Teresa Gutiérrez

Teresa Gutiérrez is the owner and head chef of the restaurant Azafrán in Villarrobledo, which has been open since October 2008. Although she initially began studying Dentistry, her passion for cooking led her to change paths and train at the Valencia Hospitality School and the Avignon Hospitality School.

Her cuisine is deeply rooted in the traditions of Castilla – La Mancha, presented with a contemporary perspective and a strong focus on local ingredients such as wild mushrooms, Manchego lamb, La Mancha sheep cheeses, and small game meats. In addition to her culinary background, Teresa completed a nutrition program at Harvard Medical School in 2023 and became a certified Health Coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in 2024. She is a passionate advocate and communicator of the Mediterranean diet, with a strong commitment to the relationship between gastronomy, health, and sustainability. She is an active member of the Jeunes Restaurateurs d’Europe (JRE), and currently serves as one of its representatives in Spain. Her team at Azafrán is composed entirely of women, offering guests a distinct dining experience shaped by a unique attention to detail — neither better nor worse than mixed or male teams, simply different.

In 2019, she received the National Gastronomy Award from JRE Spain for the Best National Career in Cooking, and in June 2022, she was honoured with the European Heritage Award from JRE Europe in Stuttgart, Germany. Teresa has been invited to speak at several prestigious events, including the Worlds of Flavor 2019 conference in Napa, California, and the Tomorrow Tastes Mediterranean 2022 summit in Barcelona, organized by The Culinary Institute of America, where she shared her insights on Manchegan cuisine and regional products. She was also a contestant on the TV show Top Chef Spain in 2014 and served as a pastry instructor at the MasterChef Spain online school. She is currently the ambassador for the Protected Designation of Origin for the saffron, Azafrán de La Mancha, and the creator of the “Saffron Experience,” an event that showcases the properties and uses of this legendary spice. In 2023, she received the Culinaria Award for Female Talent and, as of May 2024, her business has been certified as “Women Owned” by WeConnect International.