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New Michelin Star for Dénia chef Danny Lledó who dazzles Washington with his Xiquet

May 04 from 2022 - 20: 20

The chef raised in Dénia, obtained confirmation on Wednesday afternoon of obtaining, for the second year, a Michelin star for "Xiquet", a modern commitment to Valencian gastronomy. In addition, the guide awards the Xiquet sommeliers the "Sommelier of the Year" recognition. Xiquet thus remains the only restaurant with a Michelin star in the US that has Valencian cuisine as its axis.

Danny Lledó, the Michelin star who with a Dianense menu has conquered the palates of Washington DC

The prestigious Michelin guide has just made public the panorama of stars in the US capital. Lledó renews its Michelin star for Xiquet in its second year of opening, and adds one more recognition for its restaurant: “Sommelier of the Year”, with sommeliers Nicole Ramee and Alisa Watts at the helm. The celebration for the "starred", with several Spanish chefs on the bill, will take place this afternoon at the Residence of France in Washington.

Of a Spanish father and a Portuguese mother, Danny Lledó was born in Maryland, USA in 1977. Shortly after they returned to Dénia, his father's hometown, to live a few years that Danny remembers as the sweetest of his childhood. Since they later returned to the United States to continue their studies, Danny has continued to return to the Alicante municipality whenever he has had the opportunity to visit his family and friends, and to continue soaking up the Mediterranean culture with which he identifies so much. and enjoy so much.

Lledó, with training in the world of finance, has learned to cook in a self-taught way. Both his time in Denia and his father, also a chef, and his mother, who mastered the art of baking like no other, have been the main inspiration for Lledó, who has wanted to take a step beyond paella and show in Washington that Spanish gastronomy, and specifically from the Valencian Community, has much more to offer.

Xiquet has three floors, and each of them offers a different experience in a tour of its menu, presented in Valencian, and which includes a total of fourteen elaborations. You are welcomed at the chef's counter, with Valencia water and appetizers such as mojama. On the third floor is the dining room together with a glazed wood-burning kitchen, where dishes such as all i pebre, panet d'eriçó, Wellington Ibèric and, of course, rice are served. Despite the fact that Lledó tries to ensure that all its dishes have the same weight on the menu, the red prawn from Denia takes center stage, causing a furor among the most relevant gastronomic critics in the US. The final touch to the evening is enjoyed on the second level, with an orange dessert presented in twelve different ways and a selection of artisan nougat.

“I am incredibly grateful for this recognition, which would not be possible without the unconditional support of the entire team and our families. I think that when you put effort into something you can achieve success, but if you also put your heart into it, the satisfaction is enormous, an inexplicable feeling”.- Lledó comments. His cuisine is modern, elegant and subtle, without overloading the products and trying to elevate their natural flavors. Lledó knows what he wants: to have fun in the kitchen, to show the richness of our gastronomy in Washington and to show that rice can also be a haute cuisine dish. Everything, served with the kindness and closeness of the Mediterranean character.

“Through Xiquet I hope to bring a part of the Valencian Community to Washington, so that they can appreciate our culture, our hospitality and our close character around a table with high-quality fresh dishes and products.” – comments Lledó.

The xef's menu comprises fourteen dishes and is priced at $210, taxes and tips not included. You can add wine pairing ($190) or caviar service ($170).

1 Comment
  1. Javier says:

    I am already looking forward to discovering Xiquet and its gastronomy. Eating his prawns in Denia is already a privilege and in Washington a great luxury.
    Congratulations !!


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