Chef Selaisse Atadika makes history as first Ghanaian finalist in the Basque Culinary World Prize

Founder of Midunu and top Chef, Selaisse Atadika is lifting the flag of Ghana high on the world stage as the first Ghanaian to be listed among the top 10 Chefs for the Basque Culinary World Prize.

The jury for the €100,000 Basque Culinary World Prize announced the finalists on Friday after several weeks of vetting submissions and nominations from chefs across the world.

According to the scheme, over 230 nominations were received from 42 countries with a total of 150 chefs nominated, which makes the 2019 edition, the year with the highest number of participants.

Atadika who owns Midunu, a private dining and nomadic restaurant, joins 9 other chefs representing their respective countries who have used their culinary skills to make the world a better place. They include Mario Castrellón (Panama), Siew-Chinn Chin (Malaysia- USA); Giovanni Cuocci (Italy); Xanty Elías (Spain); Virgilio Martínez (Peru); Cristina Martínez (Mexico – USA); Douglas McMaster (United Kingdom); Anthony Myint (USA); Lars Williams (US – Denmark)     

Her nomination is a big boost to the Ghanaian hospitality industry as most of her work is inspired by her Ghanaian roots and culture.

The prize which is in its 4th year is organised by the Basque Government, under the auspices of Euskadi-Basque Country Strategy and the Basque Culinary Center (BCC), a world-renowned gastronomic research and teaching institution.

“The winner will be chosen by an international jury comprised of the world’s most acclaimed chefs and interdisciplinary experts from a variety of fields related to gastronomy during the ninth annual meeting of the Basque Culinary Center International Council in San Francisco,” a statement on their website said

“The announcement will be made on July 16, 2019 during a symposium co-hosted by three-Michelin-starred chef Dominique Crenn.” it added