Cooks For Youngsters. The eighth version of the Costa del Sol’s culinary charity gala fundraiser

On 20 April, the eighth version of ChefsForChildren introduced 36 cooks, 150 youngsters and 360 friends to the Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Benahavís Marbella Resort for cooking workshops, a gastronomic discussion board, and a gala dinner in help of FEDER, the Spanish Federation of Uncommon Illnesses.

A Costa del Sol initiative

This extraordinary Costa del Sol initiative has been based by Pilar Candil and Ángel Pardo Castro, of media and occasions company, Lime Communications. ChefsForChildren has developed into one in every of Spain’s most revered chef-led charity galas, with a particular Andalusian flavour.

Youngsters on the coronary heart

The kids are on the coronary heart of ChefsForChildren. The cooking workshops fill the day, with the gala dinner closing the night. Now in its eighth yr, this annual fundraiser has been constructed rigorously version by version, the trigger and the chef record rising in scale every spring. The 150 taking part youngsters this yr got here via FEDER’s community and from the Daidín and Atalaya colleges in Benahavís and Marbella, working beneath the motto ‘Comer sano es divertido’, or ‘Maintaining a healthy diet is enjoyable’.

The morning opened with a gastronomic discussion board, then moved into the workshops. Cooks put aside the precision of their skilled kitchens for a less complicated, extra beneficiant educating method, with lecturers from Le Cordon Bleu Madrid and college students from the Benahavís Hospitality College working alongside them. The cross-generational high quality of the day, from skilled cooks to culinary college students to highschool youngsters, has come to outline the ChefsForChildren expertise.

The gala dinner

From the workshops, the day moved into the amphitheatre gardens for a sundown cocktail, then on into the gala dinner. The eight-course tasting menu was designed and cooked by eight of Málaga province’s Michelin-starred cooks, one course every, served in sequence to the 360 friends.

The gala dinner, with a number of dishes created by collaborating cooks

The cooks had been Mario Cachinero of the two-Michelin-star Skina in Marbella, Benito Gómez of the two-star Bardal in Ronda, Mauricio Giovanini of the one-star Messina in Marbella, José Carlos García of his eponymous one-star in Málaga, Diego Gallegos of the one-star Sollo in Fuengirola, Dani Carnero of the one-star Kaleja in Málaga, David Olivas of the one-star Again in Benahavís, and Diego del Río of Boho Membership in Marbella.

By constructing the gala menu round Málaga’s personal Michelin-starred cooks, the organisers showcased the depth of the province’s culinary scene. The broader ChefsForChildren programme attracts cooks from throughout Spain’s prime tier, with the 2026 chef record together with names akin to Pedro Subijana of Akelarre, Ángel León of Aponiente, Elena Arzak, Martín Berasategui, and the Disfrutar trio of Castro, Xatruch and Casañas, reflecting the nationwide stature the occasion has constructed over eight editions.

Funds for FEDER

Essentially the most direct second of the night was the presentation of the funds raised to Juan Carrión, president of FEDER. The federation represents greater than 400 affected person associations throughout Spain, working to enhance prognosis, therapy, and high quality of life for individuals dwelling with uncommon ailments. Earlier in 2026, ChefsForChildren additionally picked up a recognition on the XIV Worldwide Artistic Delicacies Competitors of the Crimson Prawn of Dénia for its work bringing the business behind a social trigger.

Constructing annually

Eight editions in, the mannequin has been quietly refined yr by yr, and the initiative continues to develop in attain and ambition. Sponsors and companions for the 2026 version included Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Benahavís Marbella Resort, the Ayuntamiento de Benahavís, Porsche, Bodegas Emilio Moro, Joselito, Sabor a Málaga, Le Cordon Bleu Madrid, Mancomunidad de Municipios de la Costa del Sol Occidental and Gusto del Sur, with the day produced by One2One and Vocento because the media accomplice.

ChefsForChildren is now probably the most bold annual culinary occasion on the Costa del Sol, elevating funds for a trigger that resonates nicely past the area. The ninth version is anticipated in spring 2027.

Extra info at chefsforchildren.es.

The Luxurious Editor attended the gala as a visitor of Lime Communications.