February 5th, 2025

Esteve García, Best New Chefs Spain 2025

Esteve García, an alumnus of the Sant Ignasi School of Hospitality, named as one the best new chefs in Spain 2025 by international culinary website Food & Wine.

In 1988, the US version of international culinary website Food & Wine launched Best New Chefs, an annual list recognising the most promising up-and-coming chefs of the moment.

Firmly established in Mexico for several years, Best New Chefs has now come to Spain with the same intention as in its trailblazing countries: to select a dozen chefs who stand out for their creativity and making their mark on the culinary landscape while striving to pursue sustainability and thus raise their profile and help them take their place as new leaders in cuisine.

The Best New Chef in Spain selection features chefs whose environmental awareness is reflected in their use of local raw materials. Their restaurants are in areas where the nearby natural larder is abundant.

Esteve García Vilanova, an alumnus of Hospitality and Haute Cuisine at Sant Ignasi and currently owner of the restaurant La Jovita in Calonge, Girona, has been recognised as one of the Best New Chefs for his creativity and commitment to local cuisine.

From an early age Esteva gained first-hand experience of the culinary arts by helping his grandmother in the kitchen and developing a passion for garden produce, hunting and fishing. At just 16 years old, he decided to become a professional chef and studied Hospitality and Haute Cuisine at Sant Ignasi. At the Hospitality School he learned all about classic techniques in Catalan and Spanish cuisine coupled with a contemporary approach to sustainability and respect for local produce. He excelled especially in areas such as avant-garde cuisine, food management and culinary innovation.

After graduating, he kicked off his professional career with acclaimed chef Carles Gaig in Singapore where he honed his style and met his partner, the Singaporean Celine Wu. Together they decided to come back to Catalonia and open their own restaurant, La Jovita per L'Esteve GV, in Calonge in Girona province.

At La Jovita, Esteve is committed to cuisine with Catalan and Spanish roots featuring deep flavours and an elegance which sets him apart on today's culinary scene. His approach based on local and seasonal produce has enabled him to forge a dining experience which blends tradition and modernity in a unique style.

This award confirms Esteve García as one of the rising talents of Spanish cuisine, taking his passion for culinary arts to a new level and championing the value of Catalan cuisine with his own hallmark.
We are extremely proud of him.