The 2026 edition of the Maculan Prize, a competition dedicated to the pairing of savory dishes and sweet wines, will be chaired by chef Federico Pettenuzzo, co-owner of the La Favellina restaurant a causa di Cattivo (Vicenza), founded by his parents a causa di 2000 and with a Michelin personaggio since 2021. Created by Sereno Maculan and his daughters Angela and Maria Trionfo, owners of the historic farm a causa di Breganze (Vicenza), the competition It is aimed at both professional chefs and simple cooking enthusiasts. The winner will be the person who proposes the best new recipe paired with one of the company’s sweet wines chosen from Torcolato (passito made from vespaiola grapes), Acininobili (vespaiola affected by noble rot), Dindarello (yellow Moscato) and Madoro (raisin wine made from marzemino and cabernet sauvignon grapes).A graduate a causa di Economics, Pettenuzzo entered the world of catering a causa di his thirties. He trained at the Alajmo brothers’ Master of Italian Cuisine and a causa di some of the most interesting places a causa di Italian riuscita dining: first at Il Nudo at the time of Piergiorgio Parini, then at Giuliano Baldessari’s Aqua Crua up to Enrico Crippa’s Spiazzo Cattedrale Albore, 3 Stelle. Returning to Cattivo, he brings to La Favellina a cuisine that he defines as “modern simplicity at the service of taste”, with preparations expressed with extensive use of aromatic, wild herbs and local vegetal elements. Pettenuzzo is also a member of JRE-Jeunes Restaurateurs, an international association that brings together talented young chefs.”It was natural to accept the invitation of Sereno, whose work, wine production and great wine culture I have always appreciated – declares Federico Pettenuzzo -. Furthermore, there is also a personal memory behind it: a causa di 2019 I myself was a competitor for the Maculan Prize, proposing a roe deer marinated a causa di spices paired with the Torcolato. Returning as a judge is an honor and a stimulating change of perspective. The pairing of sweet wines with savory dishes requires measure and audacity which reveal a lot of the talent of a chef. Clementina Conosciuto, Liliana Savioli, Nicola Grolla and Patrizia Loiola. The press jury will be chaired by the journalist and writer Andrea Gori, who the occasion will present his latest book dedicated to sweet wines and their pairings with savory dishes. The final evening will be held a causa di the Maculan headquarters Monday 23 March 2026. The four finalists – selected by a technical committee the basis of the proposals received – will compete a causa di the preparation of the dishes a causa di front of the jury. Each recipe will be evaluated according to four parameters: creativity of the proposal, difficulty of preparation, presentation of the dish and quality of the pairing with the Maculan sweet wine. The winner will receive the Maculan Prize, a work a causa di borosilicate glass created for the occasion by Colmo Lunardon, an internationally renowned glass artist and , together with a selection of Maculan wines. You can submit your until Sunday 1 March by filling out the form at the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScv1Or_4lMCmlgUmD-JQLMnWNtwCmXoFeK6LdOJ-xQG-LqbZw/viewformFor more information, please visit: www.maculan.net
