Salobreña chiringuito owner, Emilio Rodríguez, (Chiringuito Casa Emilio) has received a top, French, culinary award for his merits in hostelry.

The Bocuse d’Or, Concours Mondial de la Cuisine (World Cooking Contest) is a biennial world-chef championship. Named after the Chef Paul Bocuse and is one of the world’s most prestigious cooking competitions.

Although Emilio says that it was unexpected, he admitted that he did have an inkling as he had previously won the Premio Nacional de Gastronomía Plato de Oro.

He in turn thanked all of his staff, without whom it would not have been possible.

The Mayor, María Eugenia Rufino, congratulated Casa Emilio on this award, praising the quality of his cuisine, pricing and service.

This award is a Hispano-French one that came about in 1985 thanks to the Spanish radio station, Radio Turismo, which for the last 18 years has been running a programme called España a las 4, promoting tourism and hostelry.

The radio station, with the backing of the Ministry of Tourism, has the job of promoting national cuisine through its provincial delegates. It was through its Granada delegate that they heard of Casa Emilio in Salobreña.

As for Paul Bocuse, who died last year, he is considered the best chef of the 20th Century and one of the best of all times, as far as French Cuisine goes.

(News: Salobrena, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)