Executive Chef Wins Third Place in the Prestigious Americas Tapas Competition in Queretaro, Mexico       Hotel Valencia Riverwalk’s Executive Chef Brian Randolph recently captured third place honors in the Americas Tapas Competition in Queretaro, Mexico, held on Sept. 22. Randolph was the only U.S. chef selected to compete in this prestigious culinary competition and he faced off against 14 premier chefs from countries throughout the Americas. The top three winners in the Americas Tapas Competition are going on to compete in the 8th Annual World Tapas Competition in Valladolid, Spain, Nov. 11-13, 2024.   Randolph was one of 14 U.S. chefs invited to vie for selection to compete in the Americas Tapas Competition. For the competition, he prepared a Cauliflower and Smoked Salmon Croquette. This culinary creation involves puréeing cauliflower and smoked salmon, then cooking these down with aromatics, blending them together, cooling and placing into molds, then breading and frying the croquettes.  Other Winners   The first-place winner in the Americas Tapas Competition was Canadian Chef Imron Texeira. Chef Oscar Santacoloma of Ecuador took second place. World Tapas Competition   Each year, the World Tapas Competition organizers select 15 chefs from qualifying Tapas Competitions around the world and then include the winner of the national Spanish Tapas Competition, for a total of 16 chef competitors. The president of the judging panel this year is Chef Oriol Castro, whose famed Barcelona restaurant, Disfrutar, has three Michelin stars and was named the best restaurant in the world in 2024. Castro will be joined by other Michelin chefs on the judging panel. All chefs competing in the World Tapas Competition in Spain are required to prepare the same tapas dish that qualified them to advance to the Valladolid competition.    “It was such an honor to represent the United States and Valencia Hotel Collection in the Americas Tapas Competition,” said Randolph. “I’m thrilled to be getting the opportunity to represent both again in the World Tapas Competition in November.”  Dorrego’s Tapas Menu Hotel Valencia Riverwalk’s Dorrego’s restaurant will feature the winning tapa on its menu beginning in early October. The tapa’s salmon is cured and smoked in house, and the finished dish is served with house-made crème fraiche, pickled red onions, chives and a balsamic reduction. ABOUT VALENCIA HOTEL COLLECTION Valencia Hotel Collection is a Texas based portfolio of boutique, independent hotels and a part of Valencia Hotel Group. The collection consists of seven properties across the portfolio with two luxury concepts and five urban retreat-style boutique hotels. Known for their Old-World Spain design and luxury accommodations, Hotel Valencia Riverwalk in San Antonio and Hotel Valencia Santana Row in San Jose, California boast as the collection’s crowned jewels for their unmatched experiences, spectacular on-site restaurants, and oasis locations. Within the collection also falls the group’s urban-retreat properties including Cotton Court in Lubbock, Cavalry Court and The George in College Station, Texican Court in Irving, and Lone Star Court in Austin. While each of these properties offer their own unique experience, the courts are known for transporting guests to a Texas night under the stars with elevated accommodations, original design, live music, and exquisite restaurants and bars. To learn more about each property within the collection, visit www.valenciahotelcollection.com.