Elisa Menendez
DANI Garcia’s self-titled restaurant has just become the second in Andalucia with a prestigious three Michelin stars.
Not only that, but Garcia’s Marbella-based joint was the only one to be awarded three stars – the highest amount available – in Spain and Portugal this year.
It comes after the 2019 Michelin Guide winners were announced in Lisbon last night.
Panellists awarded Dani Garcia’s luxury restaurant for the chef’s ‘unique way of reinventing Andalucian gastronomy in a contemporary form’.
“I have cried tears of happiness with my mother, my daughters, my partner, my team… I’m so happy,” said 42-year-old Garcia on receiving his third honour, “After a 20-year-career, it’s another milestone. Now it’s time to enjoy and reflect.”
¡El sur tiene mucha estrella! ? ¡Enhorabuena @danigarcia_ca! Novedad 3 #EstrellasMichelin. #GuiaMichelin2019 #michelinstar19 pic.twitter.com/6aOMHbGTAu
— La Guía MICHELIN (@GuiaMichelin_ES) November 21, 2018
Angel Leon’s Aponiente in Cadiz, was the first Andalucian restaurant to be awarded the coveted three stars last year.
Malagueno Garcia was awarded his second star with Marbella restaurant Calima in 2010.
“I’m ecstatic to win, but I have a bitter sweet taste in my mouth as I feel the region is not being properly rewarded for its great cooking,” Garcia
told the Olive Press after winning the second accolade.
Through his early training at Martin Berasategui’s three Michelin-starred Guipuzcoa in 1996, Garcia heard a phrase that has been etched into his memory ever since: “Today we have to do better than yesterday and tomorrow, better than today.”
So much so, that Garcia became not only the first chef in Andalucia to win a Michelin star – for his restaurant Tragabuches, in Ronda – but also the youngest to receive one in Spain at the age of 24.
