Fiera Hospitality - The winners of the regional competitions Best Student and Lady Chef from Riva del Garda to the final in Rimini

Hospitality – Il Salone dell'Accoglienza celebrated talent and inclusion in the world of catering and hospitality, awarding the best students and professionals in the kitchen, dining room and bar competitions. During the 49th edition of the leading international fair in Italy in the HoReCa sector, which was held from 3 to 6 February at the Riva del Garda Exhibition Centre, many young talents shone in the contests that animated the 8 thematic Arenas.

Best Student 2025

Thanks to the presence of the FIC-Italian Chefs Federation and the participation of the Trentino-Alto Adige Regional Chefs Union , the students of the Hotel Institutes challenged each other in the regional stage of the “ Best Student 2025” competition , won by Cristian Tezzele of the Rovereto Hotel School who will participate in the Italian Cuisine Championships scheduled in Rimini from 16 to 18 February.

Lady Chef 2025

The regional final of the “Lady Chef 2025” competition saw Trentino Chef Licia Marocchi di Volano climb to the top step of the podium. In the Food Arena, she challenged two South Tyrolean Chefs (Anna Brancato and Sonia Zwischenbrugger, who took second and third place respectively) in the preparation of a first course with tomatoes and a local product as the main and mandatory ingredients.

Licia Marocchi stood out for having created a recipe with a very balanced taste and for having been able to use tomatoes in multiple preparations: the yellow datterino for the sauce and the passata in the dough for the ravioli with a basil heart. In addition to the taste and color of the dish, the jury, chaired by Alessandra Baruzzi, National Coordinator of Lady Chefs and a renowned figure in the Italian culinary scene, also evaluated the management of the workplace and the organization, the respect for the raw material with the right doses and the reduction of waste, in addition to the attention to a circular economy to protect the environment.

Thanks to this victory, Licia Marocchi will also participate in the final of the 2025 Italian Cuisine Championships in Rimini.

Mystery Box 2025

The “Mistery Box 2025” contest saw two teams, composed of a senior and a junior professional, challenge each other in the preparation of a meal using surprise ingredients from the Italian tradition , thus testing their skills and creativity, while promoting the values of the Bel Paese cuisine. The Veronese team beat the Mantuan one.

Space for students of hotel schools also in the four contests organized by the Trentino Restaurateurs Association :

• “ Art in a cocktail ”, a competition divided into two phases - Cocktail Fantasy and Mistery Box – which offered the opportunity to all aspiring bartenders to express their talent and create unique and innovative cocktails.

Matteo Belligoli, Lorenzo Fede, Gabriele Melzani and Zeno Massella are the four students of the Enaip hotel management institute of Riva del Garda and Tione who challenged themselves to create blends that tell a story, enhance local products and leave an unforgettable taste memory.

The winner of the first prize was Matteo Belligoli of the Enaip Institute of Riva del Garda, for his ability to combine technique, creativity and passion in the world of mixology, demonstrating an exceptional talent in interpreting the theme of the competition "Territory and Sustainability" and in using the ingredients at his disposal. Matteo presented original and creative cocktails in both tests and stood out for his impeccable mastery of mixing techniques, the use of tools in an appropriate and precise way, the speed of preparation, the originality of the recipe, the balance of flavors and the ability to improvise.

• “ Champions of the Hall”: Nicol Calovi and Ndiaye Oumy of the Enaip Hotel Institute in Riva del Garda excelled over the other four competing couples thanks to a combination of factors such as excellence in hospitality and service; competence and passion in the presentation of the menu and in the wine pairing; mastery and creativity in the preparation of the flambé dessert; professionalism and attention to the customer throughout the service. The winning couple offered impeccable 360-degree service, combining technical skills, passion for food and wine, attention to detail and the ability to create a memorable experience for customers. Nicol and Ndiaye demonstrated harmony, harmony, collaboration and the ability to manage stress, always maintaining a positive and customer-oriented attitude.
• "Different abilities in the dining room and bar " and " Hearts in the kitchen " are two competitions dedicated to young people with disabilities , with the aim of promoting social inclusion , valorising the diversity and abilities of each individual , and underlining how a passion for cooking can be a vehicle for personal fulfilment.

Each participant or pair of participants demonstrated a unique talent and an extraordinary passion for the world of dining room and bar. All the competitors were able to overcome the challenges with creativity, determination and a contagious smile, demonstrating that disability is not a limitation, but a different ability .

The jury was deeply impressed by the dedication, commitment and professionalism of each participant, making the choice of winners extremely difficult and leading them to decree a tie for all.

“Different Skills in the Dining Room and Bar” involved seven students from the Enaip Institutes of Riva del Garda, Tesero and Tione as well as the Anffas Trentino Project.

The young talents of the Dream Aps Association, the Levico Hotel School and Amira-Associazione Maitre Italiani Ristoranti e Alberghi di Borgo Chiese participated in “Cuori in Cucina” .

Alessandra Locatelli, Minister for Disabilities, sent a video message of encouragement to the boys, emphasizing how they are a source of great pride, talented chefs who have already been able to put into practice many of the teachings received. The Minister also praised all the people and associations that are involved in important projects for work inclusion, training and for the social, recreational and sports life of all people.

A theme, that of social inclusion, that Riva del Garda Fierecongressi with Hospitality has been pursuing for several years.

Among the great protagonists of the 49th edition of Hospitality, pizza, to which one of the 8 themed Arenas was also reserved. Among the events of the Pizza Arena , the new group competition “ Pizza in Equipe ”, reserved for pizzerias with seats, which involved the different professions (pizza chef, assistant pizza chef, cook and waiter). Among the 11 pizzerias in the competition (three from Trentino and eight from Veneto), the jury composed of pizza instructors and chefs declared the winner the Pizzeria Giropizza Vip of Valcanover (Tn), which stood out for the best work team and for the best proposal with the best service.

Organized by Riva del Garda Fierecongressi, Hospitality is the leading international trade fair in Italy dedicated to Ho.Re.Ca. operators. With an exhibition area of over 45,000 square meters, the event is the most complete in Italy, with a vast training program and a large audience of companies and professionals in the Contract & Wellness, Renovation & Tech, Food & Equipment and Beverage areas and in the special areas Solobirra, RPM-Riva Pianeta Mixology and Spazio Vignaiolo. The open-air proposal in the Outdoor Boom pavilion and space for experiential concepts of design and inclusive planning.

The 50th edition will take place in Riva del Garda, from 2 to 5 February 2026.