For the first time in competition: Russia, Ukraine and China participate in the Cous Cous World Championship
For the first time in the history of the festival, 10 countries will compete in the Cous Cous Fest, the 27th edition of which will take place in San Vito Lo Capo from 20 to 29 September 2024. Bia Cous cous world will therefore be a special edition championship, the World Couscous Championship, the central event of the festival, which pits international chefs against each other in a friendly competition dedicated to the exchange of cultures.
China
Giulia Liu and Zuo Cuibing take the field for China. Giulia Liu is the founder and owner of Gong Oriental Attitude, a Chinese haute cuisine restaurant in Milan. At his side is chef Zuo Cuibing: he is a master of traditional Chinese cuisine.
Eritrea
Eritrea will be represented by Biniam Sagai. Born in Asmara, he is the chef and owner of the Savana Eritreo restaurant which offers authentic Eritrean cuisine, a journey through the colours, scents and flavors of Africa.
Israele
Israele gareggia con gli chef Tze’ela Rubinstein e Mauro Galigani, coppia anche nella vita, che gestiscono nelle campagne di Lucca il Cooking in Toscana, ristorante di cucina tradizionale regionale, ma anche luogo di eventi e cooking class.
Italy
Italy will be represented by Antonino Ingargiola, born in 1995, chef of the “Bik Bak” ristopub in San Vito lo Capo. Lover of the flavors and colors of the Sicilian tradition.
Morocco
For Morocco competing will be the chef couple Chaoui Hanae and Mourad Dakir. Chaoui Hanae is an entrepreneurial chef, specializing in Moroccan cuisine and pastry making. At her side is her husband Mourad Dakir, master of Fassi couscous, a typical sweet and sour specialty.
Palestine
Palestine instead fields Shady Hasbun and Samia Sowwan.
Shady Hasbun grew up in Palestine, but was later influenced by Tuscan and Middle Eastern culinary cultures. Samia Sowwan, Palestinian, enrolled in the Culinary Academy, works at the Simbiosi restaurant in Cinquale, in Forte dei Marmi.
Russia and Ukraine
Two chefs who work in the same restaurant, Veranda, which offers Ukrainian, Russian, Georgian and Belarusian cuisine in Milan, are competing for Russia and Ukraine. Hanna Yefimova, chef, will represent Ukraine. Among its specialties is Borsh, a traditional Ukrainian soup.
Evgeniy Romanov, born in 1984, is cooking for Russia and specializes in traditional Russian cuisine at the Veranda restaurant. Among its specialties are the Tsar's Crepes.
The Ukrainian “Hanna Yefimova” - Russian “Evgeniy Romanov” couple demonstrates how boundaries are in men's heads, on paper, not in culinary traditions
Tunisia
Tunisia competes with another couple of chefs, Amine and Sahla Marrakchi, both from Sfax where they work at the Doigts D'or restaurant, in the heart of the Medina. both worked in training chefs in Tunisian cuisine for the Iberostar chain.
Medici Senza Frontiere
The tenth team in the competition will be the one promoted by Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which for this important occasion has formed a truly "Senza Frontiere" team, led by Cesare Battisti, chef and host of the Ratanà restaurant in Milan and composed of its sous chef Davide Politi and by the Senegalese chef Mbaye Mbow. Battisti is considered today one of the most representative chefs of revisited traditional and quality cuisine.
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