European Regional Semi-Final Worldchefs European Grand Prix 2025. The Global Chefs Challenge, held in Rimini, Italy, brought Croatian chefs, members of the Croatian Chefs' Association, a series of medals, which was not easy to achieve in the fierce competition, and which showed that domestic chefs not only successfully compete with the best European chefs, but also surpass them in many disciplines with their skill and creativity.
At the three-day competition, from 16nd to 18th February, held during the traditional Beer & Food Attraction event, competed in four categories – Global Chefs Challenge, Global Young Chefs Challenge, Global Pastry Chefs Challenge and Global Vegan Chefs Challenge.
Croatian chefs won a total of four medals, in each category. Chef Amos Novak (Terbotz restaurant, Železna Gora, Međimurje) and Mladen Zorec (Terbotz) in the most competitive category, the Global Chefs Challenge, they took second place, they were overtaken by the Italians, and overall they were fourth in the standings for Southern Europe. Silver was and Dinko Tomasic (Hotel Turist, Varaždin) in the Global Young Chefs Challenge category. Ivan Ergović (Valamar) and Dora Bukovac (Valamar) for their desserts in the Global Pastry Chefs category, earned bronze as well as Patrik Prnjak (Restaurant Riva lounge&bar, Pula) i Josipa Burzelic (Valamar) in the Global Vegan Chefs Challenge category.
Among the judges of the prestigious international culinary competition was Erich Glavica, president of the Croatian Culinary Association, who judged in the Global Young Chefs Challenge category.
Although Croatian chefs won the most medals overall, they still narrowly missed out on the Grand Prix final, but they are satisfied with what they showed.
– In such competition, when you are in the same group as the Italians, and you win silver, you cannot be dissatisfied. It was very challenging and strict, you had to pay attention to every, even the smallest detail, respect HACCP, pay attention to technique... As for the dishes, I am satisfied with the execution, they turned out exactly as I wanted. Although I am, of course, sorry that we did not make it to the finals, with our results we proved that we can compete with the best European chefs, he says Amos Novak, chef from Međimurje with a series of awards won so far, who, together with other participants in the competition in Italy, are perceived in the world of gastronomy as the most promising domestic culinary masters of the new generation.
///Međimurje – an unmissable gastronomic destination with top chefs
Source and photo: Međimurje County Tourist Board
