Morocco fails to reclaim world couscous title as unexpected duo wins

Eight teams competed in San Vito Lo Capo, Sicily: Morocco, Algeria, Brazil, France, Italy, Senegal, Spain and Cous Cous Fest United. The latter won the 29th edition of the world championship, reports ANSA.

On Bladi.net : Morocco challenges Spain tonight to reclaim its world title… in couscous

The winning team brought together Shady Hasbun, a Palestinian chef based in Arezzo, and Tze’ela Rubinstein, an Israeli chef who heads the Cooking in Toscana restaurant in Lucca. Their team did not represent any country: it had been created by the festival around a message of dialogue.

Their recipe, called “Il gusto dell’altro” — “The Taste of the Other” — paired a watermelon couscous salad with a fried couscous ball stuffed with spiced meat and served with several sauces. The dish won the votes of both the professional jury and the public.

A special award for Morocco

Badr Benjelloun did not win the main trophy, but his recipe earned him the “Gusto & Benessere” award. This distinction recognizes the most creative and contemporary use of proteins, notes TrapaniSì.

The Moroccan representative had prepared a “Seksu Medfouna dell’Alto Atlante,” inspired by the traditions of the High Atlas. His recipe combined couscous, sweet-and-sour beef, argan essence and a marrow marqa.

Morocco had won the championship in 2024 thanks to Hanae Chaoui and Mourad Dakir. Portugal succeeded it in 2025. Badr Benjelloun therefore arrived in Sicily hoping to put the kingdom back at the top.

On Bladi.net : article 120537

Originally from Casablanca, the chef first worked in new technologies before devoting himself to cooking. After spending sixteen years in China, he settled in Italy and now runs a restaurant in Catania. The San Vito Lo Capo championship is familiar to him: he had already reached the final twice.