Winner of Mar Menor’s ‘Battle of the Restaurants’

IN a culinary showdown dubbed ‘Battle of the Restaurants,’ the quest for the best ‘caldero’ along the Mar Menor has found a winner. Four restaurants, three from La Manga and one from Cabo de Palos vied for this prestigious title.

Exploring Mar Menor’s Culinary Treasure: Caldero

‘Caldero’ is one of Mar Menor‘s culinary treasures, originating from fishermen’s recipes using their catch of the day, now celebrated in regional cuisine. Made with a fish base, rice, paprika, tomato, parsley, garlic, and bell pepper, it’s unique for serving the rice and fish separately.

Behind the Scenes: Judging Criteria and Competition Dynamics

Hosted by Alberto Chicote, the competition saw La Solana Bar Restaurant led by Adrián Ros (La Manga Club), Maloca with Clara Agüera (La Manga), Freiduría Mar Menor under Antonio López (La Manga), and Al Lío led by Liborio Saura (Cala Reona, Cabo de Palos) compete for the title.

The judges took the kitchen, food, service, and price, into consideration and the contestants also scored each other. After tasting various dishes, Chicote awarded the winner €10,000.

And the Winner Is… Chicote’s Verdict and the Winning Restaurant

Chicote’s verdict crowned Maloca as the region’s best ‘Caldero’ destination, but it was a close competition.

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