ITALY’S BEST YOUNG CHEF CROWNED – SHOWCASING ICELANDIC SALTED COD

Italy’s best young chef crowned – Showcasing Icelandic salted cod. In February, Italy’s top young culinary student was crowned in a competition organised by the project Bacalao de Islandia and the Italian Chefs Federation (FIC). The event occurred in Rimini, Italy, as part of the “Beer and Food Attraction” festival, from February 16 to 18. Young chefs from all 20 regions of Italy competed. Participating schools were given Icelandic salted cod beforehand to allow students to practice using it. Naturally, the final round of the competition highlighted Icelandic salted cod as the main ingredient.

Seventeen-year-old Emanuele Scattarella, a student at the Armando Perotti culinary school in Bari, took home the top prize. Interestingly, last year’s winner also came from the same school—proof that Icelandic salted cod has truly made its mark among culinary students in Bari.

Emanuele’s winning dish was titled ‘Salted Fish à la East,’ creatively blending culinary traditions from the Puglia region in Italy with Eastern cuisine. The salted fish was oven-baked on a Lebanese wooden board and seasoned with sumac, accompanied by ingredients such as lemons, olives, pistachios and pomegranate.

This marks the fifth occasion that Bacalao de Islandia has organised such a competition in Italy and the third time in partnership with the Italian Chefs Federation.

Kristinn Björnsson, Trade Manager at Business Iceland, represented the campaign at the event, praising its organisation and execution. He highlighted the privilege of being chosen by the Federation to present Icelandic salted cod in the national competition.

“It’s not just that Icelandic salted cod is the centrepiece of the final,” said Kristinn. “Many students across Italy also receive the product to practice with in advance. I wouldn’t be surprised if, in a few years, every restaurant in Bari is proudly serving top-quality Icelandic salted cod,” he added, referring to the fact that the last two winners both came from that same region.

As part of his prize, Emanuele will travel to Iceland in September. His teacher and the winners of similar Bacalao de Islandia events in Spain and Portugal will accompany him.