New recognition has come for Quique Dacosta as the Conexus Madrid-Valencia Community Foundation partners with CaixaBank to present its annual award. The prize honors notable figures who serve as ambassadors for autonomy and regional pride, highlighting how individuals or organizations raise the Valencian Community’s profile both at home and abroad. Past recipients include Ford, Grupo IVI, Porcelanosa, Port of Valencia, Lanzadera, and Alicantec.
According to Conexus president Manuel Broseta, the decision to honor Quique Dacosta reflected a belief that he has “found a way to unite people” through a deep love for the Valencian Community—its traditions, products, and geography—paired with aesthetics, technique, and technology. He has crafted new gastronomic expressions for the Valencian brand while underscoring sustainability as a core value. This blend of culture, craft, and environmental responsibility distinguishes his work in the culinary world. [Attribution: Conexus Madrid-Valencia Community Foundation]
Quique Dacosta, born in Extremadura and settled in Valencia, began his culinary career in 1986. He joined his current venture in 1988, and his flagship restaurant, Quique Dacosta Restaurant, sits in Denia. The region’s Mediterranean climate and the protected Montgó Natural Park have shaped his cooking, with the abundant marine life and the distinctive geographic setting fueling his creative approach. His cuisine reflects a dialogue with the sea, the land, and the region’s enduring culinary roots. [Attribution: Conexus Madrid-Valencia Community Foundation]
Conexus notes that Dacosta’s work speaks for itself on the global stage as an artistic expression of cuisine. He is celebrated as a chef who uses his regional culture as a banner, symbolizing quality, excellence, innovation, and tradition. This recognition places him among the most influential culinary figures worldwide. [Attribution: Conexus Madrid-Valencia Community Foundation]
In 2012, Dacosta Restaurant earned the highest Michelin recognition, receiving three stars. That achievement remains a benchmark in the international dining scene and highlights the restaurant’s enduring excellence as it continues to appear in prestigious culinary rankings. [Attribution: Conexus Madrid-Valencia Community Foundation]
Quique Dacosta and Toni Romero among the world’s top 100 chefs
Further honors followed in subsequent years. In 2013, Dacosta was named Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts, a recognition that reflected his influence beyond the kitchen. In 2019, he was celebrated as Best Entrepreneur of Spanish Restoration by the Royal Academy of Gastronomy, with the distinction conferred by Miguel Hernández University and later, in 2020, receiving the Gold Medal of Merit in Fine Arts. [Attribution: Conexus Madrid-Valencia Community Foundation]
Beyond his flagship Denia restaurant, Dacosta has expanded his influence as director and gastronomic creator of the Mandarin Oriental Ritz Madrid. He also launched a new concept, ArrosQD, in London, signaling international ambitions. His portfolio includes other acclaimed ventures such as El Poblet, which has earned two Michelin stars, Llisa Negra, Vuelve Carolina, and Mercatbar in Valencia. [Attribution: Conexus Madrid-Valencia Community Foundation]
The Conexus award ceremony is scheduled to take place during the annual Conexus dinner in Madrid on June 13, drawing attendance from prominent figures across the Valencian Community and Madrid’s business and social circles. [Attribution: Conexus Madrid-Valencia Community Foundation]