• Romania will participate for the first time in history in the prestigious Bocuse d'Or Europe competition, the 2026 edition, which will take place in March in Marseille.
The country's representatives were determined following the first Bocuse d'Or Romania National Selection, organized in Brașov on November 27, 2025.
The winning team is made up of Chef Vasilică Bejenaru (chef at the Kronwell Brașov Hotel, silver and bronze medalist at the IKA 2024 Culinary Olympics and winner of the Arena Bucătarilor competition), coach Liviu Preda (over 30 years of international experience and numerous distinctions) and commis Andrei Fabian Lupoi (student at the "Maria Baiulescu" Technological High School in Brașov, assistant chef at Belvedere Restaurant and the youngest participant of the national selection).
Their performance was complemented by two special awards: Best Platter and Best Commis, awarded to Andrei Fabian Lupoi.
Final ranking of the Bocuse d'Or Romania 2025 National Selection:
- First place – Chef Vasilică Bejenaru Team, Coach: Liviu Preda, Waiter: Andrei Fabian Lupoi
- Second place – Chef Bogdan Cozma Team (Black Barn restaurant, Zărnești), Trainer: Dadiana Munteanu, Commis: Miron Andrei Nicolae (Head Chef DAR Events Restaurant & Barn, Botoșani)
- Third place – Chef Emanuel Mocan Team, Coach: Dragoș Bercea, Commis: Alexia Stan (Sous Chef One Soul Brașov) Special Award: Best Plate
The competition lasted almost six hours and brought together some of the most valuable Romanian chefs, who have been training intensively in recent months to demonstrate that local gastronomy can stand up to the great European culinary nations.
The jury was made up of ten international personalities of reference, with experience in global competitions, Michelin stars and roles in the structure Bocuse d'Or, under the presidency of Svetlana Riškova.
The 2026 European edition will take place within the fair Sirha Mediterranean and will bring together 20 countries, with Marseille becoming the world capital of top gastronomy for a few days. Romania's first presence on this stage represents a historic moment for the Romanian culinary industry.
Article written by Gabriela Dan, Editor-in-Chief Arta Albă
Read on White Art and: Romania will participate in Bocuse d'Or Europe 2026
