Pedro Sanchez has put one of the most underrated cities in Andalusia on the global gastronomic map with his MICHELIN-Starred restaurant "Bagá," earning accolades and visibility, not to mention a nomination for the Best Chefs Awards 2023.
The renowned Spanish chef Pedro Sanchez is an icon in the Spanish culinary landscape. Surprisingly, he comes from a family far removed from the universe of professional cooking and hospitality, although his grandmother was an excellent cook. After high school, uncertain between humanities and sciences, Pedro chose to attend the hotel school at the La Laguna de Baeza Institute, where he graduated in 1998.
His field training began in France, where he interned at the Relais Chateau "Chateau de Bagnols," before returning home to spend a year with Martín Berasategui at his Three-MICHELIN-Star restaurant in Lasarte. Afterward, he worked with Dani García at "Tragabuches," and finally, he went to Jaén to work at "Casa Antonio."
Years of accumulated experience have enabled him to effectively express his love for his land, local products, and the simplicity of everyday cooking through his intense cuisine, which arises from the best combinations of flavors and techniques. On September 15, 2017, he opened his restaurant "Bagá" in Jaén, drawing global culinary attention to the Andalusian city.
The venue has accumulated an impressive array of accolades in a short time, including two Repsol Suns, mentions in various lists, including the OAD's Top 100+ European list at number 30, and guides; it was voted the third-best restaurant in Spain and received a MICHELIN Star in 2018. However, the chef says that "Bagá" wasn’t created with that aim, nor did he even think it could achieve it: "I would not have bet on it, because Bagá is the exact opposite of a MICHELIN-Star model." After all, the slogan of the venue is: Bagá is not a regular restaurant, Bagá is "something else."
In 2021, Pedro published "The Balance of Flavor," a manifesto on the essence and meaning of cooking and creativity. He was also nominated for the prestigious Best Chefs Awards in 2023, just two months after his significant appearance at Madrid Fusión IFEMA. Endowed with a personality as amiable as it is reflective, Pedro has greeted the accolades with a combination of great enthusiasm and elegant reserve.
