FOOD FORWARD – CRISTINA GUTIERREZ
Cristina Gutiérrez Vergua is one of those very rare finds in culinary talent. Based in San Roque, a small area in Southern Spain, Cristina really is the jewel in the crown when it comes to gastronomy.
What makes Cristina an exception to the chefs that we have become so accustomed to when talking about gastronomy, is her attitude.
Cristina is a genuine personal find. I stumbled upon her, following 9 years of roaming around Spain declaring that I don’t like Spanish food!
I requested a tasting menu, whilst organizing an event at The San Roque Club, where Cristina resides as Executive Chef. The rest, as they say, is history!
The venue is stunning, the staff and service is superior to most, but the dishes that were served, were unbelievably good. They were bursting with taste, full of colour and texture and… original. I questioned over and over about whether or not they were Spanish dishes. This was all new to me. I was assured that the chef was Spanish and the dishes were her own creations.
By now, I was sceptical – I was asking myself if she could reproduce these dishes for hundreds not just 2 or 3 guests. The proof was in the pudding; the biggest ‘shout out’ at the event from every guest was about the dinner. A guaranteed 100% turn out when the food is as good as that.
I mentioned her attitude; Cristina talks about herself as ‘her’ kitchen. She genuinely believes that her achievements are down to her team.
She is remarkably humble. A slight, light frame with a beauty that exudes femininity, Cristina is surprisingly robust. She talks about the most important things in her life; her long and happy marriage, her son whose educational progress makes her proud and how important the people she surrounds herself with are to her. She desires those who are good, professional and provide a satisfaction for her that enables her the desire to grow.
Professionally, those who are an essential part of her life are her team who, she stresses, without their hard work and desire to succeed , she would achieve nothing. “I strive for everyone to feel infected with the passion to create healthy work, family and accomplishment. I always grow, thanks to them”.
Let’s talk about Cristina in her professional role and how she has arrived as a national star in global gastronomy. Did she always want to be a cook? A chef?
“I wanted to be a journalist, a war correspondent but my mother panicked and convinced me to not go far. I was a difficult girl when it came to eating and when I met my husband who was just 18 at the time, I began to gain a great interest in cooking. I discovered the textures, the flavours and realized that it was very important that the dish was attractive to the eye – I then started looking for a way to develop this new feeling I had”.
After Cristina studied Foreign Trade in a town close to home, she took a job in a bank. Two years later she decided she wanted to develop as a professional in the kitchen. Although her parents found it very difficult to accept this decision, she trained at a local hospitality school, after which she excelled with a Master’s degree in gastronomy and nutrition via the university’s distance learning programme.
Just two years ago, Cristina was selected to expand her knowledge at the Gasma University in Valencia – (El Barri team (Ferrán Adrià)). She went on to work in Navarra at Palacio Baluarte, where she worked in celebrated chef Enrique Martinez’s kitchen. She has continued to work, nationally in well known hotels and high profile establishments ever since.
Cristina believes that the greatest importance to any diner is that they are presented with a good product that has been well prepared by professionals.
Food forward: Cristina remains at The San Roque Club where she is very much appreciated and loved, making it impossible for any poacher to prise her away any time soon. She has grand plans for the venue; she is currently producing, what she calls ‘a colourful kitchen’, full of nuances and textures with products from her local land but at the same time appealing to the club’s international audience. (Simple and complex at the same time).
As we write this article, Cristina prepares her ‘Smokey Nights’ concept. It’s all about the grill working overtime outside in its Andalucian surroundings.
Finally, her magic word, one of which makes her reliable, dependable and a truly, talented top chef – consistency!
It was a true privilege to meet Cristina and experience the great talents of this exceptional chef.
~ Stephanie St James
End.
Note to Editors
All enquiries, interviews and image rights please contact:
Stephanie St James
Tel: +44 (0)1273 806950 or +44 (0)7976 973951 or +34 645 323 400
stephanie@stephaniestjamespr.com
More images available upon request.
www.stephaniestjamespr.com
