A New SBCC Partner — A Michelin-Starred Chef Who Speaks Russian
Chef-owner Víctor Gutiérrez is the first Peruvian outside his home country to earn a Michelin star for this project — first one star, and later, in November 2020, another first star for the Atelier Arzuaga project located at the Arzuaga family winery, Bodegas Arzuaga.
Gutiérrez (born 1969) is originally from the Amazon region, but at 17 he received a scholarship to study architecture in the USSR, in what was then Soviet-era Baku. Life in Azerbaijan didn’t appeal to the future chef, but he did manage to learn Russian.
In 1989, Víctor decided to move to Spain — to Roses in Girona, northern Catalonia. It was there that he first stepped into the kitchen after completing his studies at the Girona Culinary School.
In 1992, after finishing another culinary program, this time in Salamanca, he chose to settle permanently in this beautiful historic student city, home to one of Europe’s oldest universities. Even then, Gutiérrez set a clear goal for himself — to open his own restaurant.
It took nine years to reach his dream, and in July 2001, a new sign appeared in the city: RESTAURANTE VICTOR GUTIÉRREZ.
In 2004, the restaurant received its first Michelin star, making him the first Peruvian outside Peru to earn a Michelin star in Europe.
In 2018, together with the Arzuaga Navarro family and acclaimed designer Amaya Arzuaga, he launched a new restaurant — TALLER ARZUAGA.
Located next to the Arzuaga Navarro winery, in the heart of Ribera del Duero’s “Golden Mile,” the restaurant offers avant-garde Castilian cuisine with a focus on game from the La Planta estate. Surrounded by breathtaking landscapes and overlooking vineyards and the winery’s interior, it’s no surprise that the restaurant has held a Michelin star since 2020.
The chef describes himself as having “a Spanish soul and a Peruvian heart.”
And he welcomes Russian-speaking cooks to join him for internships.
Gutiérrez (born 1969) is originally from the Amazon region, but at 17 he received a scholarship to study architecture in the USSR, in what was then Soviet-era Baku. Life in Azerbaijan didn’t appeal to the future chef, but he did manage to learn Russian.
In 1989, Víctor decided to move to Spain — to Roses in Girona, northern Catalonia. It was there that he first stepped into the kitchen after completing his studies at the Girona Culinary School.
In 1992, after finishing another culinary program, this time in Salamanca, he chose to settle permanently in this beautiful historic student city, home to one of Europe’s oldest universities. Even then, Gutiérrez set a clear goal for himself — to open his own restaurant.
It took nine years to reach his dream, and in July 2001, a new sign appeared in the city: RESTAURANTE VICTOR GUTIÉRREZ.
In 2004, the restaurant received its first Michelin star, making him the first Peruvian outside Peru to earn a Michelin star in Europe.
In 2018, together with the Arzuaga Navarro family and acclaimed designer Amaya Arzuaga, he launched a new restaurant — TALLER ARZUAGA.
Located next to the Arzuaga Navarro winery, in the heart of Ribera del Duero’s “Golden Mile,” the restaurant offers avant-garde Castilian cuisine with a focus on game from the La Planta estate. Surrounded by breathtaking landscapes and overlooking vineyards and the winery’s interior, it’s no surprise that the restaurant has held a Michelin star since 2020.
The chef describes himself as having “a Spanish soul and a Peruvian heart.”
And he welcomes Russian-speaking cooks to join him for internships.