Sergio and Javier Torres: from Three Michelin Stars to the market counter.
For us, cooking has never been about status; it has always been about memory. After reaching the pinnacle of gastronomy and refining our obsession with great produce, we felt a deep need to return to the place where it all began. Parada Torres is more than a restaurant; it is our way back home, to the bustle of Santa Caterina and to the honest cooking we learned to love when we were barely tall enough to see over the counter.
Grandmother Catalina and the aisles of Santa Caterina.
Our calling was not born in a culinary school; it was born while walking through these very aisles hand in hand with our grandmother Catalina. Decades ago, she cooked in a small guesthouse in the neighbourhood, just a few streets away. We still remember the smell of the market, the morning commotion, and helping her carry the shopping bags. She taught us how to choose fresh fish by looking into its eyes, how to smell herbs and how to respect the time every stew needs. Cooking in this market is our daily tribute to her memory and to the traditional recipes that are passed down through the heart.
“We grew up standing on beer crates.”
Many people know us for the spotless white jackets and the awards, but the truth is that we come from that neighbourhood hustle and bustle. Our parents owned a traditional local bar, Bar Plaza.
We grew up behind that counter, standing on wooden beer crates just to reach it, pouring beers, serving coffees and listening to customers’ stories. The spirit of the bar is etched into our DNA. That is why we wanted Parada Torres to have that playful, informal and lively character: a central kiosk where life is shared, porróns are raised in celebration, and fine dining comes back down to earth for everyone to enjoy.
Success meant this: returning to our roots
For years, our only professional goal was to earn Three Michelin Stars. We worked tirelessly, with discipline and an almost obsessive pursuit of technical excellence.
We achieved it.
And once you reach the top, you realise that true luxury is being able to cook the dishes of your childhood in the market of your own neighbourhood, free from labels and formalities. Parada Torres is our most personal, humble and honest project. Market cooking made by cooks, for everyday people.
