The event, attended by the Vice President of the Generalitat Valenciana, Susana Caballero, and the President of the Diputació de València, Vicent Mompó, was noted for its "unbeatable" atmosphere and the appeal of the local gastronomic culture.
The mayor of Ontinyent, Jorge Rodríguez, positively assessed the change in date and format, a proposal stemming from the demands of hospitality professionals. "It has been a success to change the contest day. Professionals had been telling us for some time that it was better to separate the professional from the amateur, keeping the latter on the Fira Monday but advancing the professional one. And, indeed, we have had more participation than ever," he highlighted.
Jauja bar won the traditional 'coca' category, with a prize of 800 euros, while El Taulell restaurant received the 200-euro runner-up prize in the innovation category. A specialized jury, including chef Jordi Morera, chef Santi Prieto, baker Gonzalo Pertusa, and Antonio García from Ontinyent's Stop 2 restaurant (last year's winner), blind-tasted the creations.
The Vice President of the Diputació de València and Councilor for Economic Promotion, Natàlia Enguix, emphasized the quality of Ontinyent's gastronomy and the growing prominence of local establishments. "Ontinyent's gastronomy, its restaurants and bars are of exceptional quality. They have transformed Ontinyent in recent years and are the main actors in a recipe as traditional as the Coca de Fira," she stated.
The fourth edition of the competition will continue next Monday, November 16th, with the amateur category, starting at 12:00 PM in the parking lot of Sala Gomis. The Councilor for Fira, Festes i Tradicions, Àngels Muñoz, encouraged citizens to participate. Registrations can be made until this Friday, November 6th, at the City Council, civic centers, and the Casa del Delme.
