Alfredo Dueñas, winner of D'Tapas COVAP Pasión Ibérica competition

For the fourth consecutive year and following the success of the three previous editions, the Cooperativa Ganadera del Valle de Los Pedroches (COVAP) has held the COVAP Pasión Ibérica Tapas Gastronomic Competition to promote the 100% Iberian acorn-fed acorn-fed product in the fine dining sector. A total of 30 chefs from all the provinces of Spain took part in the competition, which consisted of three semi-finals held in Alicante, Bilbao and Cordoba. The three finalists competed yesterday on the stage of San Sebastian Gastronomika 2019, one of the most important specialised congresses in the world, where chef Alfredo Dueñas, from the Restobar restaurant in Pozoblanco (Córdoba), won the title of “Chef de la Tapa Ibérica COVAP 2019” thanks to his tapa Como agua para chocolate: textura de pan con chocolate, lomo de orza y jamón con tomate, inspired by the Mexican film and made with COVAP Ibericos products.

The challenge in this grand final was to create an original live tapa, inspired by cinema and whose main ingredient was COVAP's 100% Iberian product: COVAP's 100% Iberian Alta Expresión de Los Pedroches acorn-fed ham and 100% Iberian acorn-fed pork loin from its selection of 100% Iberian Alta Expresión COVAP pork meats. Creativity, elegance, presentation and flavour were taken into account in the final decision.

The prize for the winner will be a Specialisation Course in Cuisine at the Basque Culinary Center, while the runner-up, Luis Salcedo, from the Remigio restaurant in Tudela (Navarra) and winner of the Special Press Prize, will receive a Course for Professionals at the aforementioned centre. The third winner, Consuelo Serrano, from La Cava del Royán in Alcantarilla (Murcia), will be able to enjoy a gastronomic experience in a Michelin-starred restaurant. The tapas with which both won second and third place were Desayuno con diamantes en Los Pedroches (Luis Salcedo's) and Tomates verdes fritos (Consuelo Serrano's homage to the film of the same name).

TAPAS ROUTE AND POPULAR COMPETITION

After the official decision of the competition, during the months of October, November and December the restaurants of the 30 chefs participating in the 4th edition (restaurants located in different provinces of the country) will offer the tapas presented so that the public can not only taste them but also choose the “Chef de la Tapa Ibérica Popular 2019”.