María Zarzalejos awarded the 2026 Cervantes Gastronómico Prize

Journalist and writer María Zarzalejos has been unanimously awarded the 2026 Cervantes Gastronómico Award. The recognition, proposed by Alcalá Gastronómica-Fomentur, honors her career dedicated to connecting gastronomy with literature, history, and territory.

Zarzalejos, the author of fourteen books, has been recognized for her ability to treat cuisine as cultural heritage. Her work includes titles such as ‘Don Quijote Gastronómico’, which explores the relationship between Cervantes' literature and culinary traditions. She has also collaborated with the Instituto Cervantes to promote Spanish gastronomic culture internationally.

The award ceremony will take place on September 29 during the Gastronomic Contest gala organized by the Department of Tourism of the Alcalá de Henares City Council. The jury was presided over by Isabel Ruiz Maldonado, the first deputy mayor and Councilor for Tourism, and included representatives from various municipal groups and local business associations.