Spanish haute cuisine experienced an unrepeatable moment to pay an unprecedented tribute to Martín Berasategui, Spain’s most awarded chef and a key figure in the country’s culinary transformation.
The meeting, organized by Puente Romano Marbella and the Dani García Group, celebrated the career of the San Sebastian chef, and also showed the strength, unity and shared vision that today characterize Spanish gastronomy.
For two days, on November 16 and 17, the Marbella resort became the epicenter of a meeting that brought together leaders such as Albert Adrià, Joan Roca, Ricard Camarena, Paolo Casagrande, Ángel León, the Torres Brothers, Paco Morales, Toño Pérez, Diego Guerrero and Francis Paniego, among many others. The result was a weekend full of technique, emotion and camaraderie, where several generations of chefs came together to celebrate a master who has led the way for more than five decades.
The tribute began with a round table at NYX, moderated by Samantha Vallejo-Nágera, in which Berasategui spoke with Dani García and Izu Ani about the challenges of the industry, the evolution of their culinary proposals and their next projects. Later, guests enjoyed a private dinner at GAIA, an intimate preamble to what would be one of the most memorable gastronomic celebrations of the year.
On Monday, La Plaza de Puente Romano became the scene of a tribute full of emotion. Dani García and Juan González, executive chef of the resort, dedicated profound words to the Basque chef, highlighting his impact on the recent history of Spanish gastronomy. “Cooking teaches you to dream of the impossible. And you, Martín, are the best example of what is achieved with passion and humility,” González said before an audience that gave the chef a standing ovation.
The day concluded with a tribute dinner at Leña Marbella. There, the guest chefs collaborated to create a 16-course menu that reinterpreted Berasategui’s legacy through technique, sensitivity and creativity. From emblematic millefeuille signed by Erlantz Gorostiza, Paolo Casagrande and Dani García, to marine proposals by the Torres Brothers and classic dishes such as Nandu Jubany’s cannelloni or Jesús Sánchez’s royal de hare, the menu was an example of the diversity that defines the new Spanish cuisine. The sweet closing, by Albert Adrià, Ricard Camarena and Samantha Vallejo-Nágera, sealed an evening that the attendees themselves described as historic.
Beyond the culinary display, the message that resonated in Marbella was one of unity and gratitude. Berasategui, true to his style, dedicated the central words of the night to his team and the gastronomic community. “There is no ‘I’ in my vocabulary. Everything I am is born from ‘we’. The revolution of Spanish cuisine is in walking together,” he said. For many, this phrase summarizes the philosophy that has guided their career and that has influenced entire generations of chefs.
Dani García, host of the event, highlighted that Berasategui’s legacy transcends awards and stars. “What Martín has done for all of us cannot be measured. He taught us to work with passion and build a gastronomy that looks to the future without forgetting its roots,” he said.
The tribute celebrated the career of a chef and reaffirmed Spain’s position as one of the most influential gastronomic powers in the world. In a context where the culinary experience is a key economic driver – from tourism to investment in gastronomic and hospitality projects – the figure of Berasategui once again reminds us that behind each exceptional dish there is vision, talent and a community united by the craft.
