JURY : ELENA ARZAK
Elena Arzak is the fourth generation of chefs who runs the kitchen at the Arzak Restaurant in San Sebastian, rated by Michelin with three stars. Formed in the principles of the New Basque Cuisine Movement defended by her legendary father, Chef Juan Mari Arzak, and the vanguard of Spanish cuisine that followed at the beginning of this century, she has her own personality in her culinary creations. He has established a collaborative creativity method with her team that feeds the continuous innovation of Basque cuisine from Arzak, based on research and contemporary.Elena attended the School of Hotel and Restaurant Management in Lucerne, Switzerland, expanding her culinary knowledge in excellent European restaurants such as La Maison Troisgros, Pierre Gagnaire, Carré des Feuillants and Le Vivarois in France, Louis XV in Monte Carlo, Le Gavroche in London, Antica Osteria del Ponte in Italy, and El Bulli in Spain, among others. She returned to the family restaurant in the 90s, made her way through all the parties while creating original dishes together with her father who supported her and continually challenged her. In May 2001, the International Academy of Gastronomy awarded Elena the Chef de Avenir Award. In 2010, the Spanish Academy of Gastronomy awarded her with the National Gastronomy Award. Later, in 2012 she received the Best Female Chef of the World Award. Later, in her homeland, she was awarded with the “Euskadi” Gastronomy Award 2014 for the best restaurateur. Afterwards, she has continued to receive awards such as the Augie Leadership Award granted by the 2015 Culinary Institute of America or the UNWTO Prize as special Ambassador of the World Tourism Organization 2018, among others.Currently, Elena shares the helm at Arzak with her father, Juan Mari. They are chefs and collaborators. Their shared history, culinary knowledge, passion and enthusiasm define the characteristic spirit of this world-renowned restaurant.