site.btaChef Kaloyan Kolev Wins World Paella Day Qualification in Burgas, to Represent Bulgaria at Finals in Valencia

Chef Kaloyan Kolev from Varna will represent Bulgaria at the final of the World Paella Day competition in Valencia on September 20, after he won first place in the Bulgarian qualification on Sunday in Burgas. "I walked the longest possible path to this paella, with rabbit, guinea fowl, petrochan, truffles and other entirely Bulgarian unique products which are family produce," Kolev told BTA, adding that it took him a long time to reach this exact recipe and its proper preparation, but that he was also strongly motivated the whole time to glorify Bulgaria. This is why he will represent the country at the final with local products only.

Kolev is a lecturer at the Institute of Culinary Arts at the Varna University of Management and has his own business as a culinary consultant as well. He is the co-author of "The Book - From the Kitchen to the Kitchen". 

The qualifications for the competition were held on the final day of the first SOLE Spanish Culture and Culinary Festival in Burgas, which offered the residents and guests of the city culinary demonstrations by popular chefs from Bulgaria and the world, Spanish cinema and thematic musical performances.

"I am glad that we managed to create a good mood for the people of Burgas and the guests of Burgas. This area (Flora Expo Centre) has taken shape as a small festival complex, and I hope that such events will continue until the end of the summer. We must not let Burgas sleep, we must have fun, as the summer is for pleasure and for good mood", Burgas Mayor Dimitar Nikolov said before awarding chef Kaloyan Kolev first place.