ICEX Spain, a government agency for the international promotion of Spanish firms, has announced today that Singapore has been the first country in Asia where Spain has launched the certification program Restaurants from Spain, with the premise that Spanish cuisine is considered a central axis in the promotion of Spain as a brand and to recognise those restaurants that work to promote Spanish gastronomy.

The Restaurants from Spain Certification Program pursues the support and recognition of international gastronomy initiatives that are focused on Spanish cuisine, guaranteeing the level of quality of these establishments. The idea is to establish quality standards and criteria for the consumer who is looking for quality Spanish cuisine.

In 2021, a total of 12 Spanish Restaurants established in Singapore (ASADOR, BINOMIO, FOC, FOC SENTOSA, GAIG, NEXT DOOR SPANISH CAFÉ, OLIVIA, TAPAS 24, TAPAS CLUB ORCHARD, TAPAS CLUB VIVO CITY, TAPAS CLUB JEWEL, UNA) have been certified and all of them have received last week their Restaurant from Spain diploma in a personalised and communicative action by the Ambassador of Spain in Singapore HE Santiago MIRALLES.

A total of 48 restaurants have just been certified so far in a first phase started last year: 16 of them in the United Kingdom, 12 in Singapore, 5 in Ireland, 4 in Netherlands, 3 in Switzerland, 4 in China, 3 in Germany and 1 in Belgium. All of them will receive their Restaurants from Spain certificate in an individualised communicative and promotional action, depending on when the cycle of the pandemic allows to organise the act in the different markets.

In 2022, around a hundred more restaurants will be added, expanding the seal to markets as diverse as the United States, Mexico and Japan.

About the Restaurants from Spain certification

It is an international distinction awarded under the principles of objectivity, traceability and transparency. It acts, not as a gastronomic criticism, but as an instrument of support and recognition to restaurants that can thus present themselves as global ambassadors of Spanish cuisine, becoming, in turn, an example for future entrepreneurs and reference for all those people who seek the authenticity of our cuisine outside of Spain.

The certification process culminates with the analysis and validation from a joint committee composed of official institutions and sectoral associations strongly linked to gastronomy such as the Royal Academy of Gastronomy; the Ministry of Agriculture; FACYRE; the Regulatory Council for Sherry Wines; ANFACO; INTERPORC; the Spanish Wine Federation, the REPSOL Guide and the Ministry of Tourism of Castilla La Mancha.

The certificate will distinguish those establishments that outside Spain offer their diners not only Spanish products, but also authentic quality Spanish cuisine, with a unique and differentiated image.

All the restaurants that have the Restaurants from Spain certificate will share a feeling of Spanish gastronomy based on genuine roots, ingredients, recipes and quality. They will differentiate themselves with a recognisable concept of Spanish cuisine and will have a team of professionals, both in the living room and in the kitchen, who will transmit the Spanish culinary identity in every detail.

The certification, which will be renewed annually, will have a direct and immediate impact on the HORECA channel, whose activity has been severely affected by the pandemic, by promoting greater knowledge of the restaurant in the country, boosting its occupation and the dissemination of authentic quality Spanish cuisine.

Besides the certification, the restaurants team will receive specialised training in both gastronomy and Spanish wines, thus being able to expand the Spanish culinary offer available on the menu. And in parallel, the certificate will facilitate access to the restaurant, and therefore to the market, to a greater number of suppliers of Spanish products, which will boost the presence of Spanish food and wine around the world.


Images: Embassy of Spain

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