Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum angrily responded to allegations issued by the White House accusing the Mexican government of collaborating with drug cartels Sheinbaum accused the White House of "slander" and suggested that "if there is any such alliance it exists in the gun shops of the United States that sell high-powered weapons to these criminal groups." detailing each country's "participation" in the "border crisis." "In addition, the Mexican drug trafficking organizations have an intolerable alliance with the government of Mexico," the White House said adding that the government of Mexico has afforded safe havens for cartels to engage in drug trafficking activities "which collectively have led to the overdose deaths of hundreds of thousands of American victims." President Sheinbaum responded swiftly via her official X account rebuking the allegations and emphasizing the United States' role in fueling Mexican drug cartels "We categorically reject the slanderous accusation made by the White House against the government of Mexico alleging alliances with criminal organizations as well as any interventionist intent in our territory it is in the gun stores of the United States that sell high-powered weapons to these criminal groups Department of Justice itself in January of this year." Sheinbaum highlighted the more than 40 tons of drugs seized by the Mexican government in recent months claiming that the answer to continuing drug combat operations lies in "coordination" and not "subordination." "Tariffs are not the way to solve problems; rather as we have done in recent weeks with the U.S State Department to address migration—on our end with full respect for human rights," she said Sheinbaum added that the country is moving forward in implementing Plan B which includes both tariff and non-tariff measures to protect Mexico Ohio — A Hamilton man has vanished after flying to Mexico to visit his fiancée according to the family of José Melesio Gutierrez said her brother was last seen at Solana Resto Bar in Jerez de Garcia Salinas in the state of Zacatecas on Christmas day José received his master's degree in architecture from Miami University and has been working at Champlin Architecture in downtown Cincinnati When José's future mother-in-law had not heard from the four into the night of Dec she became worried and contacted them — and in turn received a text message with an address they were stopped by police and told the area they were in was too dangerous The family was told to return the next day but were not given specific reasons as to why the area was dangerous Her family has reported José missing with the Hamilton Police Department and the FBI but those agencies have not yet confirmed they are actively investigating his disappearance The Zacatecas government issued an Alba alert for the search and location of the four people, Mexican news outlets have reported hard-working individual who loves to dance He has been engaged to his fiancée since he proposed on Valentine's Day and the pair had been planning a Sept The U.S. Department of State has issued a travel advisory for the Mexican state of Zacatecas urging people not to travel in the state "due to crime and kidnapping." extortion and gang activity are widespread in Zacatecas state," reads the agency's website citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping." Violence in Fresnillo between Sinaloa and Jalisco groups mirrors national trend – and critics say Amlo has failed to act María Zapata Escamilla woke to the sound of shattering glass. Armed men in military fatigues had burst into her home: they dragged her disabled husband outside, along with her 14-year-old son, still in his pyjamas. Then they drove away into the night. Two weeks later, her husband’s brutalized body turned up, along with nine others. But after more than a year, her son remains missing. Read more“I was left navigating alone,” she said through tears ‘Give up your life in exchange for your son,’ I would give it.” Zapata’s ordeal has become terrifyingly common in Fresnillo, a city in the central Mexican state of Zacatecas that is currently being torn apart by a battle between the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels More than 70 people went missing in the mining city between January and March – nearly one person a day and a fivefold increase compared with the same period in 2020 Over four days in February, 10 men vanished without a trace Families of the Fresnillo victims say they have not received ransom demands – or if they have The epidemic in Fresnillo mirrors a nationwide trend: after dipping in 2022, disappearances across Mexico surged by almost 30% in the first three months of this year The trend is yet another testament to the failure of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s security strategy: while murders have decreased marginally since he took office the surge in disappearances makes clear that violence persists Zacatecas offers a devastating case study. Once relatively calm, the strategic state, which borders eight others, has become fiercely contested by criminal groups. Murders have rocketed; bodies turn up regularly; cartels block roads and set trucks on fire The state carries significant political weight for López Obrador, popularly known as Amlo. Zacatecas is governed by the Monreal family, a powerful dynasty at the heart of the president’s Morena party. Ricardo Monreal, a federal senator, is a presidential hopeful while his other brother Saúl is mayor of Fresnillo “Zacatecas is overwhelmed,” said Leticia Castañeda Cruz whose nephew was snatched from his car in broad daylight and that whole family that has always governed us But they’ve shown us that they’ve failed.” did not respond to repeated interview requests The burned wreckage of a bus set alight by the Jalisco New Generation cartel in Zapopan in Jalisco state last year Photograph: Fernando Carranza/ReutersIn an interview Senator Monreal said violence in Mexico was a nationwide issue and must be addressed as such “To think that a city mayor can resolve the issue of missing persons or to think that a governor has the capacity to fight organized crime is to not know the country,” he said adding that his brother’s predecessors had let criminals go unchecked “Those organized crime groups were allowed to settle in and now it’s very difficult to eradicate them.” an anthropologist at Columbia University who teaches a course on forced disappearance kidnapping has long been used by organized crime in Zacatecas as a way to terrorize the population and maintain control “What I have seen in the case of Fresnillo is that there is a lot of forced recruitment,” he said “Because on the one hand they’re not asking for a ransom and on the other hand because they go in and take several people at once and that doesn’t make sense as a kidnapping.” “there’s no way that this exists without a relationship between organized crime and the state.” Fed up with inaction from the local government a group of women with disappeared relatives recently traveled to Mexico City for a meeting with a federal congresswoman from the president’s Morena party often through tears: Martina García Aviña’s son taken away before dawn last November; Luz Bernal Orozco’s brother nabbed on 24 February; Patricia Castillo Castorena’s nephew snatched from his grandmother’s house the next day “It feels like a knife in your heart,” said Bernal of having a disappeared relative “It’s worse than death because of the uncertainty we feel.” The president has increased support and funding for the National Search Commission, charged with looking for the missing. In 2020, the commission launched an online database of missing persons providing the most accurate picture of the issue to date The number of state-level search commissions has also tripled and the efforts have failed to make a meaningful dent in the epidemic of vanishing people: since Amlo took office more than 40,000 people have been reported missing Mexican soldiers at the side of the road in Jerez de García Salinas in Zacatecas state Photograph: Pedro Pardo/AFP/Getty ImagesOften families are left to navigate a confusing bureaucracy between local police dysfunctional state prosecutors and local search commissions representatives from the National Search Commission arrived to check the missing had been entered into the national database – Castañeda could not find her nephew in the system his information had been entered incorrectly: his birthday and height were wrong “That’s three characteristics that lead me to believe it’s not the person being searched for,” she said there was more devastating news: that afternoon García Aviña’s second son had been taken by armed men while driving his daughters home from school like I want to go out and look for them – but where can I look?” López Obrador traveled to Fresnillo in April for the inauguration of a new hospital. The relatives of the disappeared took the opportunity to hold a protest “Never before has a president addressed the problem of insecurity and violence as we are currently doing,” said Amlo in apparent response to the protesters’ cries “I understand very well the concern and desperation that relatives have for their disappeared.” But the president did not meet with the victims’ families, sparking frustration among desperate relatives. García Aviña’s granddaughter chased after Amlo, throwing a rock at his car as it left “I felt defeated because I had so much faith in him,” García Aviña said Oscar Lopez is a fellow of the Alicia Patterson Foundation This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025 The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media Violence and migration dynamics are reshaping Tapachula, a city on Mexico's southern border, according to an in-depth piece by InSight Crime Once dominated by Central American street gangs like MS13 and Barrio 18 Tapachula is now under the control of powerful Mexican drug cartels: the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco Cartel New Generation (CJNG) This shift reflects broader criminal influences and the evolving role of the city as a crucial hub for migration and drug trafficking The outlet tells the story of Poison and Malandro former gang rivals from El Salvador and Honduras respectively to illustrate the complex transformation in Tapachula Both fled gang violence in their home countries and now live in a migrant shelter in Tapachula Despite their past affiliations with MS13 and Barrio 18 they find themselves subordinate to the local drug traffickers Tapachula's role as a migration hub is central to understanding its criminal landscape the city is a primary transit point for migrants from Central America aiming to reach the United States with the influx of migrants fueling both formal and informal economies in the city nearly 390,000 asylum seekers from 102 countries registered in Mexico Local activists estimate the actual number of migrants passing through the city to be much higher While migration sustains parts of Tapachula's economy The presence of MS13 and Barrio 18 remains but their influence is limited to small-scale drug dealing and other minor criminal activities These gangs are now overshadowed by the cartels which have integrated drug trafficking and migrant smuggling into their operations Tapachula's strategic location has made it a key corridor for drug trafficking The Sinaloa Cartel once dominated this route the CJNG has aggressively expanded its presence The ensuing conflict has led to increased violence in the region over 3,000 people were displaced in Frontera Comalapa and local police stations in Tapachula have faced attacks linked to the CJNG The economic implications of migration for criminal groups are significant Migrant smuggling has become a lucrative business for cartels report paying substantial fees to cartels to ensure safe passage for migrants often comprising half of the smuggler's earnings are a vital revenue stream for cartels and fuel their operations street gangs like MS13 and Barrio 18 continue to operate in Tapachula facilitating drug sales and occasionally smuggling migrants their activities are largely under the control of the dominant cartels The violence and control exerted by these larger criminal organizations have overshadowed the once-prominent street gangs Tapachula's transformation underscores the interplay between migration and organized crime As migration flows continue and criminal groups vie for control the city remains a critical node in the complex networks of migration and drug trafficking in southern Mexico This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker HAMILTON, Ohio — A DNA comparison has revealed a fourth body found in Mexico belongs to José Gutiérrez a 36-year-old Hamilton man who went missing with his fiancée and her sister and cousin in December On Jan. 20, Mexican authorities identified three out of four bodies discovered as Gutiérrez's fiancee her sister Viviana and their cousin Paola Vargas Gutiérrez's family said Mexican authorities called them on Tuesday to deliver the news The family said they plan to make arrangements to have a service in the U.S. Gutiérrez flew to Mexico from Cincinnati on Dec. 22 to visit Pichardo. Gutiérrez's sister, Brandie Gutiérrez, said her brother was last seen at Solana Resto Bar in Jerez de Garcia Salinas in the state of Zacatecas on Christmas day. They left to go back to Pichardo's home, but never arrived. Mexican news outlets reported that a vehicle located in Mexico was the one Gutiérrez and the others were last seen driving. A report from TV Azteca in Jalisco said officials located her car. Pictures show a flat tire, bullet holes and deployed airbags. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping." Gutiérrez received his master's degree in architecture from Miami University and has been working at Champlin Architecture in downtown Cincinnati The ongoing clashes between rival armed groups in the rural areas of the Mexican state of Sinaloa, specifically around the areas of San José del Llano while absenteeism in the area surged to 70% The areas are located in the mountainous region of Badiraguato known for being the birthplace of infamous drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán The violence has forced the closure of schools and has created a state of fear throughout the region The incident unfolded after two men were killed in violent confrontations that began on Tuesday and continued into the early hours of Wednesday leaving two bullet-riddled trucks abandoned The identities of the victims remain unknown including the National Guard and the Mexican military have deployed to the region in an attempt to stabilize the area José Paz López Elenes, the mayor of Badiraguato, confirmed the school closures and the heavy federal presence with local media He noted that although the violence has been concentrated in the Sierra The mayor emphasized that he only receives scattered information from local officials about the incidents in the mountainous areas which are notorious for being difficult to police "We expect the presence of the Marina and the military to discourage these armed groups from continuing their activities," López Elenes stated highlighting that despite the school closures the town itself has remained relatively calm He remains hopeful that the federal forces will restore order in the coming days The closure of schools in the affected areas was initially reported by local education authorities and Los Sitios were officially suspended for the safety of students and staff the decision to keep children home was largely made by parents who feared for their safety despite no reported incidents in that part of the municipality "Parents are understandably worried," said a local school administrator "Even if the violence isn't happening right here We have to prioritize the safety of our students." The area's remote location and rugged terrain have long made it a haven for drug cartels and its notoriety as the birthplace of "El Chapo" only adds to the tension The sight of military helicopters hovering overhead and armed vehicles patrolling the roads has done little to ease the anxiety of residents with helicopters and military convoys sweeping through the Sierra The Sinaloa State Security Secretary confirmed that the operations were routine federal actions aimed at neutralizing any potential threats in the region many locals have voiced concerns that these military maneuvers may provoke more confrontations between rival groups Social media has been abuzz with videos showing low-flying helicopters and trucks filled with federal troops sparking both fear and speculation among residents The recent confrontations are just the latest in a long series of violent incidents that have plagued Badiraguato casting a shadow over the town's efforts to shed its infamous image The first are the crumbling grey cinder-block houses of people who left long ago and never returned Then there are the dazzling two-storey mansions built with the dollars of migrants working in the United States which briefly fill with light and laughter each year when their owners come to visit This article appeared in the The Americas section of the print edition under the headline “Youth departs” Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents Just as in the United States, working-class and immigrant voters swung right The Conservatives suffered one of the most astonishing falls from popularity in political history An interview with Evo Morales in his tropical highland stronghold MAGA bombast has upended Canada’s political universe and given Mark Carney’s Liberals an edge Donald Trump and Justin Trudeau’s toxic legacy have pushed Canadians to the centre AN AMERICAN architect and his fiancée still haven't been found nearly two weeks after they went missing in Mexico Jose Gutierrez, 31 — who lives in Cincinnati Ohio — flew to the Mexican state of Zacatecas to celebrate the holidays with his fiancee Daniela Marquez The couple was last seen eating at a restaurant on Christmas Day with Marquez's sister Viviana Jose's family in the US is desperate to find him, so they held a prayer service at a church in Hamilton, Ohio, earlier tonight, WCPO's Valerie Lyons reported Life was going well for the architect in Ohio, Jose's family told WLWT He got his graduate degree from Miami University and was working as a project coordinator at a local architecture firm Jose recently told his parents he was ready to get married, his sister Brandie Gutierrez told WLWT. Recently he's spent a lot of time flying to Zacatecas to see Daniela since that's where she lives. The couple is supposed to tie the knot later this year. the matriarch got a strange text from Daniela saying she was in a neighborhood about 20 minutes away from her house Witnesses saw the four missing people being kidnapped but they didn’t get them out and they took the vehicle," she said The missing party's SUV was later found abandoned Brandie last spoke to her brother shortly before he arrived at the restaurant, she told WXIX “The bars actually noticed screams," she said "There is something that is not right.” As the family looked for Jose and the other missing people local police barred them from searching certain neighborhoods because they were "too dangerous." The city and the surrounding region have recently become the center of turf between gangs supported by rival drug cartels Homicide levels in the state soared nearly 150 percent between 2020 and 2021, the Mexican government reported The violence has led the US Department of State to place a "do not travel" warning on the state of Zacatecas and gang activity are widespread," the department reported "US citizens and [lawful permanent residents] have been victims of kidnapping.” Jose and his family were last seen in Jerez de García Salinas a lot to lug about if you’re a strolling street musician whose parents sold a cow to buy his first instrument This article appeared in the The Americas section of the print edition under the headline “Banda does not play on” Paul and Upper Midwest Food Magazine // Feasting on the Bounty of the Upper Midwest Photos by Becca Dilley (except Charito photos which are James Norton) / Illustrations by WACSO Our path for this outing took us by the 3rd Precinct and the remains of the businesses nearby It’s still impossible for us to pass this area and not flash back to the images sounds and emotions that permeated the atmosphere over those few days in May But along with those images come more hopeful images of people converging in the aftermath with brooms and bags and helping hands to begin the healing process The hurt and significance of what happened there will never be forgotten but as new buildings and businesses emerge we hope we’ll one day be able to celebrate the institutional change and opportunity these events spawned there are some resilient people doing great things with food who need our attention right now So let’s get back to our regularly scheduled gorging This series is made possible by underwriting from Visit Lake Street Heavy Table retains editorial control of the series — as with Central Avenue and the Green Line “From the river to the lakes, visitors and residents can shop local and be social on Lake Street. More information at VisitLakeStreet.com.” East Lake Checklist Revisited is an illustrated travelogue dedicated to documenting the changes on this major Minneapolis artery after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the damage done in the wake of the George Floyd murder We’ll publish four- or five-restaurant installments monthly until we’ve revisited or explored every nonchain spot on East Lake Street between 35W and the Mississippi River (We’re estimating 20 new spots since our original tour in 2018 The Best Tacos Del Sol (at Mercado Central)1515 East Lake Street The arched order window in the midst of the action of Mercado Central is a portal into a small but mighty Mexican street food kitchen A natural efficiency to the placement of things and the way people move around each other There was a palpable sense of familiarity and cooperation between them We imagine it was earned from time spent navigating a tight space together Not to mention navigating the ups and downs of running a restaurant during a pandemic If you miss the superb tacos al pastor that you used to get in Mercado Central at the now-departed La Hacienda outpost and piled reasonably high in the tortilla to boot Our Asada Tacos  were a bit too mild and a little too greasy for our taste but an East Lake Street “6” on a 1-10 taco quality scale is an 8 just about anywhere else in the state But our Carnitas Sincronizada was just stellar – this toasted quesadilla-like dish has serious Cubano vibes with the ham plus pork plus melted cheese thing going on The only thing missing were some thin slices of pickled jalapenos which would have brought welcome heat and acid to the party a south-of-the-border spin on a grilled cheese that will befriend and charm just about anyone who isn’t keeping kosher or halal Zero Degrees (at Mercado Central)1515 East Lake Street You can’t miss Zero Degrees in Mercado Central Just look for the bright pink wall and the sign with a sugar cone smack dab in the middle of the number zero It’s hard not to smile at such a clever name for an ice cream and snack shop the mere notion of visiting any ice cream shop is scientifically proven to elevate the mood But there’s also the salty snack side of the menu here On the surface there doesn’t seem to be a straight line from ice cream to the wild concoction that is Dorilocos but a crunchy barnstorming adventure of texture And the Dorilocos at the Zero Degrees ice cream shop in Mercado Central were … well and an almost salad-like aspect thanks to shredded lettuce and crumbled cheese A lack of Japanese peanuts or tamarind reined in the textural contrast or sour qualities that these snacks sometimes have but there was a solid vinegar kick to the overall package and once more a completely different flavor journey than our two previous dorilocos tastings We also tried the shop’s Ensalada de Manzana a Cool Whip-meets-apples-meets-raisins-meets-wafer-cookies sort of ambrosia situation that we haven’t really seen elsewhere on the street It was an unexpectedly familiar trip to a family picnic for most of us and was absolutely enjoyable for what it was which is to say a Midwestern salad by way of a Mexican ice cream shop Taqueria las Cuatro Milpas1526 East Lake Street “Make tacos not walls” is the slogan on their awning outside It’s a display of both good-humored resistance and business acumen as the sentiment seems popular enough with patrons to warrant a place on their merch (T-shirts and aprons with the slogan are available for purchase) Windows on the south and west sides allow sunlight to fill the room And a row of agua frescas machines creates a waterfall of color at the front counter A map of the Zacatecas state in Mexico is painted on one wall with the city of Jerez de Garcia Salinas highlighted. The connection of a restaurant to a specific place in the world always adds dimension to their story. In this case, the region is known for a specific cuisine: birria (Zacatecas borders the state of Jalisco where the dish originated.) And based on our experience with their version we might humbly suggest Cuatro Milpas consider adding another slogan to their T-shirts: “Make birria not walls” – M.C It’s not surprising that East Lake Street, which caters assertively to working class immigrants, would be one of the best places in the metro to pick up a killer sandwich. During our last outing we got a Philly Steak sandwich at Hayat that bore only a passing resemblance to its namesake but was ravishingly good nonetheless we tried the Torta Birria ($9.75) at Cuatro Milpas and absolutely loved it crackling bread soaked up the saucy stewiness of the sandwich’s richly flavored beef and cilantro and avocado helped contribute herbal flavor and creamy intensity which brought a crucial infusion of acid and heat as seasoned rice is a) delicious and b) constantly packed into burritos by people who very much seem to know what they’re doing.) Cuatro Milpas has an amenity that few of its competitors on East Lake Street offer: A veritable wall of aguas frescas and licuados We tried three of the former ($4 each for medium cups) and absolutely adored them almost like drinking a barely sweetened and only slightly concentrated interior of a fresh summer melon above right) led with a surprisingly refreshing cucumber overture what I’ll be driving to East Lake Street for the next time we get a 90 degree day around here one of the most gorgeously poundable beverages discoverable by humanity Charito Panaderia Ecuatoriano1611 East Lake Street you might stroll right into the walk-in baking oven which rather than being tucked out of sight in the kitchen is on full display in the front of the space lovingly on display here are a hypnotic array of breads just as you’d expect from any self-respecting bakery There’s much more going on in this bakery than meets the eye.– M.C Charito Panaderia Ecuatoriana is one of the most unusual spots we’ve eaten at on Lake Street and we’ve been to a number of unusual spots This sister enterprise to a Central Avenue panaderia is a fully operational Ecuadorian restaurant offering favorites like papipollo (fries and chicken) tigrillo (pork skin mixed with fried eggs) and mote sucio (boiled corn mixed with pork butter) but it’s also an amply stocked bakery offering a good many more options than the typical metro-area Mexican bakery We ordered the Sancocho (pan-fried pork ribs with a side of boiled hominy) $12 in that the pork ribs were beautifully fried to a crisp and crunchy state of textural tastiness in that the pork had little flavor beyond salt and heat and the hominy was stark to the point of culinary nudity An accompanying spicy red salsa helped at a little acid and heat to the dish The Bolon de Verde ($6.50) was a similar story – the same pork ribs this time accompanied by a veritable starch bomb of a fried green plantain topped with an exceedingly mild cheese The bakery side of Charito is more consistently impressive you can pick up a Key de Vainilla (vanilla cake) the size and nature of a generous homemade pound cake its vanilla-dominated flavor profile beautifully boosted by an aggressive payload of orange zest richly spiced piece of smooth-as-silk Budin (pudding) cake will set you back $2 while offering a good $6-7 of flavor and pleasure We barely scratched the surface of this bakery which was swimming in promising baked goods many of which were beautifully frosted and piped and all of which were remarkably affordable Subscribe to our newsletters on Substack. it is not necessary to go to the most exalted restaurants; to eat even better these gastronomic temples recognized by the famed Michelin Guide will be a sure hit If one had to designate a gastronomic bible in which all great restaurants (in Andalusia and anywhere) want to be, that is undoubtedly the Michelin Guide a reference for avid tasters in search of the best places to eat We compile all the Andalusian restaurants awarded with such a distinguished recognition In Andalusia these are the renowned restaurants with the prestigious distinction of having one Discourse matters and Paco Morales knew that for a fact when he decided to undertake the major project that is Noor The history of the different peoples who settled in this land vertebrates Noor’s cuisine, which without cheating promises menus that deal with the food of those times It allows us to embark on a historical journey through Al-Andalus that can be savored who have helped to build the unmistakable image of Noor All this confirms the two Michelin stars he has accumulated one of the most talented chefs in Andalusia and one of those restaurants that you have to try at least once in your life his originality and unique creations in his iconic restaurant in Puerto de Santa María have raised Andalusian gastronomy as never before The chef of the sea needs no introduction and neither does this gastronomic mecca an experience for the five senses that explores food possibilities that once seemed impossible to taste The old tide mill houses Aponiente as a space in continuous transformation that bets on sustainability from the techniques used renewable energies and its commitment to a culinary philosophy that squeezes the possibilities of discarded fish A high-level cuisine that achieves excellence also through environmental responsibility Jerez chef Juanlu Fernández at Lú Cocina y Alma amply demonstrates his culinary prowess a musk of Andalusia and the French recipe book The “rearguard avant-garde” chef who has retained this prestigious recognition since 2018 unhurried experience with the cuisine inside his spectacular dining room which places him at the summit of Andalusian gastronomy And it is, at the same time, an ideal getaway from Seville which roots the food of the day laborers and the terroir of the house with the heritage of French techniques Seasons that sublimate the goodness of this land The Gran Meliá Novo Sancti Petri, in Chiclana de la Frontera, is home to this restaurant by Ángel León. Once again, the famed chef from Cadiz extends his commitment to the sea in this other space Aponiente’s little brother also draws on the bounties of the Atlantic and promises a genuine Ronda had plenty of tourist attractions and yet it was able to incorporate among its goodness one of the greatest references The house of Benito Gomez entails this bet just a few steps from the imposing bridge of Ronda The chef of Catalan origin carries out a creative cuisine that goes beyond the pure labels: tradition Marcos Granda and Mario Cachinero form the perfect tandem in charge of the kitchen at Skina Just four tables make up the dining room of this little corner dedicated to good food Their dishes are based on the flavors of a lifetime to transform them while preserving and improving all their virtues have earned him recognition in 2022 as Revelation Chef at Madridfusión or the first Michelin star in 2024 to this family project that treasures almost 30 years of life The cuisine of the terroir runs through this project in the Sierra de Cádiz which continues to be nourished by the work and ties of the family Of rustic and close appearance and flavors rooted in the land putting the vegetable as the undisputed protagonist of its two tasting menus elevated Sevillian gastronomy to excellence and for 14 years has revalidated its recognition in the famed guide in addition to the two Repsol suns it treasures It opened its doors in 2004 and its kitchen is in charge of chef Julio Fernández Quintero trained in the school of La Taberna del Alabardero in Seville the work of architects Santiago Pérez Barreda and Jaime Márquez Escudero the undisputed protagonist of this experience that starts in Seville and crosses the whole of Andalusia The perfect blend capable of balancing a recipe book with a powerful traditional component and the avant-garde in vogue Cañabota’s very careful proposal is identified with the sea Fish and seafood backbone the concept of Cañabota Juan Luis Fernández created in Seville a space inspired by a fish restaurant full of tiles that he had the opportunity to see in Croatia the Sevillian chef decided to launch this project in 2016 technique and service are executed with mastery in each of its spaces the recently starred restaurant in the center of Seville has two spaces for diners Profuse flavors and a culinary language of its own are two qualities that Blossom can champion A journey in which the diner is immersed from the first moment and that promises an intimate and delicious experience You will find it in the heart of Malaga and you can enjoy it in its cosy dining room or on its terrace. The chef of Argentine origin Emiliano Schobert moved to Malaga in 2019 putting the germ of this great restaurant that puts the focus on the seasonality of the products The hustle and bustle of downtown Cadiz finds its respite at Código de Barra one of Andalusia’s recent Michelin star additions Cádiz is slow-cooked and reinterpreted with the best of produce Dutch-born chef León Griffioen and his wife the reader should take note and keep in their future experiences Contraseña the Malaga stars revalidated this recognition with just one surprise Dani Carnero’s restaurant on Marquesa de Moya street Kaleja is dedicated to embers and smoke, recovering recipes that marked the chef’s life. Along with Kaleja, Carnero has two other restaurants: La Cosmopolita and La Cosmo in the vicinity of the picturesque village of Loja hides one of the recent gastronomic gems to receive Michelin stars in Andalusia Chef Fernando Arjona is in charge of this space The gastronomic journey starts in an old chapel to taste the appetizers and from where diners will be led to a rustic lounge A journey of flavor around the cuisine of Malaga and Cadiz 📍 Finca La Bobadilla Road Salinas-Villanueva de Tapia (A-333 Pedro Sánchez’s extensive experience in renowned kitchens is no secret He is treasured by his years at Casa Antonio Martín Berasategui’s restaurant or the Tragabuches restaurant in Ronda run by Dani García It is in Bagá where he configures his cuisine a culinary treasure that alludes to the olive blossom and in which the client will find very varied forms of “Sentir Jaén” Córdoba is gaining a place in the state gastronomic scene and Kisko García is one of the reference names in this regard The Choco restaurant runs away from the downtown traffic and offers the opportunity to delight us with a formidable parade of elaborations to dream with flavor The products of the province are extolled in each dish with a menu (and a close but excellent service) that surprises from start to finish liquid gold present in many corners of the national geography but with special attention in the province of Jaén It is this restaurant an ode to the grandmother of chef Juan Aceituno in addition to the Gran Menú María (a tribute to his daughter by reservation only) that are all a journey through the land of Jaén another of Andalusia’s undoubted gastronomic destinations stands out with two Michelin-star designated restaurants Mantúa (a local wine reference that alludes to one of the grape varieties that back in the 18th century was grown in the vicinity of Jerez) is a tribute to Andalusian cuisine with special attention to the Jerez recipe book Arcilla and Caliza are the two menus available to the diner who dares to taste the versions of Israel Ramos Malaga is one of the greatest gastronomic miles of Andalusia (and not only because of the number of Michelin-starred restaurants it accumulates) José Carlos García’s bet is one more of these great promises located in the neighborhood of La Malagueta In his restaurant the diner will find market cuisine Travel to El Ejido (if we suspect that the reader is in the easternmost Andalusia) to enjoy this restaurant exclusively The most fitting answer would be to refer to the experience of this highly acclaimed Andalusian restaurant José Álvarez follows the gastronomic trail of La Costa The products of the Alboran Sea and the vegetables of proximity are the protagonists of the menu of the only Michelin starred restaurant in Almeria Mauricio Giovanini captains the stoves of Messina a restaurant that harmonizes European and Latin American gastronomy as well as Mediterranean (eye with nods also to Lebanese cuisine) with mastery He is accompanied in this adventure by the excellent sommelier and head waitress Pía Ninci Chef: Mauricio Giovanini and sommelier Pia Ninci Diego Gallegos is the caviar chef while exercising his talent in the kitchens of Sollo the renowned restaurant based in Fuengirola excellent sea views and a gastronomic proposal much more than innovative Although Sollo pays special attention to the sea they do so with an eye to the future and sustainability as 90% of the raw materials they use come from their own resources and crops another of the restaurants in one of the epicenters of Andalusia Namely: the traditional and the green Michelin star that recognizes the commitment to environmental sustainability Marcos Granda conquers the province of Málaga with his two reputable restaurants Nintai is one of his latest bets in Marbella after falling in love with the Japanese country on a trip he made in 2019 It will be the Itamae Pablo Olivares who will hold the prestige of putting himself at the head of the table two tasting menus that vary depending on the product of the day: Omakase and Nintai The diner should pay attention to its carefully selected menu of sakes trained at Luis Irizar’s Cooking School and with extensive experience in Aponiente In the summer of 2020 he opened the doors of this business which is accompanied by his brother Juan as sommelier with whom they have conquered their first star Chef David Olivas carries the banner of this temple at the same time restaurant and once also tapas bar come to (very much) more in Marbella In short: elaborations reminiscent of the flavors of always but refined Baeza celebrates the incorporation of Vandelvira among the new starred restaurants awarded by the Michelin Guide this 2023 Juan Carlos García is in charge of this space integrated within a 16th century convent Modest products from the garden and dishes that breathe haute cuisine from honesty Another Andalusian restaurant that surprised with its first Michelin star is Malak the delicacy of these beings that also transfer to its room The premise of Radis restaurant is that every day changes its tasting menu Its name finde tribute to their elders and so does its cuisine what is expected from this proposal are the aromas and flavors of always You may be interested in: 14 tasting menus in Seville that are worth it.