Passion and talent in our kitchens: Zafiro Culinary Art
Behind every dish we serve at Zafiro Hotels are a few ingredients that never change: passion, precision and plenty of creativity, all brought together to surprise our guests. These qualities truly come into their own at Zafiro Culinary Art, our in-house culinary competition celebrating the talent within our teams.
Held every year to coincide with International Chefs Day, this flavour-filled event returned for its third edition with a particularly sweet challenge: to create a contemporary dessert with Balearic and Mediterranean character.
Three creations, three talented chefs, with Mallorca and Menorca as their inspiration. What more could you ask for? Discover the award-winning desserts and find out which one you’ll be able to enjoy on our hotel menus during the 2027 season.
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A challenge with Mediterranean flavour
The third edition of Zafiro Culinary Art once again brought together chefs and kitchen teams from across our hotels to showcase their technique, experience and creativity. This time, pastry and some of our most distinctive local flavours took centre stage. A culinary challenge that went far beyond simply creating a delicious dessert.
As well as demonstrating technical skill and celebrating local produce, participants had to impress the judges with an original creation, beautifully presented and suitable for inclusion on our hotel menus.
And once again, they rose to the challenge! Because beyond the competition itself, Zafiro Culinary Art is also an opportunity to exchange ideas, learn from colleagues and share experiences outside the kitchen.
In the words of Carlos Jiménez, Corporate F&B Manager at Zafiro Hotels, who presented the awards at this year’s event:“It’s a very special day and great fun too, giving our chefs the chance to step away from their kitchens and spend time together. It allows us to get to know each other better, exchange experiences from the season, share ideas and, of course, talk a lot about food. It’s a great way to bring the team together.”
The winners
Of all the entries, three desserts stood out in particular. Three different interpretations of Mediterranean flavours, each with a personality of its own:
1st Prize — Zafiro Palace Alcudia
- Chef Antonio Llabrés Fernández
- Creation: Raíces de Mallorca
2nd Prize — Zafiro Palace Andratx
- Chef Daniel Melenchón Capote
- Creation: Alquimia Mallorca
3rd Prize — Son Sabater by Zafiro
- Chef Joaquín Cabot Bauzá
- Creation: Ánima de Mallorca
As tradition dictates, the winning dessert, Raíces de Mallorca, will be added to our hotel menus for the 2027 season, giving all our guests the chance to enjoy it and discover the island’s culinary roots on their next holiday.
What makes the winning Raíces de Mallorca dessert so special?
Until then, here’s a little taste of what awaits when you try this dessert.
As Jiménez explains, the winning creation“brings together flavours from our island beautifully, such as carob, in a creamy combination with honey and white chocolate, and a citrus touch of orange that brings all the elements together. It’s a modern interpretation of Mediterranean flavours in dessert form: visually striking and colourful, as well as balanced and complete.”
A tradition of our own
The story of Zafiro Culinary Art began at Zafiro Palace Andratx, where the first edition of the competition was held. Kitchen teams from across the group presented their finest creations to a judging panel made up of the chefs themselves. Since then, the initiative has continued to grow in both participation and ambition, becoming one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the year for our kitchen teams.
Three editions sharing our passion for gastronomy and reaffirming something we deeply believe in: the best talent is the talent we nurture from within. The winning creations from previous editions are a perfect example: vegan boletus cannelloni (2024) and Angus beef rib roasted with Vi de la Terra wine (2025).
And perhaps most special of all, the results of that talent ultimately reach our guests’ tables, becoming part of their own gastronomic experience. For all of us at Zafiro Hotels, gastronomy is far more than a service. It is the result of the dedication and hard work that goes on behind the scenes in our kitchens, day after day.
That is why, for us, there is no greater recognition than seeing the enjoyment on our guests’ faces as they discover our creations, whether in the restaurants of our four-star resorts, the dining venues of Zafiro Palace Collection, or the produce-led cuisine of our Zafiro Boutique Collection. The distinction fits the current positioning of the two collections, with Palace centred on five-star resorts and gastronomy, and Boutique on authentic Mallorca and island-inspired cuisine.
Thank you to Carlos, to all our chefs and to everyone who gives their very best in our kitchens, day after day.
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