El Invernadero Restaurant in Spain is Best Vegetables Restaurant in the World. Chef Begoña Rodrigo (La Salita, Valencia) is Lady Chef of the Year

Valencia, 10 December 2024 – Madrid restaurant El Invernadero has been named the very best vegetable restaurant in the world by We're Smart. Chef Begona Rodrigo becomes Lady Chef of the Year. And ten vegetable restaurants receive a Discovery Award. We’re Smart, the undisputed reference organisation in the culinary world of fruit and vegetables, announced the winners at its annual awards for the best vegetables restaurants. This year, the award ceremony was held in Valencia, the European Green Capital for 2024. The new Green Guide, containing more than 1,300 of the best vegetables restaurants in the world, was also unveiled there.

Chef Rodrigo de la Calle's restaurant El Invernadero (Madrid, Spain) has been voted the Best Vegetable Restaurant in the World by We're Smart. 

Frank Fol, founder We’re Smart: “Rodrigo de la Calle is one of the most influential chefs in plant-based gastronomy. He transforms everyday vegetables into sophisticated dishes with complex flavors and textures. His cuisine places a strong emphasis on sustainability: he works with seasonal produce and local suppliers, and fights against food waste. Taste and pleasure are central to his dishes. He knows how to bring out the natural sweetness and other flavors of vegetables, and has mastered a wide range of cooking techniques.”

Chef Emile van der Staak from the Dutch restaurant De Nieuwe Winkel has been awarded the title of ‘Untouchable’ after two successive years in the number one spot. As such, he joins top chefs Xavier Pellicer (Healthy Kitchen, Spain) and René Mathieu (La Distillerie, Luxembourg) as We’re Smart ambassadors.

Emile van der StaakRené MathieuXavier Pellicer

Begoña Rodrigo (La Salita, Valencia) is Lady Chef of the Year 

Begoña Rodrigo of La Salita restaurant in Valencia, Five Radishes chef and No. 11 in the We're Smart Top 100, receives the We're Smart Lady Chef of the Year award.

“By putting forward top female chefs as role models, we want to eliminate the gender imbalance, and encourage female talent to step up to the vegetable kitchen,” explains Frank Fol, founder of We're Smart. “Begoña Rodrigo is receiving the Lady Chef Award for her innovative approach to vegetable dishes. She has a unique way of bringing out the flavors and textures of vegetables, making them not only healthy, but especially flavorful. She has even developed her own selection of vegetable charcuterie, making her a pioneer in this field. Rodrigo's cuisine also has a strong focus on sustainability.”

Begoña Rodrigo

Twelve Discovery Awards presented 

Every year, We’re Smart bestows a Discovery Award on a selection of inspiring restaurants. These are often restaurants that have been pursuing their course for many years, which deserve acknowledgement for their exceptional efforts in the culinary world of fruit and vegetables. ​ 

Brand-new We’re Smart Green Guide with more than 1,300 vegetables restaurants all over the world

Frank Fol, The Vegetables Chef® and founder of We’re Smart, also revealed the new We’re Smart Green Guide 2024 in Valencia, the European Green Capital. The online guide offers culinary reviews of about 1,300 restaurants in 51 countries around the world. Restaurants are awarded between one and five radishes, depending on their creative and sustainable use of fruit and vegetables in their dishes. The five-radish restaurants are considered to be genuine pioneers that act as a source of inspiration in the field of plant-based gastronomy. Every year, We’re Smart releases a new Green Guide that showcases the best vegetables restaurants in the world.

Valencia, the European Green Capital for 2024, supports the We’re Smart movement 

This year, Valencia is the European Green Capital. The city is surrounded by vast orchards and local treasures such as the Perelló tomato, medlars and garrofón beans, as well as Albufera Natural Park, known as the birthplace of the regional varieties of rice. The Huerta de Valencia is a fertile area, with an impressive 120 km² of fruit and vegetable cultivation: a rich source of fresh produce that strengthens the culinary culture of the city.

María José Catalá, Mayor of Valencia: “Valencia is strongly committed not only to culinary talent, but also to a greener and healthier future. Today more than ever, the city is demonstrating its ability to look ahead, facing challenges with the same determination with which it cared for its gardens and environment throughout its history. As European Green Capital 2024, we are honored to host the We're Smart awards. This event celebrates the best of plant-based cuisine and sustainable practices. And it reflects the unique identity of our vibrant, Mediterranean city as a sustainable and culinary destination.”

Founder Frank Fol, The Vegetables Chef®: “Valencia is home to an unparalleled abundance of fruit and vegetables. And because the city is this year’s European Green Capital, we are more aligned than ever with what we want to achieve: promoting a healthier, more plant-based lifestyle.”

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