Pole at paella competition in Valencia - tradition, flavors and community

Valencia is famous for oranges, sunshine and... paella. It was here that the dish, which today is one of the symbols of Spain, was born. This year's International Paella Competition of Valencia, held in September, as usual attracted crowds - both master chefs and lovers of good food.

Although the main prize this year went to the representative of France, this was a special edition for Poland. This is because for the first time in the culinary feast participated our compatriot - Lukasz Kaniecki - who with his presence and story introduced a Polish accent to this international competition.

Right from the start, he emphasizes the perfect organization of the competition. In his words:

“The organization stood at the highest level. Every detail - from logistics, to contact with the participants, to the competition itself - was worked out with great care. You can see that for Valencia this is more than just a culinary competition - it's a celebration of culture, tradition and regional pride.”

However, the competition was not limited to cooking alone. The organizers prepared a rich program to introduce participants to the history and importance of paella. Luke recalls:

“There was a visit to local rice fields in Albufera National Park, where we learned about the history of the park and tasted paella prepared over a campfire during the Master Class. On top of that, there were tastings of regional products, meetings with producers and dinners together, which allowed us to exchange experiences. This gave us an even deeper understanding of the cultural context of paella and a sense of the Valencian atmosphere.”

Also, the competition itself - contrary to appearances - did not resemble a ruthless competition.

“There was definitely a festive atmosphere. Of course, everyone wanted to show their best side, but instead of competition, cooperation, mutual respect and great kindness prevailed. The participants were united by their passion for cooking and respect for the paella tradition.”

• emphasizes the Polish representative.

There was also no shortage of supporters from Poland. As he recalls:

“To my surprise, a lot of Poles living in Spain came. They came up, talked, cheered - it was very touching. I felt great support from my compatriots, who brought extra energy and motivation.”

When asked about his competition proposal, Lukasz admits that he opted for classics with a touch of Polish flavors:

“I prepared a paella inspired by the traditions of Valencia, but with a subtle touch of my cuisine. I based it on products from Poland - the main ingredient was young lamb from the mountains and ceps from Masuria.”

This year's edition also had a distinct theme. As a participant explains:

“The emphasis was on highlighting the authenticity of paella and promoting local products from Valencia. The idea was to show that paella is not just a dish, but the entire cultural heritage of the region.”

At the same time, the organizers left space for individual interpretations for the participants.

“The basis was authentic Valencian paella, as it is the protagonist of the competition. But it also left room for individuality, as long as you respected the foundations of this tradition. It's beautiful that we were able to pay homage to the classics and bring a piece of ourselves to it at the same time.”

• Kaniecki adds.

The account of the Polish participant shows that the paella competition in Valencia is not only a culinary competition, but above all a meeting of cultures, a celebration of community and an opportunity to promote local traditions on the international arena. Thanks to Lukasz Kaniecki's participation, the Polish community could also feel pride, seeing the red and white colors among the world's greatest chefs.