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RESTAURANTS

Madrid big winner in new Michelin food guide

Nineteen Spanish restaurants have earned a Michelin star for the first time in the new Michelin restaurant guide for Spain and Portugal with five of those in Madrid but those hoping for a new three-star restaurant in Spain will have to wait.

Published: 20 November 2014 11:20 CET
Madrid big winner in new Michelin food guide
David Muñoz and his DiverXO eatery are thought to be driving Madrid's new-found flavour as a culinary go-to zone. Photo: Pierre-Philippe Marcou/AFP

In the end, the release of the new Michelin guide for Spain and Portugal played out as some had feared: no Spanish restaurants joined the exclusive fold of establishments with three Michelin stars, leaving the country with eight such establishments.

It was a result that dampened spirits during the launch of the guide in Marbella on Wednesday night, and the fact that only one Spanish restaurant — Aponiente in Cadiz, run by Ángel León  — was awarded a second Michelin star didn't help.

However, the lack of movement at the very top of the culinary tree was balanced out by the debut of 19 restaurants in the latest Michelin guide.

With five of those in Madrid, this was also a big plug for the Spanish capital.

The rise of Madrid was, according to Spanish daily El País at least, thanks to the impulse provided by David Muñoz at the eccentric eatery DiverXO with its self-proclaimed "brutal" approach, where cooks accost diners with added ingredients mid-bite.

SEE ALSO: Spain's best restaurants 2014- The Local Gallery

It seems like it's raining in Madrid," said Josep Roca of the trend, one of the three brothers who run Catalonia's El Celler de Can Roca, named in April as the second best restaurant in the world.

On the lack of movement at the top end of the gastronomic tree, meanwhile, the international director for the Michelin guides Michael Ellis was philosophical.  

"There has been a stagnation, that's certain, but we can't create the stars ourselves," he said.

"On the other hand, in the future I see a new generation I see a generation full of dynamism and creativity."

Spain has eight restaurants with three Michelin stars, the same number as in Italy while France boast 26 and Japan 20.      

New Michelin-starred restaurants in Spain

Azian (Bilbao)

Álbora (Madrid)

Andreu Genestra (Capdepera/Mallorca)

Can Dani (San Ferran de ses Boques-Formentera)

Casa Manolo (Daimús/Valencia)

DSTAgE (Madrid)

El Carmen de Montesión (Toledo)

El Retiro (Pancar-Llanes-Asturias)

ElKano (Guetaria/Guipúzcoa)

Kazán (Santa Cruz de Tenerife)

La Cabra (Madrid)

La Lobita (Navaleno/Soria)

Montia (San Lorenzo del Escorial/Madrid)

Nova (Ourense)

Pakta (Barcelona)

Punto MX (Madrid)

Refectorio (Sardón de Duero/Valladolid)

Simply Fosh (Huesca)

Tatau Bistr (Huesca)

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RESTAURANTS

EXPLAINED: The rules in Germany on outdoor dining as bars and restaurants reopen

In many parts of Germany, outdoor dining has reopened for bars, restaurants and cafes. But what exactly are the rules on eating out?

Published: 18 May 2021 17:45 CEST
Updated: 21 May 2021 11:53 CEST
EXPLAINED: The rules in Germany on outdoor dining as bars and restaurants reopen
A restaurant owner in Bad Nauheim, Hesse, as breakfast guests are served in the background. In parts of the state with low infection figures, no test or proof of vaccination are required. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Frank Rumpenhorst

The rules on outdoor dining are set by the individual states, meaning the rules are subtly different in the various parts of the country.

Keep in mind that national rules prescribe that fully vaccinated people, and those who’ve recovered from Covid (within a certain time frame), do not have to show a negative Covid-19 test when tests are mandatory. They can show proof of their immunity.

READ ALSO: How do you prove you’ve been vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19?

Here’s a look at the situation across a handful of German states.

Hamburg

In Hamburg, which currently has a 7-day incidence of around 43 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, the city has allowed restaurants to open up their outdoor dining areas starting on the Pentecost weekend.

Hamburg mayor Peter Tschentscher said that the city would not impose a test requirement on restaurants as the incidence rate is below 50, and he said there was only a low risk of being infected with the coronavirus outdoors.

In the port city only a maximum of five people from two households can sit at a table together.

Much like last summer, guests will have to leave their details with the restaurant for contact tracing purposes.

READ ALSO: Hamburg to open restaurants earlier than planned as incidence drops below 50 mark

Schleswig-Holstein

The northern state has some of the most relaxed rules on outdoor dining. Up to 10 people can sit at a table and there is no limit based on households.

Children younger than 14 plus fully vaccinated people and those who’ve had the virus in the past half year can also sit at the table.

Guests sitting outside don’t need to provide a negative test result. 

READ MORE: Where in Europe are Covid curfews and early closures still in place?

Berlin and Brandenburg

In Berlin, where restaurants, cafes and bars can open up outdoors starting on Friday, diners will have to provide a negative test result from the last 24 hours, or must show that they have been fully vaccinated or recovered from the virus.

In Brandenburg, where restaurants are also opening up for Pentecost, guests need to provide a negative test result if they are not fully vaccinated.

A restaurant in Brandenburg prepares on Friday morning to welcome guests again.

READ ALSO: How you can visit a bar in Berlin from Friday

Bavaria

Things are a bit complicated in Bavaria.

In districts with a 7-day incidence between 50 and 100 you don’t need to show a negative test result if you only sit with your own household. 

But meetings with a second household mean that a test result is required. For an antigen test the result needs to be no more than 24 hours old. For a PCR test it can be up to 48 hours old.

At an incidence lower than 50 guests don’t need to provide a negative test result. Between an incidence of 35 and 50 only two households and a maximum of five people can sit at one table. Below an incidence of 35, three households and a maximum of 10 people can sit at one table.

North Rhine-Westphalia

In North Rhine-Westphalia non-vaccinated guests at restaurants will have to provide a negative test that was conducted in the past 48 hours. This can be a PCR test or an antigen test, but the antigen test needs to have been done in a test centre or at a pharmacy – not a self administered test.

Hesse

In the central German state of Hesse restaurants that open for outdoor dining need to ask non-vaccinated and recovered guests to provide a negative test result. All guests have to give their details for contact tracing.

Guests already made a reservation for breakfast at a restaurant in Bad Nauheim, Hesse on Friday morning to mark the reopening of outdoor dining. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Frank Rumpenhorst

READ MORE: Outdoor dining and swimming pools: How Berlin plans to reopen in May

Saxony

As of Wednesday, restaurants in the eastern state have been allowed to reopen outside, with guests requiring a negative test from the past 24 hours. The inside areas can also reopen once there is a 7-day incidence of under 50 for five days in a row.

Saarland

Restaurants and cafes will be allowed to reopen indoors starting on May 31st to guests with a negative test. In districts of the French border state with a 7-day incidence under 100, outdoor dining is already open. The state became well known around the Easter holidays for the ‘Saarland model’, which allowed for mass openings when this figure was reached.

Bremen

On Tuesday, the harbour city-state senate decided that restaurants and bars would be allowed to reopen their outdoor seating areas on Friday.

Guests will be allowed until 11 pm, as long as they have a negative coronavirus test from the same day. But as soon as the 7-day incidence drops below 50, this is no longer required. Guests are – and will remain – required to register via an app, such as luca.

Saxony-Anhalt

Starting on Tuesday, indoor dining can open in cities or counties with a 7-day incidence of under 100 for five days in a row. As with elsewhere, strict hygiene rules will apply, such as mask wearing and showing a negative test.

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