Several Spaniards Take Home Key Awards from the International Academy of Gastronomy

The most prestigious distinction, the Grand Prix de l’Art de la Cuisine, went to Spanish chef Toño Pérez

Several Spanish professionals were in the spotlight recently when the International Academy of Gastronomy presented its annual Awards.

Most notably, the most prestigious distinction, the Grand Prix de l’Art de la Cuisine, was awarded to Spanish chef Toño Pérez from Atrio restaurant in Cáceres. This particular award aims to recognize leaders in contemporary cooking whose culinary skills and expertise are recognized around the world. Previous winners from Spain include Juan Mari Arzak, Santi Santamaría, Joan Roca, Ángel León and Ferran Adrià, and other international chefs like Alain Ducasse and Rene Redzepi.

Another leading chef took home the Prix Au Chef de l'Avenir: Maca de Castro, from Maca de Castro restaurant in Mallorca. She follows in the footsteps of other big names such as Elena Arzak, Kiko Moya, Ángel León and Albert Adrià. The Prix au Littérature Gastronomique went to Luis Alberto Lera for his book Lera, published by Montagud. Lera's eponymous restaurant is in Zamora.

The Prix au Chef Pâtissier went to Jordi Bordás, who also won the Pastry World Cup back in 2011 and currently runs a successful pastry school. And lastly, the Prix Multimédia was awarded to Gastronomika Live, an innovative format that provided people online access to San Sebastian Gastronomika, a leading global gastronomy conference.