Nominations open today for the Basque Culinary World Prize, an annual award for a trailblazing chef whose work has had a transformative impact “beyond the kitchen” in areas such as technology, education, environment, health, food production or on social or economic development.

This unique global award, now in its fourth year, was created by the Basque Government and the Basque Culinary Center. It celebrates the impact gastronomy can have when chefs use their creativity, knowledge, leadership and entrepreneurialism to generate change within society.

An interdisciplinary jury, made up of some of the most influential chefs in the world, together with academics and international experts, select each year’s winner.  Every year they choose a chef whose work embodies the ethos of the prize: to transform society through gastronomy. The winner will receive 100,000 euros, which he or she will devote to a project of his choice that expresses the transformative power of gastronomy.

Opening of nominations:

Gastronomic professionals and institutions will be able to nominate chefs that demonstrate how gastronomy can become an engine of change from today until May 15th. Nominations must be made through the website of the Basque Culinary World Prize:

 www.basqueculinaryworldprize.com

The Basque Culinary World Prize appeals to the collective knowledge of the gastronomic community to discover professionals working throughout the world, who are working in areas such as innovation, technology, education, the environment, health, the food industry and social and economic development.  The award is open to anyone with a professional background in cooking – regardless of their culinary culture or nationality.