On 20 April, the eighth edition of ChefsForChildren brought 36 chefs, 150 children and 360 guests to the Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Benahavís Marbella Resort for cooking workshops, a gastronomic forum, and a gala dinner in support of FEDER, the Spanish Federation of Rare Diseases.
A Costa del Sol initiative
This extraordinary Costa del Sol initiative has been founded by Pilar Candil and Ángel Pardo Castro, of media and events agency, Lime Communications. ChefsForChildren has developed into one of Spain’s most respected chef-led charity galas, with a distinctive Andalusian flavour.
Children at the heart
The children are at the heart of ChefsForChildren. The cooking workshops fill the day, with the gala dinner closing the evening. Now in its eighth year, this annual fundraiser has been built carefully edition by edition, the cause and the chef list growing in scale each spring. The 150 participating children this year came through FEDER’s network and from the Daidín and Atalaya schools in Benahavís and Marbella, working under the motto ‘Comer sano es divertido’, or ‘Eating healthy is fun’.
The morning opened with a gastronomic forum, then moved into the workshops. Chefs set aside the precision of their professional kitchens for a simpler, more generous teaching approach, with teachers from Le Cordon Bleu Madrid and students from the Benahavís Hospitality School working alongside them. The cross-generational quality of the day, from professional chefs to culinary students to school children, has come to define the ChefsForChildren experience.
The gala dinner
From the workshops, the day moved into the amphitheatre gardens for a sunset cocktail, then on into the gala dinner. The eight-course tasting menu was designed and cooked by eight of Málaga province’s Michelin-starred chefs, one course each, served in sequence to the 360 guests.
The gala dinner, with a selection of dishes created by collaborating chefs
The chefs were Mario Cachinero of the two-Michelin-star Skina in Marbella, Benito Gómez of the two-star Bardal in Ronda, Mauricio Giovanini of the one-star Messina in Marbella, José Carlos García of his eponymous one-star in Málaga, Diego Gallegos of the one-star Sollo in Fuengirola, Dani Carnero of the one-star Kaleja in Málaga, David Olivas of the one-star Back in Benahavís, and Diego del Río of Boho Club in Marbella.
By building the gala menu around Málaga’s own Michelin-starred chefs, the organisers showcased the depth of the province’s culinary scene. The wider ChefsForChildren programme draws chefs from across Spain’s top tier, with the 2026 chef list including names such as Pedro Subijana of Akelarre, Ángel León of Aponiente, Elena Arzak, Martín Berasategui, and the Disfrutar trio of Castro, Xatruch and Casañas, reflecting the national stature the event has built over eight editions.
Funds for FEDER
The most direct moment of the evening was the presentation of the funds raised to Juan Carrión, president of FEDER. The federation represents more than 400 patient associations across Spain, working to improve diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life for people living with rare diseases. Earlier in 2026, ChefsForChildren also picked up a recognition at the XIV International Creative Cuisine Competition of the Red Prawn of Dénia for its work bringing the industry behind a social cause.
Building each year
Eight editions in, the model has been quietly refined year by year, and the initiative continues to grow in reach and ambition. Sponsors and partners for the 2026 edition included Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Benahavís Marbella Resort, the Ayuntamiento de Benahavís, Porsche, Bodegas Emilio Moro, Joselito, Sabor a Málaga, Le Cordon Bleu Madrid, Mancomunidad de Municipios de la Costa del Sol Occidental and Gusto del Sur, with the day produced by One2One and Vocento as the media partner.
ChefsForChildren is now the most ambitious annual culinary event on the Costa del Sol, raising funds for a cause that resonates well beyond the region. The ninth edition is expected in spring 2027.
More information at chefsforchildren.es.
The Luxury Editor attended the gala as a guest of Lime Communications.
