The croquettes of ham that Axel Smith makes in the restaurant Simpar, from Santiago de Compostela are the best in Spain. The young chef’s recipe, with a Michelin star in his nearby family establishment, has been the winner this year of the popular … Championship for the Best Ham Croquette held in Madrid Fusión. Its winning recipe is made with
Alejandro Villa, from the Pandorafrom Aviles; Edu Espejo, from Flamein Valencia; Adrián Collantes, from The Tasqueria Barin Madrid; Manuel Jurado, of the Santabarfrom Alicante; Manu Arenilla, from Madrid Gran Meliá Palace of the Dukes Garden, and Jorge Lozano, from The Linen Portalfrom Salamanca.
The croquettes were the winners for «
competition whose scores were “very close”, according to the jury.
The jury, who tested the different finalist recipes in a blind tasting, was made up of the chefs Jose Pizarroowner of seven successful Spanish restaurants in London; Gaston Acuriothe great ambassador of Peruvian cuisine who will soon open a cebichería in the Spanish capital; Xanty Elíasfrom Finca Alfoliz, in Huelva, as president of the body, and Jorge Vallejofrom the Quintonil restaurant, in Mexico, along with Carlos Griffoby Quinqué Madrid and winner of the last edition, and Maria Castroby Sánchez Romero Carvajal, whose Jabugo ham is part of these contest recipes.
The experts first tested the bechamel, “a key ingredient for flavor and texture” in the preparation of a croquette. He ham 100% Iberian that is used – which can be put in different proportions and cuts, to the taste of each chef – adds the “good rancio”, in the words of Elías, which gives it “just the right point, truly crazy.” Another point that the judges valued was the thickness of the breading, the frying point, the size and consistency of the croquette and issues such as gelatin or fat used in the recipe.
The jury evaluating the seven croquettes in competition at Madrid Fusión 2025
The croquette contest is perhaps the most popular one held in Madrid Fusión. In this twenty-third edition of the great gastronomic congress, the eleventh edition of this coveted award took place. In 2025, a participation record among the candidates, with more than 80 recipes received, from which the seven finalists have been selected.
The winner usually out of stock and consolidate itself as one of the temples of this very traditional dish of Spanish cuisine, arising from its use in homes. In addition to the title and immediate success, you receive an 8 or 9 kilo Sánchez Romero Carvajal ham, a complete official cutting kit from the brand and a trip to the origin of your hams in Jabugo for two people.
#croquettes #Spain #Santiago #Compostela #work #young #chef
