Ten pastry chefs, eight countries and a formidable amount of chocolate are heading to Alicante next week.
Alicante Gastronómica will host the final of the third Paco Torreblanca International Haute Patisserie Award on Friday 2 October.
The challenge sounds deliciously straightforward: create what the competition hopes to crown the best chocolate cake in the world.
Ten finalists from Spain and Latin America will put their pastry skills to the test during the opening day of Alicante Gastronómica, which runs from 2 to 5 October at IFA-Fira Alacant.
Eight countries compete in Alicante
Seven finalists have travelled from Latin America after qualifying through competitions in their respective countries since June.
Argentina will send Luciana Germelli, a 25-year-old pastry chef specialising in chocolate who works at Betular Patisserie.
Juan Martín Grassano Bernasconi represents Uruguay. A pastry chef, cook, baker and teacher, he has taught at the Instituto Gato Dumas in Uruguay since 2010 and has extensive experience working with cacao and chocolate.
Chile’s finalist is Nadia Castillo Pumarino, founder of Dulcívoro in Santiago. Her career includes work in French restaurants and appearances at major international pastry competitions.
Jonathan Alexander Buitrago Arcila will represent Colombia, while experienced pastry chef Jean Carlos Padilla Vélez travels from Ecuador.
Mexico’s contender is Rubén Alan Díaz González, a specialist pastry chef and chocolatier who works with Puratos México.
Completing the Latin American line-up is Peru’s Cristian Joel Jiménez Cajahuarina. He secured his place after winning a chocolate cake competition organised by Instituto D’Gallia and the Escuela Internacional de Alta Pastelería Torreblanca in 2025.
Three Spanish pastry chefs join the final
Spain has three contenders hoping to keep the title closer to home.
Daniel Luque brings more than 15 years of experience to the competition. His career has included the Hotel María Cristina in San Sebastián, Oriol Balaguer in Barcelona and Club Allard. He now runs Dani Luque Pastelería in San Sebastián.
Lucía Gisbert combines product research and development with teaching at Barcelona’s Hofmann cookery and pastry school. Her experience includes restaurant desserts, contemporary pastry, chocolate and confectionery.
Marianna Camps completes the Spanish trio. She has worked at L’Atelier in Barcelona since 2022 and won first prize for the Best Easter Chocolate Figure in Catalonia in 2023.
A serious judging panel
The finalists will need to impress some formidable names from the pastry and culinary world.
The judging panel includes Alicante-born master pastry chef Paco Torreblanca, whose name the competition carries, alongside Alain Chartier, Oriol Balaguer, Carlos Mampel, Raúl Bernal and Jacob Torreblanca.
Chef Kiko Moya, Rafael García Santos and Manuel Villanueva will also join the jury.
The judges will have the task of separating ten chocolate creations produced by professionals specialising in pastry, confectionery and sweet cuisine.
Not exactly the worst job at Alicante Gastronómica.
Alicante becomes a meeting point for international pastry
The competition forms part of the eighth Alicante Gastronómica, which takes over IFA-Fira Alacant from Friday 2 to Monday 5 October.
This year’s fair brings together chefs, restaurants, producers and food professionals for four days of demonstrations, tastings, workshops and competitions.
The chocolate cake final adds an international flavour to the opening day, bringing competitors from Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru together with three Spanish finalists.
And while most of us will never need to decide which of ten professionally made chocolate cakes deserves a world title, Alicante will have a panel prepared to tackle that particular burden on 2 October.
Bridging the Gap’s recap
- Alicante Gastronómica hosts an international chocolate cake final on Friday 2 October.
- Ten professional pastry chefs will compete in the third Paco Torreblanca International Haute Patisserie Award.
- Finalists come from eight countries across Spain and Latin America.
- Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru each have a finalist.
- Spain has three contenders: Daniel Luque, Lucía Gisbert and Marianna Camps.
- The judging panel includes Paco Torreblanca, Alain Chartier, Oriol Balaguer and Kiko Moya.
- Competitors will put their chocolate, pastry technique and creativity to the test.
- Alicante Gastronómica runs from 2 to 5 October at IFA-Fira Alacant.
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