Let's celebrate!
This year it was up to Bilbao . The famous list has decided that this would be a good city to bring together a large part of the world gastronomic firmament.
For days, its bars, restaurants and bars have received exceptional visits. Bilbao has been a party and we have lived it, we have told it and we have been able to speak with the national chefs. Do our chefs really get wet when saying which ones should be on the podium? Some more than others, but if we have learned something, it is that they live a little oblivious to what is promulgated in the famous list.
At the top of the world gastronomic firmament
We started the day in Mine _(Muelle Marzana s/n) _, having breakfast like gentlemen at around 10:30 a.m. an oyster and a version of bloody mary with Gin Mare. Álvaro Garrido has hosted these days chefs, national and international journalists, a dinner paired with sake and other events.
Any bets for tonight? “Mina is going to be the third or the second”, he jokes. “No way, I have no idea, the truth is that I am very outsider of these things. On my ideal list there would be real leading restaurants, there are many that aren't even there. It is a global list but very social, I think there will be surprises. Since I'm not in it, I dedicate myself to my work. The really important thing is that there is product, creativity, honesty...”
Later we ate at Eneko _(Palacio Euskalduna. Abandoibarra Etorbidea, 4) _. A good handful of chefs like Dani García, Paco Roncero, Juanjo López, Francis Paniego and Ricard Camarena , among others.
The latter comments: "This year they have given me eleventh place", before the stunned face of which he writes these lines. "It is not a joke. I'm here taking advantage of the fact that I came to give a talk at the Basque Culinary and that I'm going to cook with Nacho Manzano”. Bets for the big night? “Let us stay as we are” , sentence.
At about 6:00 p.m., a party began that ended with few surprises, a lot of chip movement and Massimo Bottura's ** Osteria Francescana ** returning to the top of the ranking as the best restaurant on the planet
family photo
The main problem? “There are many people in Spain who should be visited and who do not have the visibility that they should. Spanish crack is Albert Adria , which not only has one restaurant, but several among the 100”, tells us Patricia Mateo, head of the Mateo and Co. gastronomic agency and consultancy.
After the gala, the obligatory photo of the super chefs waving their red scarves arrived, the music went up and, when things started to get messy, we met Juanjo, from the Tasquita de Enfrente.
What does it tell us? “If at my age I can't say what I think, turn it off and let's go. Personally, I have never liked lists. Each person has his own list and this has the validity that he himself gives it. I miss many people, Ricard Camarena, Ángel León...many are missing.” he concludes. "Because I was absent, this year I stayed in 101, to see if next year I enter...". Another of the jokes that floated yesterday in the environment.
Luis Cepeda , a food critic who had also attended the gala, commented that it had become a show and that he had been surprised that El Celler de Can Roca did not take the lead.
When asked what the gala had seemed like to Francis Paniego , the Riojan chef replied: “I don't understand how a restaurant like Nerua is not higher on this list, with the things he does and the talent that Josean Alija has... I expected more and that the Roca brothers would rise to first place again.”
Had the illusions of our chefs been punctured? What we do know is that it all ended with an after party at the San Mamés stadium with many of the chefs wearing Athletic Bilbao shirts with their name embroidered on them. Drinks, ham and cheese and everyone dancing to the rhythm of the Bee Gees and other eighties songs completed the party.
I was there too Andoni Luis Aduriz. “Again in the top 10”, they told him, to which he replied “Well, the list won't be so bad!”
Posturing, marketing or contrasting opinions? Only time will tell. Until next year, list
The party ended like this