Catalonia to be represented by young chef Noelia Fernandez at the European Young Chef Award 2026

Catalonia has chosen its representative for the European Young Chef Award 2026 final. Young chef Noelia Fernandez Estrada, a student at Joviat Culinary, has been awarded the Catalan Food Prize, a distinction that gives her the right to represent Catalonia at this prestigious European competition.

The award was presented at the 45th University Gastronomy Conference organised by Sant Pol Hospitality & Culinary Business School – Barcelona (St.Pol HC), a landmark edition that once again brought together emerging talent from the Catalan gastronomy sector. The event hosted the 38th Catalonia Young Cooking Competition and the 42nd Catalonia Young Cocktail Competition, consolidating its position as the country's leading showcase for hospitality schools.

Noelia Fernandez was the overall winner in the cooking category, taking both the Grand Prize and the Catalan Food Prize with her dish “Partridge with cabbage, Catalan style”. Her proposal, a contemporary reinterpretation of traditional Catalan recipes, won over the jury with its technique, flavour and connection to the land.

With this recognition, Fernandez becomes an ambassador for Catalan gastronomy and local produce across Europe, strengthening Catalonia's position as a culinary benchmark.

The event featured an internationally renowned jury, chaired by chef Jordi Artal (Cinc Sentits, 2 Michelin stars) in the cooking category, and Alfredo Pernía, founder of Bespoke Hospitality Art, in cocktails. Both highlighted the high technical and creative standard of the participants and the strength of culinary training in Catalonia.

In parallel, the cocktail competition recognised Martina Columé (IGB Institut de Gastronomia de Barcelona) with the grand prize for her creation “Matcha Tropical”, further demonstrating the quality of emerging talent in this field.

This year's edition saw broad participation from training centres across the region, reaffirming St.Pol HC's role as a meeting point for the sector. Participating schools included EHTB, Joviat Culinary, IGB, CETT, Vedruna PRO, Bisbe Sivilla, Escola d'Hoteleria del Vallès Oriental, EHTV Cavall Bernat, Institut Martí Dot, Escola d'Hostaleria de Sitges Joan Ramon Benaprès, Jesuïtes Sarrià - Sant Ignasi, Escola d'Hostaleria d'Osona and St.Pol HC itself.

The event was made possible with the support of the Government of Catalonia, through Prodeca and Catalunya Experience, as well as various industry bodies. This public-private collaboration reinforces the commitment to promoting young talent and the internationalisation of Catalan gastronomy.

With Noelia Fernandez named as Catalonia's representative at the European Young Chef Award 2026, Catalonia continues to invest in the sector's future, showing the world a cuisine that is rooted, innovative and built on the excellence of its produce.