Petrer amateur cooks invited to battle for Best Mediterranean Rice title

Amateur cooks in Petrer are gearing up for a culinary showdown on September 12 in the first qualifier for the seventh Best Mediterranean Rice Competition. Organized by Alicante Gastronomica, the event will take place at Carrefour Petrer and is open to anyone eager to showcase their family rice recipes. Participants can prepare any type of dry or creamy rice dish, excluding soupy ones, and must cook it in a 32-centimeter paella pan provided by the organizers.

Professional chefs and restaurant owners are not allowed to enter, ensuring the competition is geared towards enthusiastic home cooks. There's a special children's category for those under 17, with an adult allowed to accompany them. This allows young cooks to demonstrate their skills and vie for a spot in the Alicante final. The qualifier is just one of five rounds happening in Alicante province from September 12 to 26.

The competition aims to spotlight traditional recipes, family favorites, and innovative Mediterranean rice dishes. Only the top two contestants from each round advance to the final at IFA-Fira Alacant in October, where ten finalists from each category will compete. The prize money is substantial, with the adult champion winning €1,000 and the children's winner taking home €500.

Entries are now open on the competition's official website, giving amateurs a chance to enter and see if their favorite recipe has what it takes to be crowned the Best Mediterranean Rice.