President of the Cultural Association Euro East Alternative (ACEEA), Iulia Dragut, PhD will join the jury of the European Young Chef Award 2021, to be held in Braga (Minho, European Region of Gastronomy awarded 2016) on 23-24 November.
As President of ACEEA, Iulia Dragut has created many food-related concepts and projects, as well as organised multiple events promoting Romanian cuisine both nationally and internationally.
With a doctorate in Philosophy form the Babeş-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca, Iulia Dragut advocates for the introduction of gastronomic education as a subject in schools. Her work is also focused on the development of culinary and gastronomic literature at national and international level, as well as the inclusion of Romanian cuisine in the UNESCO cultural heritage and on the international gastronomy map.
Iulia Dragut obtained several trainer and management diplomas within the hospitality industry and is also an international culinary judge. She is the initiator, author and coordinator of the recently launched Handbook of Gastronomic Education.
Her wish to the 2021 finalists is: “the European Young Chef Award is an unmissable opportunity for you to celebrate together your food and cultural diversity as well as your future as creators of beauty, artists and artisans of taste!”
About the European Young Chef Award
The European Young Chef Award is an annual competition organised by 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 5th edition of the European Young Chef Award is organised and promoted by the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Art and Tourism (IGCAT) and hosted by the Municipality of Braga (Portugal) in Minho, European Region of Gastronomy awarded 2016. The competition will be held in the renovated Municipal Market of Braga on 23-24 November 2021 and will gather finalists from 10 European Regions of Gastronomy.
About the European and World Regions of Gastronomy
Candidate and awarded European and World 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; drive environmental sustainability in tourism, hospitality and agricultural sectors; support balance and sustainable tourism practices; highlight and support expertise from within rural and urban communities, creating connections and sharing good practises; and contribute to community health and well-being.
About IGCAT
IGCAT aims to empower local communities by raising awareness of the importance to protect and promote distinct regional food, culture, arts and natural assets as part of sustainable and balanced tourism and development strategies. This is essential to safeguard 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 European and the World Region of Gastronomy Award and is the official secretariat for the European and World Regions of Gastronomy Platform. Furthermore, the Institute has developed the European Young Chef Award, the European Food Gift Challenge, the Top Websites for Foodie Travelers and the Food Film Menu.