SANTAMARIA PUIG SANTI
He was born in Sant Celoni (Barcelona) in 1957. Although he always knew he wanted to be a cook, he studied technical drawing and received industrial training. A self-taught chef, Santamaria opened his first restaurant, El Racó de Can Fabes in his native town, with the help of his wife, Angels. Always striving for perfection, Santamaria received his first star in the Michelin Guide in 1998, the second in 1990, and the third in 1994. Offering maximum quality in the restaurant business is one of his priorities, one that has led him to join such prestigious associations as Relais & Châteaux and Traditions & Qualité. Winner of the Best Cook of the Year award in 1993, his merits have also been recognized through several medals and plaques. He has been a member of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Cuisine Française since 1998.