Tappa Madre, Korea's First Officially Certified 'Spanish Restaurant'

The First Certification Case Among Domestic Restaurants

Amigo Group's ‘TAPA MADRE’ has been selected as the first ‘Spanish Restaurant’ officially certified by the Spanish government among domestic restaurants.

Guillermo Kirkpatrick, the Ambassador of Spain to Korea, is presenting the 'Restaurants from Spain' certificate to Park Jeongmi, CEO of Amigo Group and representative of the Spanish restaurant 'Tappa Madre,' at the Spanish Ambassador's residence in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 26th. Photo by Kang Jinhyung aymsdream@

On the morning of the 26th, the Embassy of Spain in Korea held a certificate awarding ceremony for the ‘Restaurants from Spain’ certification at the Spanish Ambassador’s residence in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and presented the certificate to Park Jeong-mi, CEO of Amigo Group and TAPA MADRE. The ceremony was attended by Guillermo Kirkpatrick de la Vega, Ambassador of Spain to Korea, and Dario Saez, Economic and Commercial Counselor, among others.

The Spanish Restaurant certification is a program developed and operated by the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade (ICEX) to promote and publicize Spanish culinary culture through food and wine. Certificates are awarded to Spanish restaurants worldwide that pass strict quality standards. According to the Embassy of Spain in Korea, the certification process is based on quantitative evaluation scores of the restaurant’s identity, culinary offerings, experience and capabilities, communication, and promotion, adhering to the principles of objectivity, practicality, and transparency.

Guillermo Kirkpatrick de la Vega, Ambassador of Spain to Korea, said, “This certification is highly significant as it is only granted to restaurants that meet the Spanish government’s certification standards,” and added, “We hope that efforts to maintain continuous quality will be made so as not to contradict the purpose of this certification.”

Park Jeong-mi, CEO of Amigo Group, who received the certificate, said, “Since our founding in 2016, there have been many difficult moments, but it feels like all those days of persevering with the memory of being captivated by Spanish food and wine are now being rewarded at once.” She added, “With the ICEX certification as a milestone, we will continue to develop with a sense of mission to spread Spanish culinary culture in Korea, not just as a simple restaurant.”

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