The III Fanescón Culinary Contest brought together students from the Tres de Diciembre Educational Unit to showcase their culinary talents on March 30. The event, held in the Checa parish, featured 200 technical high school students specializing in Hospitality, Culinary Arts, and Hotel Services as they demonstrated their skills and knowledge.
The contest is seen as an important opportunity for students to apply what they have learned in class and prepare for future careers. According to organizers, it also aims to strengthen cultural identity through traditional cuisine.
Juan Carlos Rodríguez, Vice Minister of Educational Management, and María José Moyano, Undersecretary of Education, Sports and Culture of Quito, attended the event. They visited stands and kitchens while interacting with both students and teachers. The officials highlighted the talent and commitment displayed by participants during the competition.
Students prepared fanesca—a traditional Ecuadorian soup associated with Holy Week—for tasting and evaluation. Teams such as “Los Chefcitos,” “Lugares de mi Tierra,” and “Los Fanesqueros” won first place at each grade level for creativity, culinary technique, and teamwork. These teams received recognition as winners of “Mejor Fanescón 2026”.
Rodríguez said: “Nuestros estudiantes no solo están formándose para el mundo laboral; están desarrollando competencias para ser protagonistas de sus propios proyectos de vida, agentes de cambio en sus comunidades y embajadores de la riqueza cultural del Ecuador.”
In Tumbaco District alone, six educational institutions offer Technical High School programs in Hotel Services—including specialized schools serving children with disabilities—training more than 600 future professionals each year.
Officials say initiatives like this reinforce a commitment to strengthening technical education by promoting hands-on learning experiences that blend innovation with cultural roots.
