Chef Pepe Vieira’s restaurant Camiño da Serpe, located in Raxó (in the municipality of Poio, in the Galician province of Pontevedra), was the scene of a theft that yielded a total haul of nearly 50,000 euros in premium wines and cash. The Civil Guard has arrested two suspects, both former employees of the restaurant.
The chef, whose full name is Xosé T. Cannas, has been running the restaurant for over twenty years and is one of only two restaurateurs in all of Galicia to hold two Michelin stars. His culinary offerings stand out for their anthropological approach to avant-garde cuisine, featuring historic tasting menus such as Romasanta (€255), O Señor de Andrade (€200), and A Santa Elección (€170). The restaurant is also connected to a design hotel nestled in nature, featuring 14 private rooms.
The Details of the Theft and the Stolen Goods
The events, as reported by Infobae, took place in the early hours of March 18, 2026. According to investigators’ accounts, the perpetrators gained entry to the premises without leaving any signs of forced entry, using a duplicate key.
Once inside, the thieves stole:
- 9,000 euros in cash taken directly from the restaurant’s cash register.
- Numerous bottles of fine wine from prestigious brands, taken from the restaurant’s cellar, with an estimated value of nearly 40,000 euros.
The Investigation and Arrests
The breakthrough in the investigation, conducted by the Cangas branch of the Guardia Civil’s criminal investigation unit, came on May 12 with the arrest of two young men, aged 19 and 24. Both had worked at the restaurant—one for over three years and the other for about five months—before leaving their jobs last November.
During searches of the suspects’ homes, law enforcement discovered and recovered part of the stolen wine collection, which has already been returned to the chef. The two arrested individuals were subsequently released on bail. The legal proceedings remain open, and the investigation is currently under a gag order.
The chef's reaction
When approached by local media, Pepe Vieira commented on the incident, expressing disappointment that people from his former kitchen staff were involved:
“I'm disappointed, but not surprised. This is a criminal investigation and the documents are still under seal, so I prefer to exercise the utmost caution until the facts are fully clarified.”
