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Juan Mari Arzak
Chef

Juan Mari Arzak

Famoose for

Developing New Basque cuisine at the Arzak restaurant.

Arzak · New Basque cooking

Born
31 July 1942
Birthplace
San Sebastián

More people

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Juan Mari Arzak

Juan Mari Arzak is a Spanish chef associated with the modernisation of Basque cooking.

Early life

Family restaurant

Grew up in San Sebastián around his grandparents’ restaurant and studied hotel management in Madrid.

Career

  1. Early career

    Return home

    Returned after military service to train in the family restaurant.

  2. Restaurant leadership

    Arzak

    Developed experimental cooking rooted in Basque traditions.

  3. 1989

    Three Michelin stars

    The restaurant received its third star.

Selected work

Arzak

The San Sebastián restaurant associated with New Basque cuisine.

New Basque cooking

Combined regional cooking traditions with experimental techniques.

Beyond work

Family

Has two daughters with Maite Espina; Elena also became a chef at Arzak.

Sources & photo creditBiography and career ↗Biographical references ↗

Original photograph. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.

Photo: Javier Lastras. CC BY 2.0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.