.F.P. Hurtado de Mendoza of Granada, with “Cold pickled tuna with pipirrana, avocado cream and EVOO pearls”.

3rd Prize: Daniel Morata Morata, also from C.P.I.F.P. Hurtado de Mendoza, with “Pan aceite con cremoso de habas, salted cod and lime mayonnaise.”

With this initiative, the Fundación del Olivar reaffirms its commitment to the promotion of extra virgin olive oil as an engine of culinary innovation and a central element of the Mediterranean diet, linking tradition, territory and youth.