Held at Ktima Akrani on 27 April, the World Food Gift Challenge 2023 gathered 29 among the most outstanding food gifts and craft gifts related to food from eight awarded World/European Regions of Gastronomy.
Unique stories and fine craftsmanship from across the World Regions of Gastronomy Platform took the international stage at IGCAT’s 4th World Food Gift Challenge. Hosted by South Aegean – European Region of Gastronomy since 2019, on the island of Kos, the competition awarded the ten best food gifts and craft gifts related to food for 2023, selected by an international jury of experts.
Held at Ktima Akrani on 27 April, the World Food Gift Challenge 2023 gathered 29 among the most outstanding food gifts and craft gifts related to food from eight awarded World/European Regions of Gastronomy including: Catalonia (awarded 2016); South Aegean (awarded 2019); Slovenia (awarded 2021); Menorca (awarded 2022); Trondheim-Trøndelag (awarded 2022); Hauts-de-France (awarded 2023); Saimaa (awarded 2024); and Aseer (awarded 2024).
A competition to celebrate food and cultural diversity
An intense evaluation process took place to identify exemplary, one-of-a-kind gastronomic gifts according to a set of criteria such as taste, attractiveness, sustainability, connection to the region they come from, storytelling, creativity and innovation.
After acknowledging the excellent quality of all the competing products, the jury selected three overall winners:
- 1st prize, Illa de Mel (Honey Island) by Illa de Mel (Menorca, European Region of Gastronomy awarded 2022), handed over by Governor of South Aegean Region, George Hatzimarkos;
- 2nd prize, Nokiakka Jams by Nokiakka (Saimaa, European Region of Gastronomy awarded 2024), handed over by Mayor of Kos, Theodosis Nikitaras;
- 3rd prize, Melekouni P.G.I. by Filema Rodion (South Aegean, European Region of Gastronomy candidate 2019), handed by Ambassador of the Aegean Cuisine, chef Argiro Barbarigou.
And seven category winners:
- Best Contemporary Interpretation of Traditional Craft, Per Molts d’Anys (For Many Years Ahead!) by Núria Deyà (Menorca, European Region of Gastronomy awarded 2022);
- Best Storytelling, Masia Packwith 12 Torclum Flavoured Oils by Torclum (Catalonia, European Region of Gastronomy awarded 2016);
- Best Promotion of the Region, Afternoon Tea by Smaker Fra Øyriket (Trondheim-Trøndelag, European Region of Gastronomy awarded 2022);
- Best Tasting, Aseer Taste by Tahlal / Abdullah Al-Jurashi (Aseer, World Region of Gastronomy awarded 2024);
- Most Ecological Choice, An Apple, A Bee and A Tree by Tjaša Mesinger (Slovenia, European Region of Gastronomy awarded 2021);
- Most Sustainable Packaging, Plates of Mette from Norway by Mette Brasøy (Trondheim-Trøndelag, European Region of Gastronomy awarded 2022);
- Most Creative Branding, Table Cannonballs by Aequo.design for ALL (Hauts-de-France, European Region of Gastronomy awarded 2023).
The international jury panel included:
- Wendy Barrie, IGCAT Expert and Director of the Scottish Food Guide & Scottish Cheese Trail, Scotland;
- Dimitris Koullias, executive chef and member of the Chefs’ Club of the Dodecanese and Cyclades, a stakeholder for South Aegean, European Region of Gastronomy awarded 2019;
- Kirsi Vartia, Tourism specialist at the Eastern Finland Rural Women’s Advisory Organization / ProAgria, a leading stakeholder for Kuopio, European Region of Gastronomy awarded 2020-21;
- Francesco Grech, author, composer, and Cultural Manager at Gozo Regional Council, candidate European Region of Gastronomy for 2026, Malta;
- Paula Frade, Researcher at the Institute of Traditional Literature Studies, Heritage, Arts and Cultures (IELT), New University of Lisbon; President and Founder of the Oliveira do Hospital Centre of Culture and Tradition (OH-Culture), Portugal; and IGCAT Expert in Coimbra, European Region of Gastronomy awarded 2021-22;
- Andrea Iurato, pastry chef, Master Chocolatier, and owner of Casalindolci pastry shop and lab in Modica, from Sicily, candidate European Region of Gastronomy for 2025, Italy.
On behalf of the jury, Wendy Barrie claimed that: “It has been an absolute pleasure and honour to be on Kos and have the opportunity to evaluate products with such extraordinary quality. They have taken our hearts away! The jury has worked as a great team, collaborating and debating to give value to your products and their future. We once again acknowledged the importance of storytelling to evoke the story of the products and were impressed by the very high standards of all the gifts presented.”
Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
