World's Best Ham by PataNegra.dk

On a warm evening in September, the historic Plaza Alta of Badajoz was transformed into a living theatre of flavours, knives, and applause. The reason was the IX Concurso de Cortadores de Jamón “Badajoz Capital Ibérica”, one of the most awaited gastronomic events in Extremadura. Here, six expert cortadores gathered to compete for precision, elegance, and above all, the pride of slicing what many call the world's best ham. Contest with a serious edge This was no small exhibition. Endorsed by the Asociación Nacional de Cortadores de Jamón, the contest is a direct path to the semi-finals of the Spanish National Championship. The hams, provided by a respected producer in Los Santos de Maimona, were 50% Iberian breed from the 2022 harvest. They carried the right balance of fat and lean, offering the perfect canvas for skilful hands and sharp knives. The competitors came from different regions of Spain—Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha, Andalucía, and Galicia. Each cutter faced the same t...