Source: Gastroeconomy

 

On the 30th of November, the Michelin Guide brought together the 11 Spanish chefs with three Michelin stars at the Palacio de Cibeles: Joan Roca, Martín Berasategui, Pedro Subijana, Elena Arzak, Eneko Atxa, Jordi Cruz, Quique Dacosta, Ángel León, Paolo Casagrande, Jesús Sánchez and Dabiz Muñoz, in what was a 'preview' of the presentation of the 2021 edition of their guide. The meeting was a debate that focused on the effects caused by the coronavirus crisis in the restaurant sector, and all the measures implemented by these 11 restaurants to tackle it.

As Joan Roca, chef and co-owner of the Celler de Can Roca, said, "This meeting is a way of generating optimism; haute cuisine is in good health, and it will continue being like that. We are a small percentage of the hotel and catering industry, but we are part of the sector that has been through the worst". On the other hand, Martín Berasategui, a record chef with 12 stars, stressed that nobody would have imagined that such a situation could happen, but this does not mean that we should panic and be hysterical; we must come out stronger because "the best of gastronomy is yet to come".

In addition, many of the chefs agreed on the need for support, whether financial or otherwise. Jordi Cruz asked for empathy from the government: "If there is no empathy or help, we will lose 30-40% of the restaurants". They also stressed the great surprise they have received from national customers, which have helped to compensate for the fall caused by the lack of international clients. As Dabiz Muñoz mentions, "If there is one thing that has become clear to the 11 of us who are here, it is that the national public still wants to consume culture and excellence". In short, it is clear to everyone that with optimism, hope, illusion and cooperation, the sector will be seeing the end of the tunnel soon.