Óscar Molina, chef of La Gaia, with a Michelin star: “Not taking advantage of what this land and sea give us would be foolish”

Óscar Molina woke up yesterday in a Valencia hotel, where he had gone for the 2022 Michelin Star award gala, on cloud nine and with a phone full of congratulatory messages. For the first time in history, Ibiza has been awarded two stars by the prestigious guide – Es Tragón in Sant Antoni, which has held on to its star for another year, and La Gaia, Molina’s own personal project, which is responsible for the entire culinary offering at the Ibiza Gran Hotel. This recognition consolidates his place among the best chefs in Spain, a place that was already rightfully his, thanks to his career and awards. He answers the phone two hours before catching the plane back to Ibiza, his voice full of joy.

What does a Michelin star mean?

It’s a recognition of all our efforts over the years. I’m very happy for myself, for all my team and for my family, for everyone who is part of La Gaia. But I’ll tell you what it means when it starts to sink in. Today is an emotional day. We’ve received so many messages of love and we want to enjoy the moment.

So the question of how much a star is worth doesn’t need to be asked…

Ask me again in a month.

Is it a responsibility, a thrill, a source of pride?

Above all, it is great satisfaction, because it recognises the work we have been doing, like ants, working and working hard over the last few years with a lot of determination and with a lot of things going against us, because Ibiza was a place that was a bit isolated from the world of great cuisine and it has been difficult to make a place for ourselves. Reaching this point is very gratifying, the responsibility will come.

” We have and we are going to maintain a commitment to our farmers, fishermen and livestock farmers,”

For the full article, please visit Diario de Ibiza website here.