Superchef Andoni Luis Aduriz is celebrating a new distinction: He recently received the prestigious Icon Award from The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Aduriz runs the famous Mugaritz restaurant in San Sebastián, in Spain’s Basque Country. This particular award aims to “celebrate an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the food world that is worthy of international recognition, and who has used their platform to raise awareness and drive positive change in the industry.” Aduriz was chosen to receive the Icon Award for his commitment to experimentation and exploration, challenging culinary beliefs, and focusing on protecting the environment within the food industry.

Said a source from The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, “For 25 years, Andoni has been pushing the boundaries of creative gastronomy at Mugaritz, consistently presenting a menu that is at times dark, thrilling and unexpected, but always exquisitely innovative. He is also one of the most influential and best-loved chefs of the 21st century to date.”

Aduriz made a name for himself by working his way up the ladder. He started at a pizzeria but went on to work at elBulli before opening Mugaritz in 1998.