José de la Blanca has won the Best Chef on the Costa Tropical competition, which was hosted by Hotel Victoria Playa in Almuñécar.

José, who is the chef at Hotel Miba in Salobreña since it opened its doors won the 200-euro prize and its accompanying diploma, which were handed over by the Almuñécar Councillor for Tourism, Rafael Caballero Jiménez.

The Second Prize, worth 100 euros and a diploma, was won by Sergio González, who is the Chef of Restaurante Firmum in Almuñécar.

Finally, the Third Prize, worth 50 euros and a diploma, went to Pablo González, from Restaurante Trasmallo in Salobreña.

The press release contains descriptions of the winning dishes, but anybody who has every tried to translate a restaurant menu will know that the task is mind boggling precisely because of the ‘dish descriptions,’ so…, if you like, I’ll post the original Spanish at the foot of the article and away you go!

First Prize: Un canelón de aguacate relleno de tartar de calamar con una crema de mango y chile chiprote, aire de manzana, una aceituna negra deshidratada, mango liofilizado y todo metido en una copa ahumada de vino con romero, servida con vino Calvente y todo regado con aceite de oliva Sacromonte de Granada.

Second Prize: Un cilindro de calamar lo hemos cocido a baja temperatura y lo hemos rellenado con guisantes repelados salteados con chalota, a ello sumamos una espuma de parmentier de patatas con guisantes y placton marino, una tostar de tinta de calamar y chalota sobre el que hemos hecho un tartar de calamar con el mango y aguacate iba todo ligado con fondo oscuro de calamar y chalota

Third Prize: Un plato sencillo y bastante equilibrado”, elaborado con un ceviche con un manto de aguacate, confitura de mango y algo de quisquilla de Motril y perlas de aceite de picual y tierra de aceite.

(News: Almunecar, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)