ELENA ARZAK
ELENA ARZAK
M
other of two who was named best Female Chef in the World in 2012 discovered her culinary vocation at an early age and insisting that she wanted to follow in the footsteps of her parents. Elena Arzak is a product of both inherited and nurtured talent. Alongside her father, Juan Mari Arzak, Elena shares the head chef responsibilities of three Michelin starred restaurant Arzak, a must for any dedicated food pilgrim and lover of Basque culture.
ARZAK IS ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS REFERENCES IN THE HISTORY OF SPANISH CUISINE. ELENA BRINGS HER OWN SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND HER ENORMOUS CURIOSITY.
30 - WG SPRING 2020
Elena left home to study in kitchens all over Europe, both in restaurant kitchens and a variety of vocational and catering schools. From 1988 to 1991, she went on to study at the Schweizerische Hotelfachschule Luzern in Switzerland while also working at the International Hotel in Zurich and the Grand National Hotel also in Lucerne. Elena then went on to work in some of the most prestigious kitchens - Le Gavroche in London; Troisgros in Roanne, France; and Carré des Feuillants and Vivarois in Paris. Short but influential stops were also made at elBulli in 1997 and Pierre Gagnaire in 1998. An accomplished chef with her own personality who is positive and loves to interact with different kinds of people, a very practical person who finds life to be interesting, not much of a person to get upset about things which are not significant and Elena views food in the same way. “My father and I work as a duo and have done for many years now. Life in the kitchen is very intense. I am very sentimental and not a day passes where I’m not moved by something.”