Ilaria Castellaneta won the title of Pastry Queen 2023, a competition held within the framework of Sigep Rimini from January 21 to 25.

The Italian chef, like the rest of the applicants from Peru, Korea, India, and Japan, had to demonstrate their skills in different tests around the theme, “The genius of Leonardo da Vinci”: single-serving dessert in a glass with espresso coffee flavored gelato, single-serving warm and cold plated dessert with chocolate and marrons glacés, small chocolate jewel ring-shaped mini bonbon dessert tray sculpture, cake baked using the sponsor company’s mold, and Artistic Pastillage and sugar showpiece. The second place went to Yui Tateyama, the candidate from Japan, and the third to Eureka Araujo, from India.

An international jury, headed by Iginio Massari, decided to give the victory to this pastry chef who was assisted by Eugenio Morrone. Castellaneta had been preparing for the championship since 2019, when she won the Italian classification, since the competition was not held in 2021 due to the pandemic. “It has been a really long journey with many obstacles. It’s been four hard years, but the wait hasn’t dampened the illusion and determination, on the contrary, it has increased the desire to do well. Raising that cup was a great pride for me and, I hope, also for those who have supported me on this path, starting with my family. I hope I have paid homage to Leonardo da Vinci.”