A trip to start the 2009 might be a great idea, but if we also take into consideration "an excellent cuisine worthy of a change of path" or "exceptional cuisine worth a special trip” to enjoy the pleasures of making stops at the establishments distinguished by the Michelin Guide, it can turn into a unique experience.
The famous French guide is not the only one giving a selection and valuation of the high cuisine and establishments, but is the oldest and most prestigious in Europe. Since it began in 1900 as a free advertising guide for buying tires of this house, it managed to evolve as a reflection of quality and excellence, spread in more than twenty countries serving gourmet travelers as "the gourmet Bible” to choose restaurants with excellence.
Despite the great moment going for the high cuisine in our country, once again, the Michelin Guide for Spain and Portugal 2009 keeps the number of restaurants awarded with the highest category. The French guide gives three Michelin stars to El Bulli, in Rosas (Girona) of Ferran Adrià, Arzak in San Sebastian of Juan Mari Arzak, Martin Berasategui restaurant located in Lasarte (Guipúzcoa) and managed by Martin Berasategui, Akelarre, of Pedro Subijana, located in San Sebastian, in Barcelona Sant Pau, in Sant Pol de Mar of Carme Ruscalleda, and Can Fabes, in Sant Celoni, whose kitchen is headed by Santi Santamaria, who have the exceptional quality to make a special and worthy gastronomic escapade.
No one doubts that this exquisite group of fine restaurants deserves to be in the “Gastronomic Olimpo”. However, experts from our country raised their voices to discuss why some prominent chefs have not been promoted to the category of Three Michelin Stars, chefs like Andoni Luis Aduriz, with his restaurant Mugaritz (in Errenteria), who despite his impressive fourth place in the Restaurant Magazine ranking
remains with Two Stars in the red list Guide, like Joan brothers, Joseph and Jordi Roca, from Celler de Can Roca.
In the second place of this prestigious ranking, the influential French house itself has made some moves, that the famed Sergi Arola has frankly emerged strengthened. After leaving La Broche, restaurant of Madrid’s Miguel Angel Hotel, to set up the new restaurant Sergi Arola-Gastro also in the capital, the Catalan chef has directly received two stars without being previously rated by any star. This decision is as unusual and unexpected as La Broche lost its distinction.
The biggest dance in names has been, as usual, at the first place, the road to gourmet stardom, where fifteen new establishments enter and nine fell. Ultimately, 130 French stars have traveled to our country that stands behind Tokyo, France and Germany.
Following in the footsteps of Michelin, epicurean travelers can move beyond the old Europe and continue to enjoy the highest quality standards in the kitchen, the wine or the service of a restaurant.
Tokyo already took Paris position as the gourmet city for excellence in the past year, increasing its already unattainable number of distinctions to the 227 Michelin stars. But the Asian adventure does not end here because the guide is now available in Hong Kong and Macao, which granted 28 stars between their establishments.
The United States for its part, has gained reputation as a tourist destination among Europeans, and the French guide lets us know the most exclusive dining spots, in the Big Apple and the cities of the West Coast, with a careful sample of restaurants in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Ultimately, both the traditional and the latest culinary destinations in the world, the Michelin Guide has become an indisputable and professional reference of the most distinguished centers of culinary delicacy
