Off the wire
• European Parliament debates China market economy status  • Australian gov't commits to improving low organ donation rate  • "Archaic" rules changed to allow female Aussie MPs to breastfeed in parliament  • Urgent: 3 schools in Australian capital city evacuated after bomb threatening call  • Roundup: S. Korea's headline inflation falls below 1 pct in 3 months  • Australia's northern states braced for possible outbreak of Zika virus  • FLASH: 3 SCHOOLS IN CANBERRA EVACUATED DUE TO BOMB THREAT: POLICE  • 1st LD Writethru: U.S. starts first-in-nation caucuses to choose presidential candidate  • Australian PM hints at September election as parliament resumes for 2016  • Xinhua China news advisory -- Feb. 2  
You are here: 　 Home

Spain launches international award for chefs improving society

Xinhua, February 2, 2016 Adjust font size:

A prize aiming to reward chefs who make positive contributions to society was initiated in San Sebastian, Spain on Monday.

The Basque Culinary World Prize was launched by the Basque Culinary Center (BCC) with the support of the government of the Basque region in northern Spain. It will be given every year to one chef who uses the cuisine as a tool to transform society.

The jury of the prize, which consists of world-famous chefs, will take into consideration the social impacts of different chefs' projects that can be related to cultural issues, culinary innovation, social responsibility, sustainability and economic development.

The winner will receive 100,000 euros which are supposed to be invested in a cuisine project that promotes social improvement in a certain aspect.

The director general of the BCC, Joxe Mari Aizega, said the prize was a pioneer award aiming to promote a new reality that chefs can positively contribute to social change.

"You can contribute to society beyond the cuisine and use the cuisine as a tool," he said.

Joan Roca, chair of the Jury and chair of the International Council of the BCC, emphasized the responsibility of the chefs for the environment and society.

"This initiative is an important precedent because this points to the future of gastronomy", he said.

The nomination of this year's prize also started on Monday and will finish on April 30, after which 20 finalists will be chosen. The winner will be awarded in September.

The BCC is an academic institution devoted to promoting innovation and higher education in gastronomy and nutrition. It was founded by seven of the top Basque chefs along with Mondragon University. Endi