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Paco Pérez

Miramar

Paco Pérez grew up in Llançà, a small village northern from Barcelona, very close to the French border. The region still is his home and main source of inspiration.

At the age of 12 he discovered his passion for cooking when he started working in the “Tapas bar” owned by his family. From then on he combined his studies with summer jobs in different restaurants. After having studied with master chef Michel Guérard in France, he returned to Catalonia and identified himself with Ferran Adria from el Bulli, with whom he worked and collaborated in different stages of his career.

Converting the traditional restaurant into the avantgarde cuisine

When he met his wife Montse Serra they started facing together Miramar evolution, converting the traditional restaurant into the avantgarde cuisine restaurant that it is today – a place of pilgrimage for contemporary gourmets.

”I’m a cook. I cook every day”

Paco not only directs the teams; he cooks, too. ”I’m a cook. I cook every day”, he says. His passionate interest in food and cooking dates back to early childhood; while still at primary school he used to love slipping into the kitchen to watch what was going on and then try to imitate what he saw.

Later, his pursuit of what was clearly a vocation began withtaking a job in a little tapas bar owned by his family, starting off as a waiter and then graduating to the kitchen: “That experience of dealing with the public was key. Being in direct contact with the customers means that you can observe how they react to various tastes and smells – vital information that doesn’t reach you when you’re behind the scenes in the kitchen”

Innovative approach to Mediterranean cuisine

Today he is known for his innovative approach to Mediterranean cuisine and the passion for unique, regional ingredients. Chef Pérez is one of the most world-renowned Catalan chefs. His recipes have reached all corners of the world and he has now been awarded 5 Michelin stars thanks to his most prestigious restaurants: Miramar in Llançà, Enoteca in the Hotel Arts in Barcelona and ‘5’ in Berlin. His latest achievement is Arco by Paco Pérez on the 33rd floor of the tallest building of the Olivia Business Centre in Gdańsk.