"On the night of November 28, the sky of Barcelona will be filled with stars." This is how Mónica Rius, Michelin's Director of Communication and Brands, began the presentation of the Michelin Guide gala, which will be held on November 28 at the Auditori Fórum of the Barcelona International Convention Center.
In addition to the gala, which will be hosted by Andreu Buenafuente and can be followed via streaming, the organization of free showcookings, which require prior registration, and the debate El vino es gastronomía (Wine is Gastronomy), which will be held on November 13 at the Auditorium of La Pedrera, also stand out. The latter is the fourth edition of an initiative that, this year, aims to highlight the wine world as an essential part to complete any gastronomic experience.
During the presentation, the Councilor for Commerce, Restaurants and Markets of the Barcelona City Council, Raquel Gil, also explained that Barcelona is the city with the most Michelin stars on the Iberian Peninsula. In addition, it has a total of 39 markets, which are a commitment to a model of access to food based on proximity, quality, and the professionalism of the people who are behind the stalls every day. "These markets are part of a gastronomic culture that is Michelin-star worthy, but also neighborhood-based," Gil pointed out.
Precisely for this reason, the celebration of the gala will include parallel initiatives such as Tu mercado tiene una estrella (Your market has a star), in which chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants will cook in Barcelona's markets to bring high gastronomy closer to everyone. These showcookings, conceived by the City Council and the Tourism Consortium, will be held from October 20 to November 6 in four different locations. The Mercat de Sants will thus invite Oriol Castro and Fran López; the ESHOB School will invite Artur Martínez; the Mercat de la Guineueta will invite Romain Fornell and the Mercat de Mercats fair, which will be held from October 20 to 22, will invite the Torres brothers, Alejandra Ormeño, Raúl Balam, Rafa de Bedoya, Francisco Beltri and Nicolás de la Vega. Prior reservation is mandatory.
A gala dinner with big names
As Mónica Rius explained, guests at the gala will be able to enjoy a dinner prepared by a select cast of 12 chefs who collectively hold 13 Michelin stars. With the aim of highlighting and appreciating the richness, quality, and diversity of the gastronomy of the establishments in the 2023 Guide, the event will be led by Jordi Cruz, Javier and Sergio Torres, and Paolo Casa Grande, who will team up with Oriol Castro, Eduard Xatruch, Mateu Casañas, Raül Balam, David Andrés, Albert Adrià, Albert Raurich, and Hideki Matsuhisa. This selection not only highlights restaurants with the greatest international projection currently, but also supports historical establishments and the city's diverse gastronomies.
As chef Jordi Cruz, from Restaurante ABaC, explained: "We have created a very diverse menu that reflects the gastronomy and the desire for beautiful things to happen in Barcelona. It was about time Michelin returned to the city, and we will give our all to make it a very grand night." For his part, Paolo Casagrande, from Restaurante Lasarte, added that "this gala marks a before and after, as it will put Barcelona on the map. The charisma, strength, and talent in Barcelona are unstoppable". Finally, Sergio Torres, from Restaurante Cocina Hermanos Torres, added that "it is a pleasure, an honor, and a source of pride for us, as Barcelonians, that the gala is held here. I believe that, beyond the event, doors will open for many other things." And his brother Javier concluded with a request to the famous red guide: "since the gala is held here, it would be amazing if some more stars fell for Barcelona, for Catalonia, and for the rest of Spain. Hopefully, the gala will be accompanied by many stars!"
Jordi Cruz: "It was about time Michelin returned to the city, and we will give our all to make it a very grand night"An DNA that involves many disciplines
The Sales and Marketing Director for Michelin Food and Travel, Miguel Perera, has also announced that they will launch a communication campaign to "give international visibility to the city as a gastronomic destination of excellence." The BCN ADN Excelencia will kick off with some of the most relevant chefs in the Barcelona scene and will extend through other people from disciplines as diverse as sports, medicine, music, cinema, or communication. "These are the people who, for our chefs, represent the DNA of excellence that defines the city of Barcelona," Perera points out. In parallel, the public will be invited to compose a DNA chain, mentioning their relevant people in the city, whether known or not, through social media. Among all participants, the Michelin guide will raffle a series of gastronomic experiences and a ticket for two people to enjoy the Barcelona gala live.
Paolo Casagrande: "This gala marks a before and after, as it will put Barcelona on the map"