Yassıköy to host gastronomy festival and 2nd Eastern Macedonia and Thrace traditional dessert competition
Organized by the Municipality of Yassıköy under the auspices of the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Region and Culinary Professionals Greece, the event will showcase the region's culinary heritage through local products, traditional recipes, live cooking demonstrations and cultural activities.
Local products and traditional flavors
During the festival, chefs and culinary students will prepare dishes on site using products supplied by professional producers from across the region. Cultural associations will also present traditional foods representing the culinary heritage of their communities.
Businesses, associations and organizations active in the gastronomy sector will participate with exhibition stands featuring sweets, traditional Greek coffee and locally produced goods.
The program will also include cultural and musical performances, while visitors will have the opportunity to taste the dishes and products presented during the event.
Traditional dessert competition takes center stage
The highlight of the festival will be the 2nd Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Traditional Dessert Competition, which is open free of charge to permanent residents of the region.
Each participant will be required to present an authentic traditional dessert of their choice, either originating from the region or connected to their place of origin. The dessert must be prepared at home and brought in four identical portions, while the final plating will take place at the competition venue.
The competition will be held in front of the public. Participants will present their creations and answer questions from the judging panel about their recipes and preparation.
Taste, presentation and authenticity to determine winners
Entries will be evaluated by a panel of renowned chefs from Culinary Professionals Greece, including Anastasios Aroutsidis, Kiki Emmanouilidou, Dimitrios Masmanidis and Maria Kalpakidou, with the participation of chefs and cooks from Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.
The three main judging criteria will be taste, presentation and authenticity. Organizers emphasize that recipes must preserve their traditional character and contain no modern or contemporary reinterpretations.
The top three contestants will receive medals and cash prizes. The winner will receive €500, the second-place contestant €250 and the third-place contestant €150. All participants will receive a commemorative certificate of participation.
Applications open until September 25
Applications for the dessert competition are being accepted online through the Municipality of Yassıköy website until Friday, September 25, 2026.
The municipality is also inviting associations, organizations, professionals and businesses to participate with exhibition stands, support the event through sponsorship or provide products for the cooking activities.
The festival and competition will take place at the New Municipal Hall of Yassıköy, with the competition scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m.
Further information, including the competition rules and application form, is available on the Municipality of Yassıköy website. Information is also available by telephone at 2534350133.
