IGCAT Expert from Romania, Dr. Iulia Drăguț will join the jury of the 8th European Young Chef Award, taking place in Sicily (Italy) from 27-30 November 2024.
Dr. Iulia Drăguț has been President of the Cultural Association Euro East Alternative since 2007 and an IGCAT Expert since 2019. With a PhD in Philosophy cum laude and multiple qualifications in hospitality industry management and training, she has become a prominent figure in the field of culinary arts and sustainable gastronomy. Over the past 15 years, she has organized and participated in numerous national and international culinary events, contributing to the promotion of cultural and gastronomic heritage.
In 2023, she played a significant role in initiatives that showcased her dedication to sustainable gastronomy, including the “Chefs’ New Year’s Eve” celebration and the “Sustainable Fish Festival.” She also spearheaded the “Gastronomic Education” program in Romania, an innovative discipline aimed at transforming how children understand food. Her efforts in developing new occupational standards for chefs and diet chefs have modernized Romania’s approach to culinary education, aligning it with European standards. Beyond her contributions to gastronomy, Dr. Drăguț has a passion for reimagining traditional Romanian cuisine with a modern twist. She has also been actively involved in charitable endeavours and initiatives aimed at nurturing new generations of HoReCa specialists, such as the “Culinariada” festival.
Dr. Drăguț’s involvement with IGCAT has emphasized the importance of promoting gastronomic excellence and sustainability, and her work embodies the organization’s mission to connect culinary innovation with cultural heritage.As a jury member, Dr. Drăguț’s expertise will contribute to evaluating the creativity, skill, and innovation of the young chefs participating in this year’s European Young Chef Award.
Regarding the European Young Chef Award, she remarked: “Investing in gastronomic education today—both for service providers and consumers—will yield tangible results in the medium and long term. Competitions like the European Young Chef Award not only offer a good return for creators of tourism and gastronomic services but also appeal to a wide range of consumers, from neophiles to neophobes. The EYCA provides an opportunity to uncover new talents, explore innovative approaches, and reinterpret traditional recipes, fostering creativity and cultural exchange in the culinary world.”
About IGCAT’s European Young Chef Award
The European Young Chef Award is an annual competition organised by the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Art and Tourism (IGCAT) that gathers young culinary talents from the awarded and candidate European Regions of Gastronomy. Selected each year through local contests, finalists to the European Young Chef Award compete by innovating traditional recipes from their regions using local ingredients.
The 8th edition of the European Young Chef Award is organised and promoted by IGCAT and hosted by Sicily, European Region of Gastronomy awarded 2025. The competition will be held at the IPSSEOA “Giovanni Falcone”, Giarre Hospitality School on 27-30 November 2024.
About the World/European Regions of Gastronomy
World/European Regions of Gastronomy, guided by IGCAT, are working together to strengthen food security through the celebration of distinctive food cultures; create employment by stimulating creativity and gastronomic innovation; nourish children and adults through culinary and cultural education; driving environmental sustainability in tourism, hospitality and agricultural sectors; supporting balance and sustainable tourism practices; highlighting and supporting expertise from within rural and urban communities, creating connections and sharing good practices; and contributing to community health and well-being.
About IGCAT
IGCAT aims to empower local communities by raising awareness of the importance of protecting and promoting distinct regional food, culture, arts and natural assets as part of sustainable and balanced tourism and development strategies. This is essential to safeguarding our planet, health, wellness and local economies.
IGCAT is a non-profit institute established in 2012, working with regional stakeholder consortiums in the fields of gastronomy, culture, arts and tourism. It counts on the expertise of a worldwide network of experts and works in partnership with specialised intergovernmental organisations.
IGCAT founded the World/European Region of Gastronomy Award and is the official secretariat for the World/European Regions of Gastronomy Platforms. Furthermore, the Institute has developed the European Young Chef Award, the World Food Gift Challenge, the Top Websites for Foodie Travelers Award and the international Food Film Menu.