2026 Constance Festival Culinaire - Winners Announced!
The 19th Constance Festival Culinaire drew to a spectacular close this week, leaving a trail of flavours, creativity and friendship. For five days, exceptional chefs from Norway, Germany, Italy, France and the UK joined forces with the finest Constance Chefs from Mauritius, Seychelles and Maldives to create culinary experiences that dazzled the senses and celebrated the rich bounty of the Indian Ocean.
In the heart of the festival, the Regis Marcon Competition saw masterful interpretations of local ingredients: OSO sea bass, Java deer, palm heart, bilimbi, green banana, beetroot, and the traditional “Roche Cari” spice were transformed into plates that combined precision, creativity and artistry. Each team of a Constance Chef paired with a Michelin-starred chef pushed the boundaries of technique, flavour and imagination, offering guests an extraordinary journey from the kitchen to the plate.
The Pierre Hermé Trophy showcased the delicate and daring world of pastry. Teams created entremets in the shape of Yule logs, plated desserts highlighting banana, ice cream cups, and artistic pieces inspired by “The Fisherman Refuge”. Here, storytelling, craftsmanship and technical mastery were expressed not just in taste, but in form and presentation, leaving an indelible impression on all who witnessed the creations.
Congratulations to the 19th edition winners:
Régis Marcon Trophy:
Chef Sébastien Grospellier - La Table de Chaintré restaurant, Chaintré in France & Soniya -Constance Lemuria Seychelles
Deutz Trophy Competition:
Chef Simone Cantafio - La Stua de Michil, Corvara in Badia BZ in Italy
Pierre Hermé Trophy:
Alexsandra Lacharmante - Constance Belle Mare Plage & Alban Guilmet - Boutique Alban Guilmet
Jars Arts of the Table Trophy:
Yovilen Etwaroo - Constance Belle Mare Plage
Constance Café Gourmand:
Geetanjalee Dalwhoor - Constance Belle Mare Plage
Artistic Piece:
Pascal Hainigue - Chef pâtissier à l’Auberge de l’Ill** &
Pâtissier de l’année 2025 par le Chef Magazine
The winning teams impressed with their innovative interpretations, refined technique, and bold celebration of local and international ingredients, capturing the true spirit of the festival. Their dishes and desserts were not merely food, they were narratives, memories, and artistic statements, embodying the festival’s philosophy of dialogue between chefs, cultures, and cuisines.
As the 19th edition concludes, 2026 Constance Festival Culinaire reaffirms its place as a cornerstone of international gastronomy in the Indian Ocean, a stage where creativity meets craftsmanship, and where guests are invited to savour the imagination, skill, and passion of some of the world’s finest culinary talents.
The 20th edition, is set to take place from 19th to 27th February 2027 !