Valle del Jerte, April 17, 2023.- The Cereza del Jerte Denomination of Origin Regulatory Council has awarded the Picota del Jerte 2023 Award of Excellence to the three-Michelin-star chef Toño Pérez, from the Atrio restaurant, in recognition of his creative cuisine, but at the same time simple, which places products from Extremadura at the center of its creations.

The Picota del Jerte 2023 Award for Excellence was awarded at a ceremony held at the Gourmets Hall (IFEMA) at the stand that the Protected Designation of Origin Cereza del Jerte has within the one of the Junta de Extremadura. The award was presented by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, Population and Territory of the Regional Government of Extremadura, Begoña García Bernal, and the President of the Regulatory Council, José Antonio Tierno.

Toño Pérez has expressed that he feels "very happy and very proud" because it is a "luxury" to receive an award that comes from his land, Extremadura. In addition, he has highlighted that the Jerte Cherry "gives a lot of play and a lot of personality to the kitchen". "For me, it is a marvelous product", the chef concluded.

During the award ceremony, the president of the Regulatory Council of the Jerte Cherry Denomination of Origin, José Antonio Tierno, highlighted the figure and career of Toño Pérez and thanked him for the willingness he has always had to promote the cherry and include it in your kitchen.

The Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, Population and Territory of the Junta de Extremadura, Begoña García Bernal, has stressed that the Jerte Cherry is a product of "extreme quality", which is also "very important for the north of the province of Cáceres". because of the campaign that it entails, the cooperativism that it generates in the companies and because it helps to fix the population to the territory.

The Picota del Jerte Award is an award that recognizes the work of all those professionals who, from different fields, help to disseminate and promote Picota del Jerte and stand out for their work and authenticity. In previous editions this award has gone to the chef Sergi Arola; journalists Pepa Bueno, Pepa Fernández, Juan Ramón Lucas, Raquel Sánchez Silva, Ana Rosa Quintana, Jorge Javier Vázquez and Roberto Brasero; the 'Here Earth' program; the actress and director Blanca Portillo or the singers Roberto Iniesta and Soraya Arnelas.

Toño Pérez, the sensation from Extremadura

Toño Pérez (Cásar de Cáceres, 1961), head chef at the Atrio restaurant, likes to describe himself as “little cooks”, but the reality is that he is the restaurateur who has renewed Extremaduran cuisine.

A disciple of Juan Mari Arzak and Alfonso Dávila in Jockey, he considers himself an artistic and creative cook, although he always bears in mind that his headquarters are in Extremadura, where simple cuisine triumphs. His motto is to carry out "the kitchen of satisfaction".

Atrio has three suns in the Campsa guide, three Michelin stars, the last one achieved in November 2022, and a 9.5 grade in Gourmetour.

Regulatory Council of the Protected Designation of Origin Cereza del Jerte

The Cereza del Jerte Protected Designation of Origin Regulatory Council is an entity that works to promote and certify the origin and quality of protected products.

Europa Press Communication: 91 359 26 00

Icíar Díaz iciardiaz@europapress.es

Susana Sedano susanasedano@europapress.es

Virginia Garcia virginiagarcia@europapress.es

D.O.P. Regulatory Council Jerte cherry: 927 47 11 01/03

Fátima López-Santamaría Nogales picota@cerezadeljerte.org

www.cerezadeljerte.org