Barcelona hosted the National Gastronomy Awards, organised by the Catalan Academy of Gastronomy under its president, Joan Font. The evening paid tribute to Font’s predecessor, Carles Vilarrubí, who recently died.
More than 600 people attended the event, where guests observed a minute of silence after an emotional video tribute. Carlota Vilarrubí, Carles Vilarrubí’s daughter, also gave a speech that was warmly received by those present.
President of the Generalitat Salvador Illa attended the dinner. He had earlier met Spanish President Pedro Sánchez at the Cercle d’Economia conference, and later shared a table with Jaume Subirós, winner of the National Prize for Motel Empordà, which brought a lighter moment to the evening.
Other guests included Josep Sánchez Llibre, president of Foment del Treball, Cristina Cabañas, president of Guitart Hotels and vice-president of the Academy, and several figures from business, tourism and media. Among them were Elena Foguet, Albert Ortas, Sonia Mulero, Arantxa Calvera and Sergi Saborit. Former presidents Artur Mas, Pere Aragonès and Quim Torra also attended, along with Deputy Mayor Maria Eugènia Gay and Aigües de Barcelona chief executive Felipe Campos.
The dinner was prepared by chefs Romain Fornell and Óscar Manresa. In related Catalan gastronomy news, chef Rafa Zafra has opened Masia Tibidabo at the top of Tibidabo, in a public-private project with BSM. The restaurant, designed by architect Dani Freixes, opened with guests including Mayor Jaume Collboni, Maria Eugènia Gay, Albert Adrià, Carles Cuní and Pere Mas.
