The finest cuisine and Fagor Professional Food Service worked hand in hand at Japan Connection

2026.02.25

Madrid January 19th: Fagor Professional Food Service hosted Japan Connection.

A unique gastronomic event that transformed the Hugo Chan restaurant into a space for culinary exchange, technique, and precision.

The event brought together two leading figures in contemporary cuisine: Chef Samuel Naveira and Chef Hugo Muñoz, who were the main characters of this incredible night.

Hugo Muñoz, an engineer by training, discovered early on that his true calling lay in the kitchen. He trained alongside renowned chefs such as Salvador Gallego, Ricardo Sanz (Kabuki*), and Abraham García (Viridiana).

He consolidated his international experience in London (Zuma), and led gastronomic projects in large groups like Larrumba and Carbón Negro. The opening of Hugo Chan represents the culmination of his own journey: a signature cuisine that pays homage to Madrid through Japanese sensibility. The restaurant's name—Ugo Chan, "Little Hugo"—is a personal nod to the nickname his grandfather used for him, the emotional origin of his connection to Japan.

Samuel Naveira trained in some of the most prestigious restaurants in Spain and France: Cocinandos* (León), El Ermitaño* (Benavente), La Candela Resto* (Madrid), Kena (Madrid), Kori (Saint-Tropez), Sergi Arola**, Albora*, and A’barra* (Madrid).

He was finalist at the Madrid Fusion 2020 Revelation Chef Award and has been recognized by The Guardian as one of the most talented young chefs in Spain. He was selected as one of the 100 young talents by the Basque Culinary Center. MU.NA has held a Michelin Star since 2020 and a Repsol Sun since 2021, in addition to accolades such as Best Restaurant in the province of León, Best Chef in Castile and León, the Aquanaria Madrid Fusion Sustainability Award, and fifth Best Restaurant in Spain at the 2025 Travellers’ Choice Awards.

During Japan Connection, both chefs collaborated on an exclusive menu that highlighted precision, balance, and creativity.

The event also served as a real-world testing ground for Fagor Professional Food Service equipment, subjected to intense paces and demanding techniques. The response was impeccable: reliability, thermal efficiency, and durability at the service of haute cuisine.

With initiatives like Japan Connection: Fagor Professional consolidates its role as an active player in the gastronomic ecosystem. The brand not only equips kitchens but also supports chefs in building their life projects, designing spaces that foster creativity, efficiency, and operational excellence.

Fagor Professional positions itself as a strategic partner of contemporary haute cuisine, fostering encounters where gastronomy becomes culture, innovation, and a shared future.