Joan Roca, Spain
Roca was born into a family of culinary experts, but he refined his craft in a way that completely separated him from his roots. He started cooking at nine years old in Spain, but he moved to France to train under George blue later on. When he returned to Spain at the age of 22, he opened his own restaurant next to his parents. This restaurant did so well that he had to relocate down the block from his family home. In 2013, Roca's restaurant was named the best restaurant in the world, and he was awarded three Michelin stars.
Olivier Bellin, France
Bellin's grandmother ran a restaurant that served fare from their family farm. Bellin was infatuated with the cooking process and energy of a kitchen at an extremely young age, and he learned hearty traditional dishes as a foundation for his creativity. He decided to leave home to pursue an apprenticeship when the time came. He ended up cooking his way through Paris and opening a few places before he decided to pack it in and return home to his family restaurant. He began cooking there once more in 1998, and by 2004, he earned his first Michelin star.
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