A jury of gastronomy professionals joins the new edition of the contest to choose the best tapas in Estepona

The president of the Gastronomic Academy of Malaga, Manolo Tornay; Lourdes Muñoz, from Grupo Sonder; the chef and gastronomic advisor Manuel Balanzino; and Jacinto Castillo, from One2One will select one of the award winners.

Participants in the XIV Ruta de la Tapa will compete for two prizes of 1,000 euros in the categories: best tapa chosen by customers and best tapa for the professional jury. The registration period will remain open until February 27.

Estepona City Council reports that the registration period is now open to participate in the XIV Ruta de la Tapa, framed in the cultural event ‘Estepona lives its streets 2025’, whose celebration will take place from 28 to 30 March and, as a novelty, modernizes its image and includes the slogan ‘Taste Estepona’. As in every edition, bars and restaurants located in the Municipality of Estepona will be able to register. In this edition, a jury made up of professionals from the gastronomy and hospitality industry will join the contest to choose one of the winners.

This event aims to promote the gastronomic culture of the town and the popular tradition of tapas, while making known and highlighting the value of the gastronomic offer of the city. The Councillor for Culture, Macarena Diánez explained that this year the participating establishments will participate in the contest ‘The Best Tapa 2025’, which this time increases the number of prizes. Thus, participating establishments will opt for two categories: 1,000 euros and a plaque for the winner of the best cover chosen by customers by popular vote, and another prize of 1,000 euros and plaque to the winner of the best cover chosen by a professional jury. This jury will be formed by Manolo Tornay, president of the Gastronomic Academy of Malaga; Lourdes Muñoz, Sonder group; Manuel Balanzino, chef and gastronomic consultant and Jacinto Castillo, One2One.

In addition, one of the sponsors of the Ruta de la Tapa, Frutas & Verduras Acosta will give each registered establishment with 100 euros in purchases in this establishment for the preparation of their tapa.

The public will have, as in previous editions, a passport that can be stamped in each participating establishment and that will allow them to participate in the draw for attractive prizes when they collect at least five stamps from different establishments participating in the Route.

Both the rules and the registration form are available on the bulletin board of the City Council, which can be consulted on the municipal website www.estepona.es. Registrations may be delivered completed in the City Hall Entry Register, addressed to the municipal delegation of Culture, until February 27, 2025.