O Jovem Talento da Gastronomia (JTG) competition heads south for the last semi-final of this year’s edition, scheduled for November 20, in Quinta do Lago, in the Algarve. After the stages held at the Instituto Politécnico do Cávado e do Ave and the Escola de Hotelaria e Turismo do Oeste, on the 5th and 12th of November, it is now the turn of young talents in the restaurant and hotel industry to compete in the Algarve region.
Organized by Edições do Gosto, JTG is currently the largest national competition dedicated to hotel and restaurant students under 25 years old, providing a program of visibility, training and contact with reference professionals for future generations of Portuguese gastronomy.
The competition includes six categories aimed at students in the areas of lounge/bar, kitchen/pastry and management: Cozinha Recheio, Pastelaria Dovo, Plant-Based by Bonduelle, Innovation with Arroz Bom Sucesso, Artes da Mesa ICEL, Bartender Manja and Gestão F&B by Quinta do Lago.
In the Algarve, the last three categories will be contested — Artes da Mesa ICEL, Bartender Manja and Gestão F&B by Quinta do Lago — with tests scheduled for the restaurants Bovino Steakhouse and Casa Velha.
At the same time, between 10:30 and 16:00, Bovino Steakhouse hosts the JTG Roadshow, presented by Algarve bartender Wilson Pires (In’Verso, Faro). The initiative was conceived as a learning dynamic designed to reinforce the knowledge of hospitality students, including presentations, cooking demonstrations and games led by renowned chefs, pastry chefs and bartenders on the national scene.
Among the confirmed names are Lara Figueiredo (MACAM, Lisbon), David Jesus (Seiva, Leça da Palmeira), Filipe Ramalho (Páteo Real, Alter do Chão) and André Condeço (Sublime Comporta), who will cover topics such as “The brave world of vegetables”, “F&B Management: the production of experience” and “The rise of NoLo Cocktails”.
National final scheduled for December in Estoril
Each category was developed to highlight different aspects of gastronomy and service, promoting technique, creativity and practical knowledge. The three best-ranked competitors in each of them guarantee access to the national final, scheduled for December 3rd and 4th, at the Estoril Hotel and Tourism School.
The evaluation will be carried out by a panel of renowned professionals, including the head and president of the jury Luís Gaspar (Brilhante, Sala de Corte and Pica-Pau), and also Jaime Montgomery, Matilde Machado (Penha Longa Resort), Maria Hipólito (EHT Lisboa), Rafael Ventura (EHT Lisboa), André Condeço (Sublime Comporta), Jorge Jesuíno, Debbie Tsao and José Botelho, the latter from Quinta do Lago.
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