The charity gala for children with diabetes that survived the blackout

The widespread blackout on Monday across the peninsula caught fifty Michelin chefs and 150 children linked to the Diabetes Zero association by surprise at the Anantara Villa Padierna hotel gardens in Benahavís, on the Costa del Sol, while they were cooking tacos, salads, and vegetable desserts. They were participating in workshops prior to the grand charity gala dinner to raise funds to fight type 1 diabetes, which primarily affects children and adolescents. Each year, between 1,200 and 1,500 children under the age of 15 are diagnosed in Spain, and 1 in 42 families live with this chronic condition.

Paco Roncero, owner and chef of the two Michelin-starred Paco Roncero Restaurant and one of the event's participants, knows a lot about this disease as he has experienced it closely, since his son was diagnosed at just two years old. "It's something that changes your life and you have to learn to manage," he summarizes. Although his son is now 28, Paco recalls those early years with concern. "It is very important to educate parents because at the beginning they do not know how to express themselves," he adds.

Despite the special circumstances marked by the lack of electricity in the hotel and what this implied for an event with so many people involved, the great names in gastronomy, who participate altruistically in this gala, supported the organization and the Malaga resort and the sponsors in their decision to proceed with the event.

Thus, chefs of the caliber of the three-star Pedro Subijana (Akelarre); Elena Arzak (Arzak); Toño Pérez (Atrio); Jesús Sánchez (Cenador de Amós), Esther Manzano (Casa Marcial) and Eduard Xatruch (Disfrutar), or the two-star Paulo Airaudo (Amelia), Benito Gómez (Bardal), Manuel Costiña (Costiña), Mario Sandoval (Coque), Luis Valls (El Poblet), Francis Paniego (El Portal del Echaurren), Iván Cerdeño (El Cigarral del Ángel), Kiko Moya (L´Escaleta), Fina Puigdevall and Martina Puigvert (Les Cols), Paco Pérez (Miramar), Paco Roncero (Paco Roncero Restaurant), Pepe Vieira (Pepe Vieira Restaurant), Ramón Freixa (Ramón Freixa), David Yárnoz (El Molino de Urdániz de Navarra), Mario Cachinero (Skina) and Ignacio Echapresto (Venta Moncalvillo), along with many others up to a total of fifty, taught children with diabetes how to prepare various dishes and make the most of foods that add flavor, but above all health, to their diet. According to Pedro Subijana (Akelarre, 3*), who joined the participants this year, learning about healthy eating habits "should be a mandatory subject throughout all of primary education" because "eating well is much more important than learning the rivers and mountains."

Sandra Campiña, general director of Diabetes Zero, also spoke about the importance of nutrition, stating that maintaining a healthy and balanced diet "is vital so that children with diabetes can maintain appropriate levels" and avoid complications. Regarding the event's efforts, she added that "we are convinced that curing type 1 diabetes can be achieved through research, because if we do not invest enough, these children will be patients all their lives, and that is a very long time."

In the evening, the gala dinner awaited nearly 400 guests who were to enjoy a special gastronomic menu designed by eight chefs from the province of Málaga: Diego del Río, from Boho Club; David Olivas, from Back; Mario Cachinero, from Skina**; Diego Gallegos, from Sollo*; José Carlos García from José Carlos García Restaurant*; Benito Gómez, from Bardal**; Dani Carnero, from Kaleja*; and Mauricio Giovanini, from Messina*. With candles and fire, they managed to carry out a dinner where no one noticed the effects of the blackout and the special circumstances under which they had to cook to ensure the dishes were at the perfect temperature, except when returning to their rooms and finding that the power had still not been restored.