The round table «What We Did For», featuring Iris Jordán and Raúl Bernal as the main speakers, marked an inspiring start to the Talent Tour 2026 in Huesca. This close and honest conversation attracted young people, students, and the general public eager to hear how two local gastronomic leaders built careers of excellence through effort, passion, and life-changing decisions.
Iris Jordán, chef and co-owner of the Ansils restaurant (located in Anciles, Huesca Pyrénées), which received a Michelin star in 2025, becoming one of the youngest chefs in Spain to achieve this distinction, and Raúl Bernal Belarra, owner of the Lapaca pastry shop in Huesca, recognized as Best Chocolate Master in Spain on two occasions, shared their personal and professional journeys for two hours. The session, part of the Conversations with Talent segment of the Tour organized by the Princess of Girona Foundation, aimed to motivate the youth on how to activate their potential in mid-sized environments like Huesca.
From precarious routines to a culinary vocation
In a fluid conversation filled with real anecdotes, both shared their humble beginnings and the key moments of reinvention. Iris Jordán recalled her first steps in wedding banquets, where her role was limited to repetitive tasks such as mashing potatoes. This discomfort drove her to change careers and write a new professional story focused on local cuisine, Pyrenean identity, and sustainability, which now defines Ansils.
Raúl Bernal shared a parallel reflection. After choosing pastry with great passion, he admitted that many times he was unaware of what he was experiencing. He spoke about the need to tip the balance towards saying «no» to numerous things in order to prioritize the project. This contrast made him value gastronomy even more. Although he acknowledged that the day-to-day life in the workshop may seem «not that much,» the opportunities—travel, experiences, cultural impact—compensate for the sacrifices.
Lessons for youth: effort, balance, and roots
The conversation, with an authentic and unfiltered tone, highlighted values such as constant effort, management of failure and success, and commitment to the community. This table demonstrated that success does not require emigrating to major capitals: it can be built from the Pyrenees or the capital of Huesca, with brave decisions and a balance between professional dedication and personal life.
Local media highlighted the session as a powerful start to the Tour, alongside robotics workshops and other activities. This event not only connected young people with nearby role models but also conveyed a clear and motivating message: the path to recognition involves making conscious choices, saying «no» to what does not add value, and learning to enjoy the process, even in tough times.
