Do you think you’ve got what it takes to master one of the Costa Blanca’s most traditional recipes, the pebrereta?
Villajoyosa is inviting amateur cooks of all ages to put their culinary skills to the test. The 32nd Pebrereta Competition returns on Friday 19 June, one of the most popular events in the town’s gastronomic calendar.
As part of the wider La Vila Gastronómica programme, the annual contest celebrates pebrereta, a local summer dish that generations of Vilero families have passed down through the years.
A taste of authentic Villajoyosa
Teams will gather beside Les Puntes del Moro beach on Avenida Altea to
prepare their own versions of the traditional recipe.
Pebrereta combines green peppers, pumpkin, tomatoes and sangatxo (salt-cured tuna), creating a dish that reflects the flavours and culinary heritage of the Costa Blanca coast.
To keep every entry true to tradition, organisers will supply all ingredients free of charge.
Judges will award three prizes to the best dishes.
Young chefs get their chance
The event also gives younger cooks an opportunity to showcase their skills.
The third Children’s Pebrereta Competition starts earlier that afternoon at 18:00 in the courtyard of the El Pla Municipal Stadium.
The junior contest welcomes children aged between six and 16 and allows them to learn the recipe with guidance from a professional local chef.
Participants will cook in teams alongside an adult supervisor, but the young chefs will take charge of the preparation themselves.
One of the town’s biggest food events
The adult competition begins at 20:00 and will likely draw large crowds once again.
Tourism councillor Rosa Llorca described the event as one of the most popular fixtures in Villajoyosa’s gastronomic calendar.
She said the competition helps preserve one of the town’s most traditional recipes while showcasing local ingredients, particularly the famous sangatxo and Villajoyosa pumpkin.
