ExtraCuoca 2026 opens registration for professional female chefs

Registration is now open for the sixth edition of ‘ExtraCuoca – Il talento delle donne per l’olio extravergine di oliva’, a national competition designed to showcase the talent of professional female chefs and the excellence of Italian extra virgin olive oil.

Professional chefs can submit up to four recipes across four categories: appetizers and other preparations, first courses, second courses, and desserts. Submissions must include photos of the finished dishes and will be evaluated by a panel of experts based on seven criteria, including sensory profile, use of local products, ingredient quality, aesthetics, nutritional profile, and originality.

The competition features olive oils from the XXXIV edition of the Ercole Olivario National Competition and the V edition of La Goccia d’Ercole. Finalists will participate in a live cooking challenge before a culinary commissioner. The event is promoted by the Ercole Olivario Award Coordination Committee, the Associazione Nazionale Donne dell’Olio APS, and Lady Chef, the female department of the Federazione Italiana Cuochi. Registration is free and remains open until September 30, 2026.