Chefs for Children – Michelin Star chefs and eager children cooking together

The seventh year of ChefsForChildren brought together Spain’s culinary masters and 150 children at Anantara Villa Padierna for a day of learning and fun under the theme ‘Eating healthy is fun.’

The event put together Michelin-starred chefs with children from DiabetesCERO, a foundation supporting type 1 diabetes research, and students from Daidín and Atalaya schools in cooking workshops making nutritious, enjoyable meals with fun.

Chefs, including Malaga’s Michelin stars like Mario Cachinero (Skina) and Benito Gómez (Bardal), taught simple recipes alongside Le Cordon Bleu Madrid professors and Benahavís Hospitality School students. The evening gala was postponed because of the power outages. However, the celebrity chefs continued their event in the sun during the day. 

Benahavís Mayor José Antonio Mena praised the event’s blend of gastronomy and solidarity, lauding the town’s hospitality training legacy. Malaga’s Diputación, via Sabor a Málaga, and the Costa del Sol Occidental Municipalities supported the initiative, giving emphasis to its promotion of local products and social impact.

Sandra Campinas from DiabetesCERO expressed gratitude and noted the event’s emotional effect on children suffering from type 1 diabetes. This condition affects between 1,200 and 1,500 Spanish kids annually. 

Anantara’s Jorge Manzur, and event promoter Pilar Candil, both spoke about the role of this initiative in encouraging hope and healthy habits via gastronomy.