"Gastronomy was already a strength before the crisis caused by the pandemic and now we must promote it more." This was stated by Isabel Gil Rosiña, Equality Counselor of the Junta de Extremadura, at the award ceremony for the first En Salsa awards. It can be a good summary of the objective with which these recognitions were created and to which several of the winners referred in their brief time on stage: to give visibility to what is done, from the gastronomic point of view, in the region.

The En Salsa awards, granted by the newspaper HOY, with Cruzcampo and Caja Rural de Extremadura as strategic partners and with the collaboration of the Junta de Extremadura, reached ten restaurants in its first edition. A public vote, in which there were more than 5,000 participants, selected five winners and a specialized jury – made up of Jesús Fragua, former director of the Plasencia Cooking School; Rafael Rivero, cooking teacher at the Cáceres Hospitality School; Francis Refolio, director of the Escuela Superior de Hotelería y Agroturismo de Extremadura, and the critics of En Salsa, Don Poleo and Turófilo– to the other five.

Atrio and Drómo, in Cáceres and Badajoz, respectively, won the jury prizes for best creative cuisine restaurant, and El Figón de Eustaquio and Casa Azcona, again in Cáceres and Badajoz, for traditional cuisine. refers. In addition, the best opening of the year for professionals was that of Torre de Sande, in the city of Cáceres.

According to popular vote, Asador Corral del Rey, in Trujillo, and Las Barandas, in Los Santos de Maimona, were recognized in the traditional cuisine category; while Versatil, in Zarza de Granadilla, and La Rebotica, in Zafra, in the creative cuisine section. The public understood that the best opening of the year was that of Enoteca La Maestra, also in the capital of Cáceres.

The ceremony, led by the gastronomy journalist and head of ABC Gurmé Isabel Aguilar, was held this Monday at the Hotel Zurbarán in Badajoz and representatives of all the award-winning restaurants attended. "We already understood gastronomy as a manifestation of the culture of a people, now we also know that it is an incentive for tourism and for the economy of a region," said the presenter who wanted to congratulate all the winners for "doing so much for gastronomy." .

The presenter of the ceremony also wanted to highlight what the EnSalsa gastronomic supplement of the newspaper HOY, produced by Alba Baranda and José Ramón Alonso de la Torre, has achieved in its barely seven months of existence. "To project what is done here to the rest of Spain," Aguilar added as one of the objectives of these pages and of actions such as the one held this Monday.

Before the delivery of each award, a short video with images of the awarded businesses was projected. Among them, there was a good representation of establishments with a family tradition. No one forgot to mention those who paved the way for them to get where they have. Cristina Alcázar, in charge of El Figón de Eustaquio, was the first to do so. "I am the fourth generation and I am very proud of the tradition that I have inherited," she said in front of the microphone.

José Ángel Martín, owner of Casa Azcona, expressed himself in similar terms, whose first words upon receiving the accreditation plate from Rafael Velázquez, head of the Heineken sales area in Badajoz, were for his grandparents, who were the ones who They opened this restaurant. Guillermo Sánchez, head chef of the Corral del Rey steakhouse, to whom José Orantos, editor-in-chief of TODAY, followed this path and mentioned his father "who gave life to the restaurant" and accompanied him at the gala.

It was also a common note among the award-winning hoteliers to remember their workers and customers who make it possible for them to continue raising the blind every day. "He dedicated it to our team," Fernando Gil, head chef and co-owner of Las Barandas, commented on stage after José María Portillo, general director of Caja Rural de Extremadura, gave him the award.

“The best thing about the house is the staff”, certified Carmina Márquez, director of the Atrio hotel-restaurant. With the plaque that Manuela Martín, director of HOY, gave her, in her hand, she remembered José and Toño, owners of the business, "they are the architects of Atrio being Atrio."

Of the voters who chose them to be in Badajoz collecting an award, David Hernández, co-owner of Versatil, was remembered, who was accompanied by his brothers José Luis and Alejandro. Before saying goodbye to the stage, he launched a: "Long live Extremadura" and predicted that the best is yet to come.

Another constant among the winners was to thank HOY for the initiative that En Salsa entails. "It is something very big for Extremadura gastronomy," said José Luis Entradas, from La Rebotica after Urbano Caballo, president of Caja Rural de Extremadura, presented him with the award.

Drómo owner Juanma Salgado delved into a similar idea, to whom Jaime Mejías, Badajoz City Councilor for Tourism, gave the award. "Those of us who are here have the obligation to put Extremadura on the national gastronomic map," remarked this chef.

The last awards to be given were those that recognized the best restaurant openings. Carlos González, head chef of Enoteca La Maestra, received it from Juan Gómez, regional director of Sales and Distribution of Heineken Spain. "For us it is an incentive more than a reward due to the difficult year we have had," González declared.

For his part, Jesús Villa, maitre d' Torre de Sande, assured that an opening prize is especially exciting given how complicated the current situation is and dedicated the prize to "those who wanted to open and maintain businesses and did not could; that they have another opportunity and do not lose their desire, "he said with the plaque that Álvaro Rodríguez, general director of HOY, placed in his hands.

After the ceremony, all attendees shared a cocktail and were able to exchange impressions and experiences.