Jordi Cruz is the Spanish Catalan chef widely recognised as one of the leading figures in modern Catalan gastronomy and one of the youngest Spanish chefs to earn three Michelin stars. Born 12 June 1978 in Manresa, Catalonia, Spain, Cruz began his culinary training at age 14 at the Joviat hotel school in Manresa. He worked at multiple Catalan restaurants before becoming chef at Estany Clar in Cercs in 2002 at age 24, where he earned his first Michelin star. He took over as executive chef at ABaC Restaurant in Barcelona in 2010, and the restaurant earned its third Michelin star in 2018.
Cruz’s 2025-2026 work continues at ABaC Restaurant in Barcelona, which has retained its three Michelin stars in the 2025 and 2026 editions of the Spain Michelin Guide. He continues to lead the restaurant alongside his other Barcelona ventures including Angle (one Michelin star) and Atempo. The 20 February 2026 EcoFrog interview captures his current approach to Catalan avant-garde cuisine, and ABaC continues to feature his signature theatrical-presentation tasting menu including the famous Le Petit Prince dessert. Cruz is one of the most-recognised Spanish chef-restaurateurs of the post-Ferran-Adria generation.
TL;DR
- Spanish Catalan chef born 12 June 1978 in Manresa, Catalonia
- Trained at Joviat hotel school Manresa from age 14
- Estany Clar Cercs first Michelin star at age 24 (2002)
- Executive chef at ABaC Barcelona since 2010
- ABaC three Michelin stars since 2018, retained 2025 and 2026
- Other ventures: Angle (one Michelin star), Atempo Barcelona
Jordi Cruz key facts
| Born | 12 June 1978, Manresa, Catalonia, Spain |
| Nationality | Spanish (Catalan) |
| Training | Joviat hotel school Manresa from age 14 |
| Defining restaurant | ABaC Restaurant Barcelona (executive chef since 2010) |
| Michelin status | Three Michelin stars at ABaC since 2018, retained 2025 and 2026 |
| Other ventures | Angle (one Michelin star); Atempo Barcelona |
| Style | Avant-garde Catalan cuisine, theatrical presentation |
Early life and training of Jordi Cruz
Cruz was born on 12 June 1978 in Manresa, in the Catalan region of Spain. He began his culinary training at age 14 at the Joviat hotel school in Manresa, an unusually early start that he has described in multiple interviews as the formative experience of his career. The early Joviat training period gave him classical Catalan and Spanish hospitality technique alongside academic culinary education from his earliest teenage years.
Through the late 1990s and early 2000s Cruz worked at multiple Catalan restaurants, gaining classical Catalan and Spanish fine-dining technique. The apprenticeship period through his late teens and early twenties prepared him for his own chef role at Estany Clar in Cercs, in the Catalan Pyrenees. He became chef at Estany Clar in 2002 at age 24.
At Estany Clar, Cruz earned his first Michelin star at age 24 in 2002, becoming at the time the youngest Spanish chef to earn a Michelin star and one of the youngest globally. He continued at Estany Clar through the mid-2000s before joining ABaC Restaurant in Barcelona, where he became executive chef in 2010 and has continued ever since. ABaC under Cruz earned its second Michelin star in 2012 and its third Michelin star in 2018.
Jordi Cruz career timeline
- 12 June 1978: Born in Manresa, Catalonia, Spain
- 1992: Begins culinary training at Joviat hotel school Manresa at age 14
- Late 1990s-early 2000s: Works at multiple Catalan restaurants
- 2002: Becomes chef at Estany Clar in Cercs at age 24
- 2002: Earns first Michelin star at Estany Clar (youngest Spanish chef at time)
- 2010: Becomes executive chef at ABaC Restaurant Barcelona
- 2012: Second Michelin star at ABaC
- 2014: Joins MasterChef Spain as judge on TVE
- 2015: Opens Angle restaurant in Barcelona
- 2017: Opens Atempo restaurant in Barcelona
- 2018: Third Michelin star at ABaC (continuously held since)
- 2020-2022: Continued operations through Covid-19 pandemic
- 2024: Three Michelin stars retained Spain Michelin Guide 2024
- 2025: Three Michelin stars retained Spain Michelin Guide 2025
- 20 February 2026: EcoFrog YouTube interview
- 2026: Three Michelin stars retained Spain Michelin Guide 2026
- 2026: ABaC, Angle and Atempo continue in Barcelona
Jordi Cruz signature style: avant-garde Catalan cuisine and theatrical presentation
Cruz’s central argument, developed across more than two decades from Estany Clar onwards, is that traditional Catalan cookery combined with avant-garde technique and theatrical plate presentation can anchor a sustained three-Michelin-star restaurant in Barcelona. The ABaC menu under Cruz since 2010 has continuously evolved, anchored in technical precision, seasonal ingredients and creative theatrical presentation, with signature dishes including the Le Petit Prince dessert.
The second defining element is the multi-restaurant Barcelona portfolio. ABaC (three Michelin stars since 2018), Angle (one Michelin star) and Atempo together represent one of the more substantial Barcelona chef-restaurateur portfolios of the past decade. The portfolio approach has anchored Cruz’s sustained presence at the front rank of modern Catalan gastronomy.
The third pillar is the sustained Spanish television presence as MasterChef Spain judge since 2014. Within the global three-Michelin-star cohort Cruz sits alongside peers including Martin Berasategui, Elena Arzak and Pedro Subijana as one of the defining figures in modern Spanish gastronomy.
Notable Jordi Cruz work
Several Cruz projects have become reference points in modern Catalan gastronomy. ABaC Restaurant Barcelona (executive chef since 2010, three Michelin stars since 2018) is his defining operation. Angle Barcelona (opened 2015, one Michelin star) and Atempo Barcelona (opened 2017) extend his Barcelona portfolio. The MasterChef Spain judge role since 2014 anchors his television profile. The Le Petit Prince dessert is one of his most-recognised signature dishes. The 20 February 2026 EcoFrog YouTube interview is his most recent international interview.
Jordi Cruz awards and recognition
- 2002: First Michelin star at Estany Clar Cercs at age 24
- 2010: Becomes executive chef at ABaC Restaurant Barcelona
- 2012: Second Michelin star at ABaC
- 2014: Joins MasterChef Spain as judge on TVE
- 2015: Opens Angle restaurant Barcelona
- 2017: Opens Atempo restaurant Barcelona
- 2018: Third Michelin star at ABaC
- 2024: Three Michelin stars retained Spain Michelin Guide 2024
- 2025: Three Michelin stars retained Spain Michelin Guide 2025
- 20 February 2026: EcoFrog YouTube interview
- 2026: Three Michelin stars retained Spain Michelin Guide 2026
Jordi Cruz impact on modern Catalan gastronomy
Cruz’s most concrete contribution is the three-Michelin-star elevation of ABaC Restaurant in 2018 and the continuous three-star retention since. Under Cruz’s leadership ABaC has become one of the defining Barcelona three-star restaurants of the late 2010s and 2020s, alongside the broader portfolio of Catalan three-star restaurants.
The second contribution is the multi-restaurant Barcelona portfolio across ABaC, Angle and Atempo, which together represent one of the more substantial Barcelona chef-restaurateur portfolios of the past decade. The MasterChef Spain judge role since 2014 cement his sustained Spanish television profile.
The third contribution is the avant-garde Catalan cuisine approach with theatrical presentation. Within the global three-Michelin-star cohort Cruz sits alongside peers including Martin Berasategui, Elena Arzak and Pedro Subijana as one of the defining figures in modern Spanish gastronomy.
Jordi Cruz FAQ
Does ABaC have three Michelin stars?
Yes. ABaC Restaurant in Barcelona has retained three Michelin stars in the 2025 and 2026 editions of the Spain Michelin Guide. The restaurant earned its third Michelin star in 2018 and has held three stars continuously since then under Cruz as executive chef.
What is Le Petit Prince?
Le Petit Prince is one of Cruz’s most-recognised signature desserts at ABaC, a creative and theatrical dessert presentation that has become a defining moment of the ABaC tasting menu. The dish exemplifies Cruz’s avant-garde Catalan approach combining technical precision with theatrical presentation.
How young was Cruz at his first Michelin star?
Twenty-four. Cruz earned his first Michelin star at Estany Clar in Cercs in 2002 at age 24, becoming at the time the youngest Spanish chef to earn a Michelin star and one of the youngest globally. The early-career Michelin star established him at the front rank of modern Catalan gastronomy.
What is Angle?
Angle is Cruz’s one-Michelin-star Barcelona restaurant, opened in 2015. The restaurant continues to operate alongside ABaC and Atempo as part of his Barcelona portfolio, and is widely recognised as one of the leading one-Michelin-star Barcelona restaurants of the past decade.
Is Cruz on MasterChef?
Yes. Cruz has been a judge on MasterChef Spain on TVE since 2014, more than a decade. The role is his sustained Spanish television presence alongside his Barcelona restaurant operations, and is one of the most-watched Spanish chef-television roles of the past decade.
What is next for Jordi Cruz
ABaC, Angle and Atempo continue in Barcelona through 2026 with three Michelin stars at ABaC. MasterChef Spain judge role continues. His public Instagram (@jordicruzoficial) is the best source for current updates.
