The Xara Collection team has made their mark at the Malta Kulinarja Competition 2026, bringing home a gold or silver medal in every category entered.
The 2026 edition of The Kulinarja was held at the MFCC Ta’ Qali from the 17th to the 19th of April as part of the Malta AgriFair. This prestigious competition, organised by the Malta Chefs Society, allows some of the island’s most promising chefs to take local ingredients and transform them into exceptional dishes. The event celebrates creativity and precision, placing a strong emphasis on unique plating, technique, innovative recipes, sustainability, and pure culinary skill.
After ongoing training and multiple late nights, the six Xara Collection chefs who competed had a memorable three days and delivered outstanding performances across different categories.
Ayrton Grixti had a rewarding weekend, earning gold medals in both the Traditional Mediterranean Menu and Variety Meats categories, while Keith Casha also secured gold in the Underutilised Fish category. Additionally, silver medals were awarded to Alexis Boucher for the Local Pork category, Martha Vella in the Pastry category, Jamie Abela in the pasta category, and Jeanette Sant in the street food category.
In addition to these brilliant individual results, The Xara Collection also received a gold medal and first place in the team competition, further highlighting the strength, collaboration, and dedication of the group.
These results are a clear showcase of the chefs’ competitive spirit, teamwork, and exceptional talent within the local culinary scene. They also reflect the continuous commitment to excellence that defined the kitchens across The Xara Collection.
A huge congratulations to all The Xara Collection chefs for their passion, creativity, and achievement.
