Jaume Subirós receives National Gastronomy Award

Jaume Subirós, owner of Motel Empordà in Figueres, has been awarded the ‘Toda una Vida 2026’ National Gastronomy Award by the Real Academia de Gastronomía. The award recognizes his lifelong dedication to the restaurant industry and his culinary philosophy centered on local products, territory, and hospitality.

Subirós began his career at Motel Empordà in 1961 as a bellboy under founder Josep Mercader. After completing his training in Barcelona, he returned to the establishment and eventually assumed leadership in 1979 at the age of thirty. The jury highlighted his role in maintaining high quality standards and his fidelity to Catalan cuisine.