Michelin chefs lead hands-on healthy eating lessons with 150 children at Benahavis charity event

Prestigious Michelin-starred chefs from all over Spain stepped into the spotlight during the eighth ChefsForChildren gathering at Anantara Villa Padierna in Benahavis on April 20.

Top names guided practical workshops with 150 children, who included youngsters living with rare diseases as well as pupils from Daidin and Atalaya schools.

Workshops turn simple recipes into fun nutrition lessons

Young participants followed the motto ‘Eating healthy is fun‘ while the very best of Spain’s chefs demonstrated easy dishes in a playful setting.

Le Cordon Bleu Madrid instructors worked together with Benahavis Hospitality School students to add extra educational value across the day. Morning activities opened with a gastronomic forum before the chefs joined the children for the outdoor kitchen sessions.

Gala dinner raises vital funds for FEDER

Evening proceedings featured a charity dinner in aid of FEDER, the association that supports children affected by rare illnesses. It provides advocacy, resources, information and direct assistance, with a strong emphasis on improving quality of life for children living with these illnesses.

An eight-course tasting menu was served at a very special fundraising gala that evening in which some 300 guests paid €300 a head at the Villa Padierna in aid of FEDER. Working full-out in the kitchen, Mario Cachinero of Skina, Benito Gomez of Bardal, Mauricio Giovanini of Messina, Jose Carlos Garcia of Jose Carlos Garcia Restaurante, Diego Gallegos of Sollo, Dani Carnero of Kaleja, David Olivas of Back and Diego del Rio of Boho Club.

Hotel executive chef Manuel Navarro oversaw the preparation of a cocktail served in the amphitheatre garden. Master baker Domi Velez supplied the bread for the entire occasion.

Local produce and sponsor support drive the initiative

Organisers selected Malaga province because of its plentiful supply of fresh, healthy ingredients, a national beacon of nutrition and the finest Michelin-standard cuisine. Frutas and Verduras Eladio owner Eladio Rueda joined as one of the sponsors while his company prepares for national expansion.

Multiple backers have been helping this much-loved event make this regular date on the Spanish culinary social calendar possible. Several chefs encountered travel problems linked to high-speed rail disruptions into Malaga, however, Iberia stepped in and arranged a special flight to carry the professionals given the event’s importance and impact.

Caixa contributed through its social responsibility portfolio. A representative shared a personal account of how important this initiative is to her in that her own daughter has a serious collagen deficiency and the central role of good nutrition.

ChefsForChildren once again showed its role as a leader in both education and societal unity, all with the finest cuisine Spain has to offer.