Title sponsor

2024 Edition

JURY OF EXPERTS.

Event creator Maxi On Cooking Star

CLAUDIO DEMARTIS

Claudio Demartis, a lifelong protagonist in the sailing world with a successful racing past on dinghies and offshore classes, winner of three world titles, four Giri d’Italia and several national titles.

In his long career he has transferred his experiences to many young sailors who are now established champions.

He was general manager of the international Barcolana regatta, creator and designer of other highly successful sailing events, organizer of numerous events inspired by the sailing + cooking philosophy.

A founding partner of Olimpic Sails, three years ago he started his new sail brand CD Sails, an exponentially growing company now present in more than 40 countries worldwide. Passionate and great expert on cooking.

Baccalàdivino - ALMA Lecturer

FRANCO FAVARETTO

The Venetian chef of Baccalàdivino who has coordinated the organization of the San Pellegrino Cooking Cup event for 15 years.

Franco Favaretto is Ambassador for the culture and dissemination of Stoccafisso in the world for Norge (Norwegian Seafood Commission) exports his knowledge from continent to continent, co-founder of the Dogale Confraternita del Baccalà Mantecato and Testing Chef for the company Tagliapietra e Figli Srl, the largest importer of Stoccafisso in Italy.

A lecturer at ALMA International School of Italian Cuisine for many years, where he lectures on Stockfish and Codfish, from fishing to cooking.

He has been a member of the Organizing Staff, as well as the Quality Jury, of MAXI ON COOKING STAR since the first edition.

Historical editor Michelin Guide Italy

FAUSTO ARRIGHI

He was born in Martignana di Po (Cr) in 1951 and currently lives in Cremona. After finishing his studies (high school diploma for tourism) and after some experience in the hotel industry in several European countries, he landed in 1977 at the Michelin Guide in the role of inspector.

Here he spent almost his entire working life, 36 years of which 28 as an inspector and 8 as editor in chief of the Michelin Guide Italy, trying in these long years more than 10 000 restaurants worldwide, and inspecting more than 20000 hotels .

Awarded with “The Golden Goat”-Istria-Croatia for support of the country’s tourism development.
“Giovanni Colombo” Award, established in 2004, given to personalities in tourism, business, and culture who have dedicated themselves to the growth of tourism culture and Italy’s image.
Knight of the Order of Champagne – Brother in the Brotherhood of Vine and Wine- Trento ,of the Brotherhood of Roots and Fasioi- Susegana and of the Brotherhood of Wine of Valencia- Spain.

Retirement does not curb his drive, he participates in industry conferences in Italy and abroad, writes in gastronomic magazines and continues his work as a consultant to restaurants and hotels throughout Europe.

Fresh off the press these days is “At the Restaurant as at the Theater,” a publication that chronicles the restaurant in all its various facets.

Journalist

STEPHANUS VEGLIANI

For 29 years she was the voice and face of Olympic sports for Mediaset’s sports desk and Premium Sport.

He chased Tomba on all the world’s tracks for two lustrous decades, chronicled Federica Pellegrini’s career from her first Olympic medal in 2004 to the resounding world gold medal in Budapest, bet on Gregorio Paltrinieri when he was looked at questioningly in the newsroom, never forgot his initial passion for Sailing by explaining the America’s Cup from Azzurra to Luna Rossa, chasing Soldini around the world. Stefano Vegliani, a young retiree has “participated” as an envoy in 16 Olympics. A sub-four-hour marathon runner, he has recently given up running to take up biking primarily as a bicycle tourist. Today, he collaborates by writing about skiing and sailing for Il Foglio Sportivo

Like many distinguished sports correspondents, he has a passion for good food, collaborated on the debut of Identità Golose and now contributes assiduously to Linkiesta Gastronomika and Grande Cucina magazine. He lives between New York and Milan.

Maxi Winner On Cooking Star 2022

DAVID SKOKO

One of Croatia’s best chefs, he runs the kitchens of his Konoba Batelina, among the most famous Istrian restaurants.

TV star on 24Kitchen channel, has appeared regularly on television as a professional chef since 2010, participating in numerous projects as an expert consultant and as a journalist in food magazines. He appeared as host/chef on the Master Chef show on Nova TV, in 2014 he was chef/host on RTL’s show “Jezikova juha,” and from 2015 to 2016 he participated in HRT’s show “Pears and Apples.”

In addition to collaborations with national TV stations, David has collaborated and recorded on foreign TV stations (Arte TV, Rai, Foodnetwork, Travel Channel), and especially collaborated with world-renowned chefs/hosts: with Adam Richman in “Trip of a Life,” with Anthony Bourdain in “No Reservations,” with Henry Cole in “The Greatest Motorcycle Rides in the World,” with Donal Skehan in “Croatia’s Hidden Gastronomic Scene.”

Winner of the first edition of Cooking Star 2022, he was the chairman of the jury of experts in 2023.

Trotter Wine - Sommelier

ANDREA ZIGROSSI

Sommelier and Content Creator, Andrea Zigrossi is one of the most influential voices in the wine world.

Better known as @trotterwine, with two 16-month world wine tours under his belt and the third in progress, today his communication channels boasting a combined total of more than 300,000 followers, are a benchmark for wineries around the world.
Awarded 2023 “Content Creator of the Year” at the Italy Ambassador Awards, and included by Cook Corriere in the list of 15 Italian wine innovators 2023, he recently wrote his first book “in a world of wine” published by Mondadori – a best seller and winner of the Vesta literary prize.