Juan Mari Arzak facts for kids
circa 2010
|
|
| Born | Juan Mari Arzak Arratibel 31 July 1942 San Sebastián, Basque Country, Spain |
|---|---|
| Cooking style | New Basque cuisine |
|
Rating(s)
|
|
|
Current restaurant(s)
|
|
|
Award(s) won
Universal Basque, 2008
|
|
Juan Mari Arzak Arratibel, born on July 31, 1942, is a very famous Spanish chef. He owns and runs the well-known Arzak restaurant. Many people consider him one of the greatest masters of a cooking style called New Basque cuisine. He describes his cooking as "signature cuisine." This means it's his own special style. He also says it's "Basque cuisine that's evolutionary, investigatory, and avant-garde." This means it's traditional Basque food but always changing, exploring new ideas, and very modern.
Contents
Juan Mari Arzak: A Master Chef
Juan Mari Arzak has dedicated his life to cooking. He grew up surrounded by food and the restaurant business. His passion for creating amazing dishes has made him a global cooking icon.
Early Life and Family
Juan Mari Arzak was born in San Sebastián, Spain. He was the only child of Juan Ramon Arzak and Francisca Arratibel. He spent a lot of his childhood at his grandparents' restaurant. This early experience likely sparked his interest in food.
Later, his parents took over the restaurant. When his father passed away in 1951, his mother continued to run it. Juan Mari eventually took charge of the family business. He has two daughters, Marta and Elena, with his wife Maite Espina.
Becoming a Chef
Arzak often says that his interest in cooking started when he was very young. He would help out in his family's restaurant as a child. However, his true passion for cooking really grew when he attended a hotel management school in Madrid.
After serving in the military, he returned to his family's restaurant. He began his training as a chef there. At first, he was in charge of roasting meats. Over time, he developed his unique cooking style.
Arzak Restaurant's Success
Since Juan Mari Arzak took over the restaurant, it has received many awards and much praise. In 1989, the restaurant earned three Michelin stars. This is one of the highest honors a restaurant can receive. It shows that the food and service are truly outstanding.
In 2008, Arzak received the "Universal Basque" award. This award recognized him for "adapting gastronomy, one of the most important traditions of the Basque Country, to the new times." It also honored him for making Basque cuisine "one of the most innovative of the world."
A Family Legacy
Juan Mari Arzak has trained his daughter, Elena Arzak, to continue the family's cooking legacy. Elena, born in 1969, is also a highly respected chef. She has won the "Veuve Clicquot World's Best Female Chef" award at the "World's 50 Best Restaurant Awards." Together, they continue to innovate and lead the Arzak restaurant.
See also
In Spanish: Juan Mari Arzak para niños
