The event reaffirmed the importance of salmon as an emblematic product of the regional cuisine, bringing together students from technical-professional high schools and local restaurant teams.
With great success and high attendance ended the Gastronomic Festival of Salmon in Puerto Montt, event organized by CFT Santo Tomás in partnership with SalmonChile and the Tourism Department of the Puerto Montt City Council. The culinary competition, which highlighted salmon as an emblematic product of the Los Lagos region, featured the participation of talented students from technical-professional high schools and outstanding local restaurant teams.
The event, which took place in Puerto Montt, brought together more than 100 attendees who could enjoy innovative gastronomic proposals and culinary techniques.
In the category of educational institutions, the first place was awarded to Isidora Silva and Camila Azócar from the Vencedor school, who demonstrated great creativity and technical skill in their preparation. "We are very grateful that we were invited, thank you to SalmonChile, to Santo Tomás and to the Tourism Department of the Puerto Montt municipality. We are very happy with our victory, we feel really good. Happy with the result, we managed to get through despite the nerves, we are very happy with everything we did and thank everyone who helped us," said the winners.
In the restaurant category, the recognition went to Esteban Morales, owner and chef of Sushi el Patagón, who presented an innovative proposal. "Our dish was a salmon ceviche with local products, with nalca, with strawberries, with murta, we made a toast with chicharrones. This was a dish that we thought of as a whole family. The competition was difficult, there were very well done and high quality dishes, so the joy is even more" biggest. I want to congratulate everyone who participated, and especially the high schools, as they are the chefs of tomorrow," said Morales.
Francisco Renner, Director of Communications of SalmonChile, highlighted the importance of this type of collaborative initiatives. “This festival is not only a showcase to show the gastronomic talent and quality of salmon in the region, but also helps strengthen the joint work between the productive, educational and local communities. The collaboration between institutions such as the CFT Santo Tomás, the Municipality of Puerto Montt and SalmonChile is fundamental to generate initiatives that value our flagship products and promote sustainable territorial development,” he said.
The jury of this edition was composed of outstanding professionals in the gastronomic and tourist field: Arturo Reyes, director of Tourism of Puerto Montt; Diego Inzunza, of the Cabaña del Lago Hotel; Loreto Appel, journalist of Salmonexpert; Francisco Renner, director of Communications of SalmonChile; Pablina Morales, director of southern area of Les touches Blanches; and Karla Barrientos, head of shop El Volcán, company that donated the prizes for the lyceum winner.
The event, which has already become a tradition in the regional capital, counted on the participation of outstanding chefs and local authorities, who valued the contribution of the festival to the promotion of gastronomic tourism and the diffusion of the benefits of Chilean salmon, recognized internationally for its quality and flavor.
For his part, Frederic Emery de Santo Tomás, organizer of the competition, noted that the Salmon Festival exceeded all expectations. “Seeing the enthusiasm of young people, the creativity of technical lyceos and the passion of local restaurants fills us with pride. Twenty years after starting this adventure, I can say that the contest lives its best moment: more diverse, more regional and with impressive energy. I appreciate it. deeply to SalmonChile for believing in this project and accompanying us with so much commitment; thanks to its support, the festival continues to grow and consolidate itself as a true celebration of the south and its flagship product: salmon,” he concluded.
