'Recognition for many years of work': Girona's Divinum celebrates first Michelin star

Managers of the Divinum restaurant in Girona, Joan Morillo and Laura Tejero, celebrated the first Michelin star in the restaurant on Wednesday evening.

Present for the celebrations were the restaurant team, some friends, and customers.

"It is a recognition of many years of work," assured Morillo excitedly in front of the entire team.

The celebration started with a toast to the workers, who all wore a T-shirt with the phrase "we are stubborn."

The Divinum sommelier, Laura Tejero, assured that tomorrow they will return to work "like every day" with the aim of consolidating their place on the Michelin star list.

Joan Morillo, however, has his eyes on moving further upward, saying the best way to preserve the first star is by "fighting for the second."

Some 24 hours of receiving the first Michelin star, the managers of Divinum arrived back in Girona with a statue of the famous culinary guide, filled with joy and excitement for reaching such a milestone.

The restaurant's head chef, Joan Morillo, says the Michelin star has long been an ambition of the team.

"Nerves and tension"

Morillo recalled to the Catalan News Agency that they received an invitation to go to the Michelin gala some years ago but the same letter warned them that it did not mean that they would take home any prize. "You're there, with lots of nerves and tension to see if they cakk your name or not."

But the much-anticipated moment arrived, unleashing a joy and euphoria that was brought back with the team to the restaurant in northern Catalonia.

"This star also belongs to the entire team," the head of Divinum highlighted.

Morillo and Tejero also delighted in the recognition for premises like theirs, a family restaurant. "There are fewer and fewer of us all the time, we don't have a hotel behind us or any brand that helps us." 

Divinum has seen an avalanche of reservations since winning the award. They say the phone doesn't stop ringing and it's getting harder and harder to find a table for lunch or dinner.

For Morillo and Tejero, this is good news for them, but also for "the entire city of Girona," as it shows that the region "has a lot of gastronomic talent," letting them stand apart from the larger city of Barcelona.