Bulgarian Chef Triumphs at World Culinary Forum with Unique Recipe

16.07.2025 | Cooking

Kaloyan Kolev, a lecturer from Varna, won a national qualification and will represent Bulgaria at a prestigious international culinary competition in Valencia with an innovative recipe using local products.

Снимка от United States Senate - Office of Lisa Murkowski, Wikimedia Commons (обществено достояние)

The established culinary expert Kaloyan Kolev from the Varna Institute of Culinary Arts won the right to defend the national colors at the World Paella Championship. The prestigious competition World Paella Day will be held on September 20 in Valencia, Spain.

During the SOLE festival in Burgas, the professional demonstrated exceptional skills in front of an international jury, including the current world champion chef Joe William Padilla Castro. His competitive advantage was an original recipe composed entirely of Bulgarian products - rabbit, tokachka, petrohan, and truffles, which he identified as the result of family production.

In the preparation process, Kolev participated in a series of master classes at his home institute, where leading foreign chefs from Canada, Russia, and the Philippines were guests. These international training sessions not only enhanced his expertise but also attracted significant public interest.

The achievement of the Varna chef is seen as an important step in establishing Bulgaria as a country with a high level of culinary mastery on the world stage.