60+1 International competition of Valencian Paella of sueca ·40 chefs, including 10 international, they have chosen to cook the ‘best paella in the world’

The 60 + 1 edition of Sueca’s International Paella Valenciana Contest has been special after its suspension last year for the first time in its long history due to the pandemic. The Department responsible for the oldest gastronomic contest of those held in Spain, has finalized all the details so that on Sunday 12, and under the measures established by the health authorities, the event has been a success again.

The dean contest is globally recognized in the sector, not only because it is the oldest of those held, but also because, in each edition, the demand for participants increases. For Manoli Egea, councilor responsible for the event, “it is an event of great repercussion attended by participants from different parts of the world. This edition has been very special, not only because of the symbolic nature of the anniversary, but also because of the complexity of working with a certain degree of uncertainty that is always present. All the details of an edition that has presented new features have been finalized, such as the exhibition that throughout the week has been enjoyed in the Els Porxets room and that collects, with documentation and photographs, the 60 years of life of the ‘Fiesta del Arroz de Sueca ‘, acquiring a leading role in the Sueca Valencian Paella International Contest ”.

Another novelty that has been included in this edition is the initiative of the Department responsible for the event, with the collaboration of the Swedish and Beaches Hospitality Guild, to create ‘PaellArròs - L’autèntica Paella als Restaurants de Sueca’, thank you To which, a large number of restaurants in the city offered in their menus, throughout the year, the Valencian paella following the original recipe of the Sueca International Valencian Paella Contest to the delight of citizens and visitors.

The mayor of Sueca, Dimas Vázquez, has shown his satisfaction at being able to celebrate the 60 + 1 edition of the contest, which acquires a special symbolism as it was not possible to celebrate the long-awaited 60th anniversary in 2020. “For all this, for the work, tenacity and enthusiasm that the entire City Council has invested and, especially the Department responsible for the Concurs, this edition has been loaded with a great emotional component for everything we have experienced.

We hope that this edition is the first of a new normality and, at the same time, that it be remembered as a symbol of union and of the faithful commitment of this City Council, and this city, with its most esteemed event ”.

Another novelty introduced this year has been the preparation of a commemorative book for the important event that is being celebrated, in which all editions will be accommodated. Likewise, as it happened in 2019 for the first time, this year the City Council has again proceeded to draw 16 invitations in order to bring the event even closer to all citizens interested in participating with their presence.

Regarding the prizes awarded, in addition to the three awards for the best paella of the edition, an award was given to the best paella cooked by a local, regional, national and international restaurant. In this edition, the hotel and restaurant businesses of Sueca have been invited to participate: Cuina de mare, Fernandet and La Granja.

For their part, the contestants from the Valencian Community will be: Asador Alfàbega (Alginet), San Pablo (Valencia), La Pepa Bluespace (Alboraya), La Arrocería de La Mejillonera (Benidorm), Chaparral (Serra), Tabick Lounge - Arrossos I Brases (Llombai), Hotel San Luis (Playa de Gandía), Medieval House (L’Ènova), Hotel Restaurant La Casa Blava (Alzira), Edelweiss take away (Villar del Arzobispo), La Cantina de Ruzafa (Valencia), Arroso per import Pepi (Alcàsser), Juan XXIII (Benifaió) and La Salud (Valencia).

From various autonomous communities have attended: Arroceria restaurant Casa Pepe Sanchís (Córdoba), El Gusto (Seville), El Muelle del Barrio Pesquero (Santander), Arroz & Roll - Los Arroces de Guillermo (Puertollano), Dixtinto (Jaén), Hipotel Playa de Palma Palace (Palma de Mallorca), I Love Paella Catering (Hernani), Casa de Andalucía (Pinto), El Trato Gastrobar (Madrid), Grupo Makkila (Madrid), Casa Moraleda (Madrid), Mesón El Copo (Cádiz) and El Madrileño (Madrid).

Regarding international participation, we will have: Alikante 22 (Mexico), El Coraloense, Ferdinando Campaniello (Italy), Paellas & Paellos (Peru), Lo de Tere Restaurant (Uruguay), Smoky Joe Caribbean Grill (Puerto Rico) , Paellas La Moraleja and Tequila’s Mexican Grill (USA), Paella Party NJ (USA) and Grill Lander (Mexico).

The participants have been valued, one more year, by a jury of recognized professional prestige, with a long history in the world of gastronomy from different areas, which will contribute their vision and knowledge about the complex and ancestral world of paella, where It is not only important to know how to execute the recipe but to elaborate it with skill and with respect for each of the ingredients.

In this edition, the awards for Paelleros de Honor have been awarded again, this time posthumously, to three people who had a special relationship with the contest: Francisco Segarra, mayor of Sueca in 1961 and promoter of the International Paella Valenciana Contest from Sueca; Jacinto Perea, chef de cuisine of the Hotel Astoria in Valencia and first winner of the contest in 1961; and the first woman winner of the Concurs, Josefa Clar Beltrán.

Finally, in the section of sponsors, there have been many companies and entities that have wanted to show their collaboration with this special edition of the Concurs, such as: Fruits and Vegetables Alabau, Garcima, Arroz Dacsa, Oliespal, Gran Cuk, Carmencita, Choví, Dicoval, Coca Cola, Turia, Carrocerías Viel, SercyOval, Etygraf, Sipcam, Paello, Caixa Popular, Granny and Denomination of Origin Arroz de Valencia.