Founded in 1735 by Jehan-Jacques Blancpain in the Swiss Jura, Blancpain is the oldest watch brand in the world and one of the first to express the close ties that unite two worlds that are not as diverse as they initially seem. Those of Fine Watchmaking and Fine Cuisine. "Between Blancpain and the Art of Living - explains Lara Bartolomé, director of Blancpain Spain -, the most striking alliances are the devotion that both worlds share for craftsmanship and the accent that they also give to the quality of the product and respect for the kilometer. zero and traditions".
For these reasons and, according to Lara Bartolomé, "above all because of the passion that marks the paths of haute horlogerie and haute cuisine, Blancpain has for decades maintained a privileged relationship with the most prestigious chefs recognized in the Michelin guide and has established as one of the most active partners in its star awards galas. And not only that, it also sponsors one of its most special awards: the Chef Mentor.
In the one held on Tuesday in the Auditori Forum of the Barcelona International Convention Center that distinguished 272 restaurants in Spain with their stars (15 with three and 32 with two) Michelin and the three-centennial firm awarded chef Juan Mari Arzak with that distinction, which his daughter Elena Arzak collected. "May they never lose their enthusiasm. May they always continue with their efforts. May they remain in the impassive search for excellence. May they continue loving, being passionate about this wonderful work. May they continue respecting and making Spanish gastronomy greater," were the recommendations that Elena Arzak gave to everyone present on the most special day for Spanish gastronomy.
And that alliance between Blancpain and haute cuisine? Comes from afar. Not as much as the commitment that Blancpain expresses to the care of the oceans and the recovery of the seabed (its Fiffty Fathoms, which is now 70 years old, was the first diving watch in history) but it is already old. Because the love affair of Geneva manufacturing with haute cuisine (and with the consequent work of working and also ensuring ecology and respect for kilometer zero) began in 1986.
It was then, long before the current enthusiasm for haute cuisine, when the brand gave its friend Frédy Girardet a watch specially engraved for him after having been named Best Chef in the World. Three years later, Blancpain reaffirmed its commitment when Frédy Girardet, Paul Bocuse and Joël Robuchon were proclaimed Chefs of the Century. The manufacture honored them by giving them an engraved watch, as a souvenir of that moment.
Since then, Blancpain's circle of friends has grown. Today, it has new greats of international gastronomy, such as the Spanish chef Martín Berasategui (in Barcelona he wore a Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe by Blancpain), the Swiss Edgard Bovier or the Auvergne chef Julien Royer, all of them awarded with Michelin stars.
