Eneko Atxa Explained

Eneko Atxa Azurmendi (born September 14, 1977) is a Spanish Basque cuisine chef,^[1] known for his sustainability practices.^[2]

Career

Eneko started in the culinary world at the age of 15 at the Culinary School of Leioa in Biscay, but was initially trained by his mother and grandmother.^[3] He combined his study time with work at restaurant where he learned traditional Basque cuisine. Later he worked for several restaurants. After this apprenticeship, he moved on to the most prestigious restaurants consolidating his own personality and style.

In 2005, after several head chefs in renowned restaurants, he decided to open his own restaurant: Azurmendi*** (also known as Azurmedi***).^[4] In 2012, Azurmendi*** was awarded 3 Michelin stars, becoming the first and only restaurant in Biscay to obtain this distinction.^[5] This makes Eneko Atxa, at 35, one of the youngest chefs in Spain to achieve three stars. Azurmendi, with three Michelin stars and one green star, has twice been awarded the "most sustainable restaurant" in The World's 50 Best list.^{[6] [7]}

In 2012, he finished a bioclimatic building^[8] for his restaurant using recycled materials (aluminium, glass, plastic and slag) and renewable energy systems (which has resulted in 50% energy savings). Geothermal energy and photovoltaic solar panels provide the power, and rainwater is used for all irrigation/bathroom needs.^[9]

In conjunction with the Alicia Foundation and University of the Basque Country, he is working on germplasm bank, which is expected to host 400+ local vegetable seed varieties, with an emphasis on teaching about the value of genetic diversity preservation. Located in the Interpretation Center for Sustainability of Azurmendi^[10] it was promoted by the City Council of Larrabetzu as a way of establishing a circular economic system, with the use of a generated compost by local farmers that acts as a land fertilizer.^[11]

In 2016, Atxa created JAKI(N), an "incubator of innovative ideas" used to promote actions related to people, the environment, health and society.^{[12] [13] [14]}

In 2019 he created, together with Xabi Uribe-Etxebarria, the Bestfarmers initiative: a project to give visibility and value to producers, encouraging and rewarding sustainable farming practices^{[15] [16] [17] [18]}

Awards

• Signature Cuisine Champion of Spain for Young Chefs in 2003^[19]
• The Haute Cuisine for Young Chefs Award (Lo Mejor de la Gastronomia) in 2004^[20]
• Opening of Azurmendi in 2005^[21]
• Best Newcomer Restaurant in Madrid Fusión in 2006^[22]
• First Michelin star for Azurmendi in 2007^{[23] [24]}
• Euskadi Award for Best Chef of the Year in 2007^[25]
• Healthy Cuisine Award from the Galician Gastronomic Forum in 2008^[26]
• Second Michelin star for Azurmendi in 2010^{[27] [28]}
• The Prix du Chef L'Avenir (International Academy of Gastronomy) in 2010^[29]
• 3 Michelín Stars for Azurmendi (2012)^[30]
• Azurmendi is named the Best Restaurant in Europe by Opinionated About Dining (OAD) in 2015^[31]
• Young Chef of the Year (Elite Traveler) in 2015^[32]
• World's Most Sustainable Restaurant Award (World's 50 Best Restaurants/Sustainable Restaurant Association) 2014^[33] and 2018.^[34]
• Eneko Atxa wins the 2015 National Gastronomy Award for Best Chef in 2016.^[35] That year Azurmendi is named tenth best restaurant in the world by Tripadvisor^[36] and also received the National Award for Hospitality Company committed to Sustainability by the Federation of Hospitality Companies of Spain.^[37] The publication 'Fuera de Serie', from the 'Unidad Editorial' group, has chosen Eneko Atxa as one of the people of the year 2016, in the gastronomy category.^[38]
• ENEKO restaurant is recognized with a Michelin star (2017).^[39] Azurmendi is the Best restaurant in the world according to Elite Traveler magazine ^[40] Eneko Atxa wins the GQ Businessman of the Year Award.^[41]
• 2019: Westholme Highest Climber Award (World's 50 Best Restaurants) 14th place.^[42] Eneko Atxa wins Best Chef Award 2019 in Europe by Madrid Fusion.^[43] Eneko Atxa wins the National Prize for Healthy Gastronomy to the Most Outstanding Personality 2018.^[44]
• 2020: Azurmendi and ENEKO win a Green Michelin star^[45]
• 2021: Eneko Atxa wins the first 'Sustainable Sun' Award from the Repsol Guide.^[46] Azurmendi wins the Sustainability Award from Madrid Fusión.^[47]
• 2022: Eneko Atxa receives the 'MadBlue Cinco Océanos' 2022 Award for his work in sustainability^[48] and the Sustainability award from Gentleman magazine.^[49]

Notes and References

1. Web site: How chefs can cook a better future through sustainability, by Eneko Atxa of Azurmendi. 2021-02-02. UI - 50B - STORIES. en.
2. Web site: Al-Mousawi . Emma . 2022-08-22 . Azurmendi Chef Eneko Atxa on a Dedication to Green Gastronomy . 2023-08-23 . Elite Traveler . en-US.
3. Web site: 2017-03-04 . Eneko Atxa FOUR Magazine : FOUR Magazine . 2021-02-02 . www.four-magazine.com . en-GB.
4. News: Historia - Azurmendi . es-ES . Azurmendi . 2023-08-22.
5. Web site: Tercera estrella Michelin para Eneko Atxa, del restaurante Azurmendi . 2023-08-22 . EITB . es.
6. Web site: 2018-06-20 . Azurmendi: restaurante más sostenible del mundo por The World's 50 Best . 2023-08-22 . Eneko Atxa . es-ES.
7. Web site: 2020-12-14 . Eneko Atxa consigue una estrella Michelin para su restaurante ENEKO Lisboa, que también obtiene una estrella Verde . 2023-08-22 . La Vanguardia . es.
8. Web site: admin. Arzak, Larrabetzu Dining Without Borders. 21 May 2013 . 2021-02-02. en-US.
9. Web site: Woodger. Hannah. Onyx Solar provides photovoltaic glass to the Azurmendi Restaurant. 2021-02-02. www.fca-magazine.com. en-gb.
10. Web site: 2019-05-02. Arzak. 2021-02-02. Elite Traveler. en-US.
11. Web site: 2019-01-04. Arzak, Eneko Atxa's sustainable kitchen that boasts three Michelin stars. 2021-02-02. Porcelanosa Lifestyle Magazine Trends, lifestyle and design. en-GB.
12. Web site: 2017-11-06 . Así es el nuevo espacio Jaki(N) del chef Eneko Atxa . 2023-08-22 . La Vanguardia . es.
13. News: Gayo . Alberto . 2018-06-04 . Eneko Atxa: "Donde esté un buen huevo, una morcilla y un tocino bien guisado… Sexo puro" . 2023-08-22 . El País . es . 1134-6582.
14. Web site: Interview with Eneko Atxa, 5 Michelin-star chef . 2023-08-23 . www.talentoabordo.com . en.
15. Web site: 2020-02-02 . Bestfarmers.eco, el proyecto por los productores de Eneko Atxa y Xabi Uribe-Etxebarria – Apicius.es . 2024-02-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200202082540/https://www.apicius.es/noticias/24888/bestfarmers-eco/ . 2020-02-02 .
16. Web site: Álvarez . Paz . 2019-01-29 . En busca de los mejores granjeros del mundo . 2024-02-21 . Cinco Días . es.
17. Web site: 2019-01-28 . Conoce a los mejores productores del mundo con Bestfarmers . 2024-02-21 . El Español . es.
18. Web site: 2019-01-29 . Bestfarmers, nuevo proyecto de Atxa para dar a conocer a los mejores productores . 2024-02-21 . EITB . es.
19. Web site: Mandarin Oriental, New York Announces Pop-Up Restaurant with Three-Michelin Chef Eneko Atxa of Spain. www.hospitality.net.
20. Web site: Eneko Atxa « Patrycja Siwiec. 2021-02-02. en.
21. News: History - Azurmendi . en-US . Azurmendi . 2023-08-24.
22. Web site: Eneko Atxa recibe el premio Chef L'Avenir Gastronomía & Cía. 2021-02-02. gastronomiaycia.republica.com. es.
23. Web site: Stevenson . Mark . 2023-01-06 . Michelin Star Restaurants in Bilbao (2023 Guide) . 2023-08-24 . Discover Donosti . en-US.
24. Web site: 2007-11-23 . Eneko Atxa: "Mi cocina es un viaje, pero nada como las almejas de ama" . 2023-08-24 . El Correo . es-ES.
25. Web site: Eneko Atxa, Chef of the Year Madrid Fusion. 2021-02-02. en-US.
26. Web site: Eneko Tokyo. 2021-02-02. eneko.tokyo. 2019-05-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20190509100625/https://eneko.tokyo/en/eneko/?bcd=. dead.
27. Web site: 2010-11-26 . Eneko Atxa, primer vizcaíno con dos estrellas Michelin . 2023-08-24 . El Correo . es-ES.
28. Web site: Mandi Keighran » Eneko Atxa (Azurmendi): A Recipe for Living . 2023-08-24.
29. Web site: Atxa. Eneko. www.azurmendi.biz. Larrabetzu 48195. 2013-11-27. Arzak. 2021-02-02. Elite Traveler. en-US.
30. Web site: Three Michelín Stars Cacao Barry. 2021-02-02. www.cacao-barry.com.
31. Web site: 2015-05-04 . Azurmendi, el mejor restaurante de Europa según OAD . 2023-08-24 . La Vanguardia . es.
32. Web site: 2017-04-25. Elite Traveler Meets Eneko Atxa. 2021-02-02. Elite Traveler. en-US.
33. Web site: Most Sustainable Restaurant - Onyx Solar Project. 2021-02-02. www.onyxsolar.com.
34. Web site: 2018-06-20. Arzak: 'Sustainable Restaurant Award 2018'. 2021-02-02. Cosentino. en-EN. 2021-02-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20210208050925/https://www.cosentino.com/news/azurmendi-sustainable-restaurant-award-2018/. dead.
35. Web site: 2016-06-03 . Eneko Atxa, premio Nacional de Gastronomía . 2023-08-24 . Expansión.com . es.
36. Web site: 2016-10-26 . Martín Berasategui vuelve a ser nombrado mejor restaurante del mundo según los viajeros de TripAdvisor . 2023-08-24 . Traveler . es-ES.
37. Web site: 2016-10-17 . El restaurante Zuberoa, de Hilario Arbelaitz, galardonado en los Premios de Hostelería . 2023-08-24 . El Diario Vasco . es-ES.
38. Web site: 2016-11-23 . Así fue la entrega de premios Personaje del año 2016 de Fuera de Serie . 2023-08-24 . Expansión.com . es.
39. Web site: Méndez . Julián . 2017-11-22 . Eneko Atxa: "Es una estrella muy simbólica; hoy hace 10 años que nos dieron la primera" . 2023-08-24 . El Correo . es.
40. Web site: 2017-05-03 . El Azurmendi, mejor restaurante del mundo para la revista Elite Traveller . 2023-08-24 . El Correo . es-ES.
41. Web site: 2017-11-16 . Hombres GQ del Año 2017: aquí están los premiados . 2023-08-24 . GQ España . es-ES.
42. Web site: Eneko Atxa of Arzak, winner of the Westholme Highest Climber Award, talks sustainability, humility and philanthropy. 2021-02-02. UI - 50B - STORIES. en.
43. News: Kayser . Belén . 2019-01-29 . Eneko Atxa, de Azurmendi, cocinero del año en Madrid Fusión . es . El País . 2023-08-24 . 1134-6582.
44. Web site: Elejabeitia . Guillermo . 2019-11-04 . El Premio Nacional de Gastronomía reconoce la labor de la periodista de EL CORREO Ana Vega . 2023-08-24 . El Correo . es.
45. Web site: 2020-12-14 . Eneko Atxa consigue una estrella Michelin para su restaurante ENEKO Lisboa, que también obtiene una estrella Verde . 2023-08-24 . La Vanguardia . es.
46. Web site: Eneko Atxa, primer premio 'Sol Sostenible' Alimentos de España-Guía Repsol Guía Repsol . 2023-08-24 . REPSOL . es.
47. Web site: Azurmendi, Premio a la Sostenibilidad Madrid Fusión Alimentos de España madrid fusión . 2023-08-24 . 2021.madridfusion.net.
48. Web site: Redacción . 2022-04-18 . Eneko Atxa, entre los Premios Madblue Cinco Océanos 2022 . 2023-08-24 . ORIGEN . es.
49. Web site: 2022-04-28 . Homenaje a la excelencia culinaria: así fue el I Foro Gastronómico Gentleman . 2023-08-24 . Vozpópuli . es.