Miguel Santamaría
Chef at La Canibal, a natural wine bar in Madrid's Lavapiés whose cockle tapa won the Comunidad de Madrid's tapas championship in 2023.
- Restaurants
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- Born
- 1981 · Madrid
Miguel Santamaría is the chef at La Canibal, a natural wine bar in Madrid's Lavapiés. Born in Madrid in 1981 to a hospitality family, he trained under Martín Berasategui, Santi Santamaría at Santceloni, and Óscar Velasco before joining La Canibal when it opened in 2019. In 2023, his cockles in vinegar escabeche with Trappist beer won the II Official Championship of Tapas and Pinchos of the Comunidad de Madrid.
Biography
Early years
José Miguel Santamaría was born in Madrid in 1981 and grew up around hospitality: his father ran a hotel business and his mother cooked. He studied at a hospitality school before going into professional kitchens.
Career
He worked under chefs including Martín Berasategui, Santi Santamaría at Santceloni, and Óscar Velasco before joining La Canibal when it opened in 2019. In April 2023, his cockles in a vinegar escabeche with Trappist beer, served on an artisanal cracker with Idiazábal cheese cream, won the II Official Championship of Tapas and Pinchos of the Comunidad de Madrid, a recipe he adapted from a traditional Galician dish.
Philosophy
Santamaría has said he has "no taboos in the kitchen" and enjoys mixing Japanese or Peruvian technique with Spanish cooking. He favours slow, traditional methods, such as making bechamel over two hours, and describes La Canibal as where he is "always learning" because he is "always training."
Restaurants
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Frequently asked
Who is the chef at La Canibal?
Miguel Santamaría (born Madrid, 1981) leads the kitchen at La Canibal, a natural wine bar in Madrid's Lavapiés.
What is Miguel Santamaría known for?
His pickled-cockle tapa, adapted from a traditional Galician recipe, won the II Official Championship of Tapas and Pinchos of the Comunidad de Madrid in 2023.
Where did Miguel Santamaría train?
He worked under chefs including Martín Berasategui, Santi Santamaría (at Santceloni), and Óscar Velasco before joining La Canibal in 2019.
Where is Miguel Santamaría from?
He was born in Madrid in 1981 into a hospitality family: his father ran a hotel business and his mother cooked.
What award did La Canibal win in 2023?
Its cockles in a vinegar escabeche with Trappist beer won the II Official Championship of Tapas and Pinchos of the Comunidad de Madrid.
Does Miguel Santamaría follow a strict cuisine style?
No. He says he has no taboos in the kitchen and mixes Japanese or Peruvian technique with traditional Spanish cooking.
When did Miguel Santamaría join La Canibal?
In 2019, when La Canibal opened in Lavapiés, after stints under Martín Berasategui, Santi Santamaría and Óscar Velasco.