A return home: from Washington to the Mediterranean. That is the journey you will undertake to participate in Mediterránea Gastrónoma chef Danny Lledó, owner of Xiquet, the first Michelin-starred Valencian restaurant in the US.
From November 7 to 9, the chef will be at Feria Valencia sharing his experience, his history and his cuisine accompanied by Manuel Alonso (from Casa Manolo, Daimús, 1 *, 2 sol), who will act as host chef. In addition, Danny Lledó will travel with several American journalists who will tell about their participation in the contest.
In March, Danny Lledó opened his Valencian restaurant Xiquet in Washington DC. In May they had already awarded him his first star. His culinary wisdom runs in the family. He is the son of a well-known chef from Dénia, hence he will call his restaurant Xiquet, since that is how his family used to call him as a child.
Lledó focuses on Xiquet on the product, both of local and international origin. Sometimes he even manages to serve red prawn from Dénia. It also includes innovative preparations based on traditional Valencian cuisine. In fact, his letter is written in Valencian.
But before deciding on the stove, Lledó studied at the University of Maryland and worked in finance. However, his vocation got the better of him and he ended up turning over in the kitchen. He expanded his knowledge working for La Taberna del Alabardero, Botín or in the Think Food Group, led by chef José Andrés, which was at Mediterránea Gastrónoma in 2019. Likewise, in the United States it has won numerous paella contests, and in Spain it has been twice a finalist for the International Competition of Paella Valenciana de Sueca. In addition to being the chef and owner of Xiquet, Danny Lledó is a partner in Washington at Slate Wine Bar, an informal restaurant with wine as the main protagonist.
The Dianense chef is also a person with a social conscience, not in vain supports organizations such as the Vicente Ferrer USA Foundation, Chefs for Equality, The Humane Society and Capital Breast Care Center. It has recently been nominated by the Washington Hospitality Association for Best Foodie Experience. "For me, it is important to give back what life has given you, and to do it with people who do not have it so easy or who are going through difficulties," Lledó said in an interview.
Danny Lledó will join chef Manu Buffara in the Central Cuisine program of Mediterránea Gastrónoma, a contest that has the support of Turisme Comunitat Valenciana, the Conselleria d'Agricultura, Desenvolupament Rural, Emergència Climàtica i Transició Ecològica, of the councils Alicante, Castellón and Valencia and Visit Valencia and is organized by Feria Valencia, with the support of the main sector associations and the help of the chefs of the Valencian Community.
