THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF MICHELIN STARS, PART 1: THE SENSATIONAL SPAIN & PORTUGAL MICHELIN GUIDE EVENT 2023

Michelin Guide’s superachievers, the Torres twins. And there’s
Chef Toño Pérez of Atrio too (not in the photo)

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by Margaux Cintrano
Photos supplied by the author

On the 22nd of November 2022, the annual gala for the Spanish & Portuguese Michelin Guide was held in Toledo, 50 km. from the Capital of Madrid, recognising the absolute best restaurants of the Iberian Peninsula, with COCINA HERMANOS TORRES in Barcelona becoming the big winner of the night having been awarded a sparkling Three Michelin Star. Their third!

With three Michelin Stars to their name, and a green Michelin Star for their outstanding work in sustainability, the Spanish twins conquered the culinary world with dishes full of soul, creativity and profound flavours.
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THE HIGHLIGHTS

A Three Michelin Star was awarded to Javier and Sergio Torres of Cocina Hermanos Torres – Barcelona.
Another Three Star was earned, this one by Chef Toño Perez of Restaurant Atrio in Cacéras, Extremadura.
Fourteen new Green Stars were received by 13 restaurants in Spain and one in Portugal.

Quique Dacosta, of Deessa Restaurant, with a dashing dessert of his creation

Furthermore, three special Michelin Awards were given to Young Chefs and the new Service Awards were presented celebrating talent and gastronomic knowledge.

Restaurant Deessa, located in the Hotel Mandarin Oriental Ritz in the Madrid Capital, was awarded two Michelin Stars. Chef Quique Dacosta and Chef Guillermo Chavez were the recipients of the honor.

Next to Raxo, Galicia (Pontevedra) in the small village of Serpe, Chef Pepe Vieira created an impeccable countryside restaurant possessing Avant Garde design and was once again rewarded with a 2nd Michelin Star.
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The One-Michelin Star Awardees
It has been an exceptional year for the One Michelin Star category in both Spain and Portugal. In all, 34  new restaurants — 29 in Spain and 5 in Portugal — were awarded a Star, among them:

The Encanto in Lisbon, Portugal, helmed by Chef José Avillez

Restaurant Encanto By José Avillez – Lisbon, Portugal
Restaurant Euskalduna Studio – Porto, Portugal
Restaurant Kabula – Lisbon, Portugal
Le Monument – Porto, Portugal
Mont Bar – Barcelona, Spain
Zuara Sushi  – Madrid, Spain
Etxeko Ibiza – Ibiza, Spain
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Three Star Attendees

Toño Perez – Cacéres, Extremadura
Javier & Sergio Torres – Barcelona
Adolfo Muñoz – Toledo
Quique Dacosta – Dénia, Alicante

Ángel Leon, a Michelin superStar attendee

Martin Berasategui – Lasarte, Pais Vasco
Elena Arzak – San Sebastian, Pais Vasco
Pedro Subijana – Pais Vasco
Ángel León – El Puerta de Santa Maria, Cádiz

Joan Roca – El Celler de Can Roca. Girona
Eneko Atxa – Bilbao, Pais Vasco
Dabiz Muñoz – Madrid
Jordi Cruz – Barcelona. . .
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Not only have Spain and Portugal seen the fruits of their labours but also their teams, their families and all their followers who have assisted over the years to get these amazing chefs where they now are.