A life dedicated to gastronomy
This Saturday, Barcelona told Farewell to Montse Guillén, a key figure in the dissemination of Catalan cuisine, which left us at the age of 79. Her passion for gastronomy led her to open the La Internacional restaurant in New York in 1984, a space that became a lighthouse of Catalan tapas cuisine in the city.
A lasting impact on New York
Although the international only operated for two years, its influence was significant. Along with his partner, artist Antoni Miralda, Guillén presented emblematic dishes such as bread with tomato and porró, attracting renowned artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol, who made the restaurant an essential meeting place.
A pioneer in gastronomy
Núria Garcés, a prominent gastronomist, has expressed its weighing for the loss of Guillén, whom he considers a pioneer in modern cuisine. Garcés emphasizes that Montse challenged gender rules in a world -dominated world, and his innovative vision transformed the way cooking was perceived.
Innovations that changed Barcelona cuisine
In Barcelona, its influence became clear at the La Venta restaurant, located in Tibidabo, where it opened the cuisine to the public, a revolutionary concept for the time. He also founded his own MG Montse Guillén restaurant in Sarrià – Sant Gervasi, where he introduced details that are currently common, such as serving quail eggs for snack before the main dishes.
A global vision of cooking
Guillén was not limited to Barcelona. He expanded his culinary view to Miami with restaurants such as Bigfish and Barcelona, as well as in Japan with Barna Crossing, where he shared his passion for food with an international audience. Each of these spaces reflected his creative soul, although his career was brief in many cases.
A legacy that lasts
Its last initiative, the Foodcultura Foundation, created in the 2000’s, continues to explore the dimensions of gastronomy. Montse Guillén was not only a cook, but also an artist who transformed the perception of Catalan cuisine, leaving an immeasurable legacy that will continue to inspire future generations.
