Tribute to koschina – Vila Joya celebrates 30 years of Michelin stars
Sustaining the uninterrupted sheen of a Michelin star over decades is a rare feat, but one that Vila Joya has accomplished with flying colours. In November, the iconic Algarve venue celebrated this extraordinary milestone with a unique edition of its gastronomic festival, Tribute to Koschina, a glittering homage to chef Dieter Koschina, guardian of fine flavours and a leading figure in European haute cuisine.
Sustaining the uninterrupted sheen of a Michelin star over decades is a rare feat, but one that Vila Joya has accomplished with flying colours.
In a celebration where cuisine intertwined with art, irreverence and the liquid poetry of Algarve evenings, a distinguished ensemble of chefs came together, collectively boasting some 30 Michelin stars – a perfect symbol for the occasion.
Two of the four nights of the event were handed over to two iconic names: Edip Sigl, from the es:senz* restaurant near Munich, and Vincent Crepel, former chef at Terre** in the United Kingdom. Sigl presented a clean, rigorous cuisine with surgical precision; Crepel brought a cosmopolitan energy with a modern vibe – two distinct approaches within the same language of haute cuisine.
Vila Joya also opened its doors for a relaxed evening dedicated to liquid alchemy, under the moniker ‘The Bar is the Star’. With the creative direction of Nathan Otten, the celebration revolved around signature cocktails designed as a starting point for a gastronomic sequence tailored to the rhythm of each drink – a hedonistic symphony that seemed to echo the bohemian spirit immortalised by Humphrey Bogart.
The unexpected presence of Harley-Davidsons in the gardens of the property [...] and the menus planned down to the finest detail reinforced the curatorial and artistic character of the celebration.
The festival’s visual identity also took centre stage. Highlights among the various creations designed for the tribute included an ephemeral work by Vhils, created exclusively for the event: a portrait of Koschina that immediately became the major visual icon of this edition. The unexpected presence of Harley-Davidsons in the gardens of the property, the tables designed especially for each night and the menus planned down to the finest detail reinforced the curatorial and artistic character of the celebration – an integral part of the very soul of Vila Joya.
The festival climaxed with the inevitable gathering: “Koschina & Friends”, a lunch that brought together some of the greatest names in contemporary gastronomy to celebrate the maestro and his unswerving philosophy - “Flavour, Flavour, Flavour”. Among those present were: Peter Knogl (Cheval Blanc*), Marco Zampese (Hélène Darroze at The Connaught*), Jan Hartwig (JAN*), Jacob Jan Boerma (formerly De Leest*), Benjamin Chmura (Maison Tantris), Stefan Heilemann (Widder), Benoît Sinthon (Il Gallo d’Oro), Rui Paula (Casa de Chá da Boa Nova), Ricardo Costa (The Yeatman**) and Florian Pansin (Saisons**). Together, they transformed the moment into an ode to the camaraderie and respect that Koschina has inspired for decades.
The presence of long-standing customers, who had come back especially for the occasion, lent the celebration an intimate, almost family-like atmosphere, underlining the emotional bond that many have with this gastronomic retreat.
The festival climaxed with the inevitable gathering: “Koschina & Friends”, a lunch that brought together some of the greatest names in contemporary gastronomy […]
Tribute to Koschina thus reaffirmed Vila Joya’s place on the international scene: an enclave where rigour, consistency and creativity coexist with a unique sense of beauty and hospitality. Considered one of the most prestigious boutique hotels in Europe, the property cultivates a rare style of hospitality – cosy, attentive and deeply connected to its origins.
Text: Editorial Team
Photos: Vasco Célio & Filipe Farinha/STILLS.pt