Juan Mari Arzak
Juan Mari Arzak Arratibel | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 31, 1942 San Sebastián, Spain |
| Occupation(s) | Chef, restaurateur |
| Known for | Pioneer of New Basque cuisine, proprietor of Arzak restaurant |
Juan Mari Arzak Arratibel (born 31 July 1942) is a renowned Spanish culinary expert and proprietor of the Arzak establishment located in San Sebastián, Spain. He is widely acknowledged as a pioneer in the field of New Basque cuisine, characterizing his approach as "distinctive cuisine, Basque culinary art that is progressive, exploratory, and innovative."
Personal life
Arzak was born in San Sebastián and spent his childhood in the restaurant owned by his grandparents, which later passed to his parents. Following the death of his father in 1951, his mother managed the restaurant until he eventually took over its operations. He is father to two daughters, Marta and Elena, with Maite Espina.
Professional life
His passion for gastronomy emerged early on and intensified while studying hotel management in Madrid. After completing his military duties, he returned to the family business, initially specializing in meat roasting. Under his guidance, the restaurant achieved three Michelin stars by 1989. In 2008, he was honored with the "Universal Basque" award for his contributions to advancing Basque culinary traditions. He mentored his daughter Elena, who earned the "Veuve Clicquot World's Best Female Chef" accolade and now shares leadership of the restaurant.