Celia Jiménez (chef)
Celia Jiménez Caballero | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 19, 1976 Spain |
| Occupation | Chef |
| Known for | First woman in Spain to be awarded a Michelin star |
Celia Jiménez Caballero (born 19 February 1976) is a distinguished Spanish chef who, while leading the kitchen at El Lago restaurant, became the first woman in Spain to be awarded a Michelin star.
Career
Celia Jiménez received her culinary education at La Cónsula de Málaga, a prestigious institution known for producing numerous Michelin star chefs. In the early stages of her profession, her menus featured traditional haute cuisine staples such as foie gras, caviar, and scallops. Although the initial chef workforce had a fairly equal gender distribution, she observed a gradual decrease in female chefs over time, largely due to familial obligations.
As the head chef at El Lago located in Marbella, she achieved the milestone of becoming the first female chef in Spain to secure a Michelin star. This accolade led to heightened expectations from patrons and increased media exposure. She maintained a progressive approach to menu development but chose not to incorporate molecular gastronomy methods.
In 2015, Jiménez opened Restaurant Celia Jiménez, situated within a sports complex in Córdoba. Her goal was to merge fine dining with greater accessibility by applying knowledge gained from her culinary research at Bodegas Campos, creating a contemporary interpretation of Andalusian cuisine. The menu prominently features regional ingredients, with particular emphasis on jamón ibérico (Iberian ham).