Praise from the top for Spanish cuisine

THE head chef at the best restaurant in the world has revealed how his experiences of Spanish cuisine persuaded him to dedicate his life to food.

Rene Redzepi, owner of the two-Michelin-starred NOMA in Copenhagen, explained how a memorable meal at Arzak restaurant in San Sebastian had proved to be a defining moment.

Speaking at a food conference in the Basque city, the 34-year-old former elBulli trainee said: “My first big experience with food was eating at Arzak when I was 15.

“I had saved for a whole year to be able to afford to eat there. It was after having dinner there that I decided to dedicate myself to food.

Redzepi, whose restaurant has been voted the world’s best for each of the last three years, added: “This city is a world leader for food.

“Many of the world’s most prestigious chefs learned their trade in San Sebastian and there is no significant cook today who has not visited the city in the past.”