Valencian Community Tourism, through the Exquisite Mediterranean, collaborates in the third edition of TapaFest, the gastronomic competition parallel to the Benidorm Fest that began on January 24 and is held until February 2. An event that has the participation of 21 Benidorm hotel establishments that compete for the tapa with the fastest rhythm of the competition, and which has so far distributed around 6,000 tapas.
This is an event organised by the Association of Bars, Restaurants, Cafes and Nighttime Entertainment of Benidorm (ABRECA), in collaboration with the Generalitat, through L’Exquisit Mediterrani, the Benidorm City Council, Conhostur and the Repsol Guide, and which this Friday presented the awards for this 2025 edition.
The regional secretary of Tourism, José Manuel Camarero, wanted to highlight that “the Benidorm Fest has consolidated itself as an international platform that, in addition to showcasing musical talent, highlights local gastronomy with the parallel event Tapa Fest.”
Along these lines, he stressed that “through L’Exquisit Mediterrani, Benidorm has shown the world the quality of its products and the creativity of its chefs, fusing tradition, music and innovation in each award-winning tapa.”
In this context, José Manuel Camarero pointed out that “the Benidorm Fest and, in parallel, the Tapa Fest are being fundamental for the deseasonalisation and diversification of tourism, which is contributing to a notable increase in hotel occupancy and an increase in the turnover of the hospitality industry”. In this regard, he recalled that, in its 2024 edition, the Benidorm Fest achieved a direct economic impact of 2.5 million euro, 65% more than in its first edition, held in 2022.
For the regional secretary of Tourism, “these results are the fruit of collaboration between the public and private sectors, an effort that continues to generate success in the city of Benidorm”. Finally, he congratulated the winners of the Tapa Fest 2025 “for their talent” and thanked all the participants “for making this event possible, which will continue to be a benchmark for gastronomic tourism in Benidorm”, he added.
The mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez; the president of Abreca, Javier del Castillo, and the manager of the association, Irene Carreño, also participated in the awards ceremony.
Tapa Fest 2025 award winners
The ‘Flamenquín Deluxe’, from Taberna Andaluza, has been the star tapa of the III Tapa Fest Tapas Competition. The public, with their votes, has chosen this option as the best tapa among the proposals of the 21 participating establishments. This delicacy is a crispy roll of Iberian ham stuffed with cheese and dates, coated with breadcrumbs and quicos, accompanied by Pedro Ximénez and honey and mustard aioli.
The second prize went to Linaje de Castilla with its tapa ‘Las 3 bellotas’, and the third award went to DNI Ibéricos with ‘Nuestra Diva’.
This year, in addition, a special prize has been awarded by the jury made up of Antonio Crespo, Paco Juan, the two from the CdT Network, María Ritter from Guia Repsol and Julio Moreno from the Llar del Pescador, which went to the La Fava Restaurant for its ‘Coca Vasco-Valenciana’, an incredible mixture of coca with salmorreta jam, roasted garlic praline, confit cod and its pil-pil.
To close the day, a double ticket has been raffled for the final gala of the Benidorm Fest, which will be held this Saturday, February 1st.
The 21 participating establishments in this edition of the Tapa Fest, which will continue to offer the best of our tapas until this Sunday, February 2, are: Cervecería L’Abadia, Linaje De Castilla, Terraza Bahía, Shija Sabores De Los Balcanes, Freiduría Los Peces , Pinocho Playa, La Cava Aragonesa, El Rincón De Ribera, Playa La Pinta, Malaespina, La Fava, Marisquería El Puerto, DNI Ibéricos, Restaurante El Mesón, Taberna Andaluza, La Tapería Grupo Aurrera, La Brasería Aurrera, El Bodegón Aurrera, Pintxos Aurrera, La Tabernita Del Sur and Arrocería La Marina.
Author: Derek Appleton
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