This week, Etxeko Ibiza by Martín Berasetegui, the magical, Michelin-starred restaurant at the 5-star BLESS Hotel Ibiza, introduced us to the new man at the helm for 2024, Head Chef Esteban Sánchez.
It is a massive step up in division for a very young man and a huge responsibility to uphold the Berasetegui name and the world-renowned reputation of the Basque Country's fine culinary traditions.
At the reveal, Martín Berasetegui, one of Spain’s most renowned and garlanded chefs, spoke passionately about how winning his first Michelin Star while working in his eponymous yet very modest restaurant in Bilbao changed his life. Twelve stars later, he now delights in developing talented young chefs in his own kitchens.
Martín has total confidence in his protégé and the new generation. "Any one of them speaks four languages, and they're far more advanced in terms of technology than my generation. I've always thought that the 49 years of experience that I have acquired, with the fresh approach of upcoming chefs like Esteban and others in the kitchen, combines to produce the project you see before you here."
The chefs have been working together to design two new degustation menus for the restaurant’s fifth season at Bless, the Origin Menu and the Great Menu, which link the Mediterranean and the Atlantic.
As always, for Martín, the emphasis is on teamwork, acknowledging the essential role played by the suppliers who bring all the exceptional produce from both coasts of Spain. While Esteban asserts, "The aim is not to be confined by the menu but to approach each day with a fresh, creative attitude and make the most of the fresh produce of that day."
The weight of expectation doesn’t seem to faze Esteban, having worked under Martín’s wing for five years already. He is fully cognizant of his mentor's support and the big team behind him. "It's not the job of one person but rather the entire team." Plus, he added, "With Martin, you never stop learning…"
We can’t wait to return to one of Ibiza’s and perhaps the whole Mediterranean’s finest tables. Make sure you don't miss this extraordinary culinary experience the next time you are on Ibiza by reserving your table today.
