March 7, 2024. Sofia. For Bulgaria, joining the JRE-Jeunes Restaurateurs association is a long-awaited moment and marks a significant progress for gastronomy and tourism, promoting our country. Vladislav Penov from Cosmos restaurant, Filip Zahariev from Oná guesthouse, and Veselin Kaley from aEstivum restaurant are the first chefs who have met the high criteria of the organization. Mastercard has been an international partner of JRE for over twenty years and is expanding its partnership locally with the new opportunity for young girls from professional schools in public catering to study for free "Culinary arts," a professional two-year program at the prestigious HRC Academy in Sofia. Students also receive internships in the network of top restaurants in Europe, members of JRE. The academy provides professional education and practical skills of the highest quality and contributes to raising the level and sustainable development of the HoReCa sector in Bulgaria.
"At JRE-Jeunes Restaurateurs, we always strive to create unforgettable culinary experiences that transcend boundaries and unite cultures through the art of dining. Bulgaria's presence in the JRE family expands our culinary landscape and cultural exchange," emphasizes Daniel Leman.
"Bulgarian flavors are our cultural heritage, and we are proud that from now on it will be a little easier to preserve and translate them into the modern language of world cuisine - for guests from abroad, but also for ourselves. According to the latest survey* by Mastercard, 59% of Bulgarians find dining in a locally owned family restaurant attractive. We congratulate the sector on its constant development and inspiration and hope to involve more girls in the profession with our scholarship," adds Vanya Manova, Manager of Mastercard for Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Albania, and Kosovo.
According to the Mastercard survey, almost one-third of Bulgarians (29%) would like more culinary experiences this year compared to the previous one. Inspired by this demand, in light of the news and International Women's Day on March 8th, Mastercard and JRE participate in the annual Bacchus Restaurant of the Year ceremony with an unprecedented five-course gala menu featuring culinary masterpieces from five JRE female chefs from five different countries in Europe: Annett Teich from BK (France), Virginia Caravita from Dimora Ulmo (Italy), Lotte Sanders from ONE (Netherlands), Teresa Gutiérrez from Azafrán (Spain) and Floriana Ružić from San Rocco restaurant (Croatia). One of the guests at the gala will win a trip to Sabina Repovz Gostilna Repovž in Slovenia.
The role of women in the gastronomy industry is the theme of Mastercard's program and the gala dinner, as data shows that only 7%** of restaurants worldwide are managed by female chefs. Back in 2020, Mastercard announced its commitment to support 25 million women entrepreneurs worldwide for inclusion in the global economy.
*Experience Economy Survey, 2024, Vitreous Worldwide, across 20 markets in Europe
**Chef’s Pencil 2022 study among 2286 Michelin-starred restaurants in 16 countries
ABOUT - JRE-JEUNES RESTAURATEURS
JRE-Jeunes Restaurateurs is an association of young restaurateurs and chefs with one common goal in mind: to share our talent and love for food with like-minded individuals. With an extensive network of exceptional member restaurants, JRE aims to elevate culinary experiences while nurturing a community of passionate food connoisseurs. We are proud to have over 400 restaurants and 160 hotels, spread across 16 different countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. JRE-Jeunes Restaurateurs chefs combine deep passion, culinary expertise, and an appreciation for local ingredients and tradition. Their restaurants provide a captivating atmosphere, showcasing their outstanding cooking skills.