Sailing and cooking. It is a unique event that bears the name of Prosecco DOC MAXI ON Cooking Star in Grand Brioni and featuring a double competition: three days of regattas, from Friday, June 2 to Sunday, June 4, in the North Adriatic Sea among the breathtaking coastline of Istria between Rovinj, Pula and Rijeka, enhanced by the Contest between the Michelin-starred chefs from Italy and Slovenia, for an event that will therefore be not only sporting, but also gastronomic of the highest level.
Along with the regattas, in fact, the chefs will compete with the final score and consequent ranking that will be given by the “combined” result between that obtained on the water, between the buoys, and that obtained on land, at the stoves, by the chefs belonging to the various teams.
Spearheading the event, designed by Claudio Demartis, already among the authors of numerous events inspired by the sailing + cooking philosophy, is the well-known actor Alessandro Preziosi (who confesses to being a sailor) while chairing the quality jury is chef David Skoko, one of the best Croatian chefs (chef of konoba Batelina, one of the most famous Istrian restaurants), TV star on 24Kitchen channel and winner of last year’s edition.
On the day of June 2, star chefs will compete first at sea by helming maxi yachts and then in the evening in the preparation of dishes where one of the main objectives will also be to enhance the products and traditions of the area.
Each course will be evaluated by the gastronomic jury, a special prize will also be awarded to the best pairing with Prosecco DOC, title sponsor of the event. In case there are 2 chefs with the same score, the result of the regatta will determine the winner of the evening. The competition will take place at the newly renovated 5-star Grand Hotel Brioni.
The competing chefs are. Alessandro Breda Of Gellius Restaurant (Oderzo, TV), Renzo Dal Farra For the Locanda San Lorenzo (Puos d’Alpago, Belluno), Lorenzo Cogo of the Dama’s restaurant (Venice) and Stefano Fermanelli for La Subida (Gorizia), Mauro Elli Of Il Cantuccio (a restaurant on Lake Como), Matjaz Šinigoj of Casinó Perla (Nova Gorica, Slovenia) and the young Johnmark Nanit del Vetri (Murano – Venice).
Making up the international gastronomic jury chaired by Chef David Skoko, the creator and organizer of the event Claudio Demartis, the Chef of Baccalàdivino Franco Favaretto, the actor Alessandro Preziosi, Tanja Barratin Promotion and Enhancement at Consorzio di Tutela della DOC Prosecco, the Chef at Grand Hotel Brioni Luca Jukič, the Executive Chef of the Park Plaza Werner Seebach while VIPs in the room will include Giulio Guazzini (RAI Sport Journalist), Influencer MissClaire, famous influencer couple Andrea Del Corso and Teresa Langella as well as many international journalists from Germany as well.
To compete in the water instead, thanks to the organization of the Yacht Club Uljanik of Pula chaired by Hrvoje Markulinčić, between the Istrian and Julian coasts, maxi yachts, members of AMYA, from Italy, Slovenia and Croatia: the Mylius 76 E_Vai by Francesco Illy, the Vallicelli 60-foot Adriatic Europa by Dusan Puh, Farr 80 Anemos II of Mark Bono, the VOR60 Cleansport One by Jure Orel and the 54-foot Fanatic helmed by Alex Peresson.
The most luxurious and technologically modern marina on the Adriatic, ACI Marina Rovinj will host the fleet of impressive maxi yachts for this important regatta, and crews can count on ACI Marina’s crucial support for the Pula leg as well. The regattas will be held thanks to the joint efforts of ACI d.d., international brands, Uljanik Sailing Club of Pula and Maestral Sailing Club of Rovinj.
Departure from ACI Marina Rovinj is scheduled for Friday, June 2, at 1:00 p.m. for ACI marina Pula, where the fleet will arrive after 18 nautical miles, followed by the evening chef challenge (hosted by the Grand Brioni Hotel), where chefs can contribute to the outcome of their respective teams. The next day sails will be unfurled for the inshore trial over the 16-mile distance in front of the Pula Riviera. On Sunday, June 4, there will be the 46-nautical-mile crossing from Pula to Rijeka, before the final award ceremony in Rijeka, a rehearsal that will thus enable the various crews to be present the following Sunday for the Fiumanka regatta.
“Istria, a wonderful land; – commented the creator of the event, Claudio Demartis – the North Adriatic, a beautiful sea; incredible Maxi Yachts with professional crews and equally professional and starred chefs competing against each other first at sea and then between the stoves at the Grand Brioni Hotel, the pearl of Istria and our event. And again, Prosecco DOC, which has believed in us and with its bubbles, the best-selling in the world, goes to add to all these ingredients, it has to be said, which season this truly unique event and which we hope will return for many years to be the highlight of our Sailing World. I would really like to thank all our supporters very much, from the main sponsor Prosecco DOC, Arena Hospitality Group and the Grand Hotel Brioni for the star chefs’ contest and hospitality, ACI Marinas for the crucial support for the crews and maxi yachts, and JK Uljanik for the organization and logistics of all the races. I thank all the shipowners whose presence and availability make this event possible.”
Maxi On Cooking Star Press Office
Daniela Sartogo