The Costa del Sol has long been a favourite with gourmets, not only because Mediterranean cuisine is one of the healthiest in the world, but also because the Andalucía region boasts so many Michelin star-rated restaurants. From Marbella to Malaga in 80 dishes could be the title of a new cook book, but at the end of the year 2015 it is only one book that interests Andalucía's chefs: the 2016 edition of the Michelin Guide to Spain.
Costa del Sol chefs have gained three new Michelin stars among their numbers, as the 2016 Michelin guide puts Malaga at the top of the fine dining list in Southern Spain. Three Malaga province chefs were awarded their very first Michelin stars for their restaurants at a ceremony held at the Parador de los Reyes Católicos in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia at the end of November 2015.
Foodie Heaven Marbella
Diego Gallegos, chef at Sollo in Fuengirola, Mauricio Giovanni from Marbella's Messina restaurant and Luis Olarri, chef at Kabuki Raw at the Finca Cortesin in Casares were all named as the happy new recipients of Michelin stars.
Their names can now be added to the already abundant star-spangled fine dining firmament at the Costa del Sol. Dani Garcia in Marbella holds 2 Michelin stars, while Diego del Rio, chef at El Lago in Marbella and José Carlos García, chef in Malaga City, and Jaume Puigdengolas and Marcos Granda, chefs at Skina in Marbella all hold one Michelin star each.
Malaga Province has over the last few years stepped up its culinary credentials with the introduction of hugely successful, new food festivals, attracting thousands of visitors to food stalls that sell regional delicatessen and traditional food with a modern twist. Malaga Province is Andalucía's undisputed foodie centre, bagging more new Michelin stars in 2015 than any other province.
Argentine-born chef Mauricio Giovanni, who works at seaside restaurant Messina in Marbella, was overwhelmed by the accolade: "This gives us the confidence we need. I just want to get back to Malaga to give Pía [his partner] - who is a hundred per cent a part of this - a kiss."
Since changing jobs from PR work for a nightclub to cooking full time, Giovanni has been improving his game year on year. He's been in Andalucía for 12 years now, winning the prize from the Academia Gastronómica de Málaga for best chef and best restaurant in Malaga Province among other accolades.
The 2016 Michelin Guide to Spain and Portugal highlights Malaga Province as a fine dining destination with one restaurant featuring 2 stars, the Dani Garcia in Marbella, and six with one star, of which three are also based in Marbella.
Celebrating culinary Successes
Celebrations at Kabuki Raw at Finca Cortesin in Casares were just as exuberant at the news of the Michelin star achievement. “Tonight is a party night!” exclaimed Luis Olarra, who hadn't expected his star at all, but puts it down to being "the result of perseverance". The Bilbao-born 29-year-old chef has built up a devoted foodie-following with his Mediterranean-Japanese fusion cooking.
Also celebrating and finding himself utterly amazed is Brazilian-born chef Diego Gallegos. "I am aware that we have to continue working very hard.” He learned his cookery skills at the famous cookery school La Cónsula in Malaga, before running the kitchen at Sollo, which is part of the Hilton Double Tree resort in Fuengirola’s Reserva de Higuerón. After just one year's worth of trading, Diego can be justly proud of the restaurant's achievements.
Throughout the year Marbella, Fuengirola and Malaga City offer foodies a wide range of food festivals, where fresh local produce can be sampled alongside with delicatessen produced in the province. Winter is ideal for exploring restaurants in the province. The distractions of beach and sea can be disregarded in favour of dining out. During the summer, chefs are under pressure to cater for the masses, but after 15 September a relative calm sets in and restaurants and hotel kitchens can begin to offer local fare, not international food like burgers and chips with everything. It's a good time to test how good these new star-spangled chefs really are.