The Phoenicia’s chefs won a total of 22 medals at the Malta Kulinarja cookery and culinary arts championships. The competition was held at the MFCC, Ta’ Qali, by the Malta Chefs Society under the auspices of the World Association of Chefs Societies. Over 300 Maltese and international chefs competed for the prestigious awards in several categories.
The competitions formed part of Vivanda, an annual culinary event focused on Euro-Mediterranean gastronomical traditions, cultures and innovations. Nine international judges adjudicated The Vivanda Chef Challenge, with participants competing for a range of titles and team awards. Participants also took part in other events, including a ‘mystery box’ of ingredients, vegan and street-food challenges, and dishes centred on under-utilised Mediterranean fish.
The Phoenicia chefs’ awards included gold for Gabriel Caruana in ‘Local cheese dish’ and gold for Caruana and Alessandro Gravino in ‘Live High Tea’, and silver for Jonathan Grech for ‘Maltese Ġbejna & Maltese Sausage’, for Matthew Sammut and Elena Marangoni in the ‘Cook & Serve’ category, and for Senior Practical team of three, Chefs Grand Prix team of three, Amuse Bouche, Underutilised Fish dish Senior, Local Pork dish Senior, Local Pork dish Junior, Decorated Celebration Cake, Mystery Box menu and Pasta Junior.
Mapfre awards
Mapfre MSV Life recently presented the 2017 Intermediary Awards at an event during which the company also presented its financial results and its business plans for 2018.
CEO David Curmi thanked the intermediaries for their performance which contributed towards the company’s record results during 2017. He announced that gross new business sales for 2017 had reached a record €248 million, up from €233m in 2016.
“Mapfre MSV Life today operates through the largest life insurance distribution network in Malta and Gozo – a network that comprises all Bank of Valletta branches, all APS Bank branches, various tied insurance intermediaries, all insurance brokers and three regional offices. We consider our distribution footprint in Malta and Gozo to be one of our key strengths. While bancassurance remains our most important distribution channel, to ensure that we provide our customers with greater accessibility and a better service, we are continuously seeking to strengthen all our distribution channels,” Mr Curmi said.