2023 World Paella Cup: Japan Triumphs in Valencia’s Delicious Celebration

VALÈNCIA, Spain (September 22, 2023) – With chef Kohei Hatashita as the country’s representative, Japan was named the 2023 World Paella Day Cup winner.

Last Wednesday, the Town Hall Square of València hosted the event, in which 12 chefs from around the world vied for the coveted award. The winning recipe featured orange duck rice and leek as its main ingredients. Second place was awarded to Ecuador, represented by chef Cristian Arroba, while third place went to Colombia, represented by Arturo Bedregal.

Ceremony attendees included the mayor of Valencia, María José Catalá; the deputy of Tourism and Sport, Pedro Cuesta; the Councillor for Tourism, Paula Llobet; and the general director of Turisme Comunitat Valencian, Esther Labaig. Other representatives of the hospitality and tourism industry were also present.

The celebration kicked off last Wednesday at 10:00 AM with dueling dish preparations between Poland and Ecuador, Italy and Colombia, India and Germany, Japan and Mexico, United States and France, and Morocco and Romania.

The jury members were Juan Ramos Roda, head chef of Llisa Negra; Carmina Crespo, manager of L’Altet Restaurant; Cristina Prados, head chef of BonAmb and winner of the National Paella Award 2022; Yvonne Arcidiacono, sommelier and head waiter at Apicius; José Manuel Casañ, singer of the band Seguridad Social; Sam Giansante (representing Eric Gil, winner of the past World Paella Day Cup, who was unable to attend); and Juani Kittlein, runner-up of the 2022 edition.

World Paella Day aims to provide Valencian gastronomy with the visibility and recognition it deserves. The City Council of Valencia promotes the event through Visit València, Turisme Comunitat Valenciana, the Diputación de València, Turisme València, and Turespaña. Also collaborating are FEHV, Arròs de València D.O, Wikipaella, and Concurs Internacional de Paella Valenciana de Sueca.

A journey through the birthplace of paella

Paella is one of the most widely known dishes in the world. Part of its success lies in the fact that every cook has their unique recipe. This has also led to a debate about how the traditional Valencian paella should be made.

Seeking to make the World Paella Day Cup participants into ambassadors of Valencian gastronomy, an itinerary is put together for them each year that includes activities related to rice, paella cooking techniques, ingredients, and more.

From September 16 to 19, the participating cooks of World Paella Day visited some of the most important places of Valencian gastronomy. This itinerary included a master class with Rafa Margós, chef of Les Bairetas, who taught them the handling of firewood, and sessions with Chabe Soler, winner of the WPD Cup 2020, and Noelia Pascual, winner of the World Paella Day Cup 2021.

For all participants, this was a memorable journey through the birthplace of paella, where they could experience Valencian gastronomy first-hand.