Ana Gómez scoops award from Málaga Association of Chefs and Confectioners

12/08/2010 - The Andalusian Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Clara Aguilera; the Managing Director of the Costa del Sol Tourist Board, Ana Gómez; and the restaurateur Juan Bautista García have been the recipients of the awards granted by the Málaga-Costa del Sol Association of Chefs and Confectioners this year. The ceremony took place at the Torrequebrada hotel, in Benalmádena Costa.

The Gold Award went Clara Aguilera, which was collected by the minister’s representative in Málaga, Mónica Bermúdez. Ms Gómez got the Gold and Diamond Award, whereas the San Lorenzo Medal –the highest award granted by the association– went to Juan Bautista García, who owns the Málaga-based restaurant Rocío, Tapas y Sushi with Japanese master Kikuchi.

The event also included the ceremony of the 2nd Teodoro Gutiérrez Award to Andalusian cuisine and the use of indigenous food. The nominees were the restaurants Juan Moreno (Vera, Almeria), Gastromium (Seville), and El Claustro (Granada). The prize went to the Granada-based establishment, and was collected by chef Juan Andrés Morillas. Morillas is the only Spanish and first Andalusian chef to make it to the finals of the Bocuse d’Or, the most prestigious world chef championship, to be held in January.

Event attendees included the President and the Manager of the Málaga Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Shipping, Jerónimo Pérez Casero and Andrés García; the President of Association of Hoteliers of the Costa del Sol, José Carlos Escribano; and the Mayor of Algarrobo, Natacha Rivas. Algarrobo is the town chosen by the Andalusian Association of Chefs and Confectioners for its new headquarters and for the Higher Institute of Andalusian Gastronomy.