Miguel Carretero and Since 1911, Acyre Awards

The restaurant Desde 1911, from Pescaderías Coruñesas; the chef Miguel Carretero (Santerra) or the Madreamiga pastry shop are among those awarded by the Association of Chefs and Pastry Chefs of Madrid (Acyre) in the 51st edition of its Gastronomic Awards.

"I have no words to describe what this award means to me, coming from my colleagues in the profession. And, of course, thanks to the Santerra team for believing in the project and continuing to want to grow," Carretero said upon receiving the award at the Royal Post Office.

Also awarded were sommelier Israel Ramírez (Saddle), journalist Almudena Ávalos (El País Gastro), Higinio Gómez for best market stall with Hermanos Gómez Ortiz; Adela Besteiro for a lifetime as a reference in Madrid's gastronomy with Casa Hortensia, the La Mallorquina pastry shop for its business work and example of a family legacy in hospitality, and Vega de San Martín Cheese was recognized as the best Madrid product.

Besteiro, acclaimed by her colleagues, declared that Casa Hortensia, to which she dedicated herself "body and soul", was for her "therapy"; she also took the opportunity to assert: "Women have to move forward in this profession."

The Gastronomic Research Award went to the project to recover the fine garlic of Chinchón, led by chef Miriam Hernández of La Casa del Pregonero and agricultural engineer Mercedes González. “The role of chefs as showcases of the rich culinary heritage of our region and the preservation of our gastronomic heritage is essential. Therefore, I couldn't allow such a wonderful product, one I've known since childhood, to be lost to the agriculture of the Community of Madrid,” Hernández stated.

The Board of Directors of Acyre highlighted that the award winners are "a very representative sample of the Madrid gastronomic universe, which is in a fantastic moment and enjoys excellent health."