Vandelvira, double award from the Andalusian Academy
The Vandelvira restaurant in Baeza (Jaén) is on a roll, and deservedly so. In addition to having earned a Repsol Sun and a Michelin star, it has just been recognized as the best restaurant in the province of Jaén by the Gastronomic Association Friends of the Holy Kingdom, and for the first time in the Andalusian Academy of Gastronomy and Tourism's awards, it has taken home two accolades: best rest
Completing the list of winners of the tenth edition of the Andalusia Gastronomy Awards, which will be presented on March 4 in the auditorium of the Rectorate of the University of Cordoba, are gastronomic commentator Andrés Sánchez Magro (Dissemination), Cordoba es Más (Tourism Promotion), Castillo de Canena (Agro-industrial Company) and Manuel Bordallo, from the María Auxiliadora Silversmiths Society (Lifetime Achievement).
At Vandelvira, located in a 16th-century Renaissance convent where his parents still host celebrations, Juan Carlos García (who has worked at Enigma and Narisawa) works at the bar, serving diners dishes that become cherished culinary memories, such as the squid scarf with ham dashi, the chard with licorice beurre blanc and peppers, or the daring shrimp with snails. Laura Ferrer has also been recognized for her work managing the dining room and as the restaurant's sommelier.
The gala returns to where it began on its tenth anniversary and after having toured the eight provinces of the Autonomous Community, recalled the president of the Andalusian Academy of Gastronomy, Iván Llanza, for whom these awards "contribute to enhancing, improving and giving significance to the Andalusian gastro-tourism sector."
These awards are made possible through the collaboration of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development and its Gusto del Sur quality brand, as well as the AGAPA Agency, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, the University of Cordoba and its Chair of Gastronomic Sciences, the Provincial Council of Cordoba, the City Council through its Municipal Institute of Tourism of Cordoba and other collaborating companies in the agro-industrial sector.
The Andalusia Gastronomy Awards will be held after the General Assembly of the Academy, made up of more than 70 members representing the eight provinces, professionals from different sectors and with complementary profiles who work to promote the recognition of producers, processors and marketers in this autonomous community.
This Academy was established to investigate, disseminate, promote and protect the cuisines and gastronomic activities of the different provinces and towns of Andalusia; to promote the training and professionalization of the hospitality and hotel sectors, to make Andalusian gastronomy known in Spain and abroad and to enhance it as a tourist attraction and to contribute to the generation of knowledge by participating in the preparation of dictionaries, guides and forums.
In previous editions, the work of chefs such as Ángel León (Aponiente), Dani García (Grupo Dani García), Gonzalo Córdoba (Grupo El Faro), Paco Morales (Noor), Andoni Luis Aduriz (Mugaritz), Pedro Sánchez (Bagá) or Julio Fernández (Abantal) has been recognized.
