Director of the Coimbra School of Hospitality and Tourism and IGCAT Expert from Portugal, José Luís Marques, will be a member of the jury for the 8th European Young Chef Award, taking place in Sicily (Italy) from 27-30 November 2024.
With nearly his entire professional life dedicated to education and training, José Luís has built a solid foundation in various fields, including Tourism and Gastronomy, Public Management, Social Sciences, and Health and Safety. Since 2019, he has served as the Director of the Coimbra School of Hospitality and Tourism. Previously, he was the Head of the Food Division at the Social Action Services of the University of Coimbra (2017-2019), overseeing the management of all university canteens, cafeterias, and restaurants.
His extensive experience at the Coimbra School of Hospitality and Tourism (2001-2017) includes roles such as Coordinator of Hotel, Restaurant and Facilities Operations (2009-2017), Vice-Director (2004-2009), and Interim Director for 13 months. He has also contributed to the institution as a Coordinator for the Certification Department and Training Department (2001-2004).
José Luís holds a degree in Sociology from the University of Coimbra and has pursued postgraduate studies in Tourism and Hotel Management at the Coimbra School of Education. He is dedicated to promoting culinary excellence and sustainable practices in the hospitality industry.
About the European Young Chef Award, José stated that: “I’m very pleased to join EYCA 2024 as a jury member! This is a culinary contest and a cultural gathering that fills us with hope about the future of gastronomy, since we are working with Young Chefs fully committed to the quality of food and the sustainability of ecosystems”.
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.