Six new Michelin stars for Catalonia on Albert Adrià's big night

BarcelonaNot so many years ago, chefs found out they had won a Michelin star because a journalist called them or they simply saw it published in the newspaper. Now the event, which celebrates the 125th anniversary of the publication, is a spectacle with a red carpet, lights, a stage, speeches by politicians, and many sponsors. A sign of our times. In this context, the coveted Michelin stars were awarded in Malaga on Tuesday night, where the idea that "a star changes your life" was repeated several times.

This year, the French guide has allowed for the redress of what was considered by many in the world of gastronomy to be an injustice: that Albert Adrià's restaurant in Barcelona, ​​Enigma, did not receive two stars. Adrià, seasoned in many battles, Last year he regretted it most of all for the teamThis year, then, is a big celebration at this establishment, which is enjoying a sweet moment thanks to its complex, technically proficient, and extensive minimalist menu. The audience rose to their feet when his name was announced, as it had been cleverly saved for last. The chef, in a brief speech worthy of stand-upHe said: "I woke up from my nap and suddenly found myself in the auditorium. And I came up here. Winning two stars was a real surprise. I wasn't expecting it." More applause.

And we can also attribute some credit to Adrià for the second Michelin star of the Mont Bar restaurant, located on a corner in Barcelona's Eixample district, which was also recognized. The chef, Fran Agudo, is one of his disciples, and worked alongside the former El Bulli chef at Tickets, where he learned the techniques and rigor under the motto "Work and keep quiet." how he declared to the ARA when they gave him the first A star in 2022.

We continue with the second stars. And we're still staying in Barcelona. The Aleia restaurant, located in the Hotel Casa Fuster, has also doubled its existing star. The restaurant, owned by Argentinian Paulo Airaudo and Rafa de Bedoya from Jerez, is fortunate to be situated within an architectural landmark, a building designed by Domènech i Muntaner, and no less than on the main floor of the first floor. Upon receiving the new star, Rafa de Bedoya reminded everyone that "all that glitters is not gold."

We finish with the two-starred restaurant in Bellvís, La Boscana. There is life beyond Barcelona. The project by Joel Castanyé and María Ángeles ChiribogaJoel Castanyé, who has elevated the fruit of Lleida, has captivated the guide's inspectors. This restaurant values a pear as much as a prawn and is located in a truly privileged setting. It's one of those establishments known as a "destination restaurant," meaning that the visit alone is worth the trip. The guide called it "one of the most romantic restaurants in Spain." Joel Castanyé thanked his 82-year-old mother, who has spent her entire life in the profession and is "still a force to be reckoned with." "She couldn't get in because she didn't have a ticket," he said, adding that "rural areas are wonderful." The guide highlighted five restaurants with two Michelin stars. Four are in Catalonia, and a fifth goes to the Catalan chef Ramon Freixa and his Ramon Freixa Atelier in Madrid. In the one-star category, the guide awarded the courage of the KamikazeEnric Buendía's restaurant, formerly the chef at Disfrutar, had the method; it just needed to be refined. Together with Camila Delani and her sake pairings, they have achieved their stated goal. Their menu, with its deep Asian roots, can be found on Rosselló Street in Barcelona.

The second restaurant to earn a Michelin star in Catalonia is Japanese. It went to Scapar, located on Rector Ubach Street, also in Barcelona. Chef Koichi Kuwabara offers a unique menu. omakase and describes its offering as "haute Japanese cuisine." Unfortunately, Kuwabara was unable to attend the gala due to personal reasons and, therefore, could not don the coveted chef's jacket. In total, the red guide awarded 25 new first stars throughout Spain.

As for the three stars, the 16 restaurants that held them have not lost any, nor have any been added.

The confusion of the green stars

After lengthy speeches, the gala got off to a lackluster start with the presentation of the green stars, a concept the guide no longer seems to believe in. They removed them as a filter on their website and reiterated that they are not equivalent to a "red" star, but rather an "incentive to foster dialogue between restaurants." This distinction caused confusion with the traditional stars. The five winning restaurants accepted them with the same enthusiasm with which the guide had presented them. They were Ama, Bakea, Garena, Hika, and Terrae.

The gala had circus-like moments, with the show ImagineA creation by Domingo Merlín and actor Antonio Banderas, the show prolonged a gala that already lacked a great pace and was riddled with mistakes by the presenter, Jesús Vázquez.