BBVA Compass congratulates culinary tour partner El Celler de Can Roca for top restaurant win

HOUSTON, June 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- BBVA Compass culinary tour partner El Celler de Can Roca, owned by the famed Roca brothers, has claimed the top spot in Restaurant magazine's World's 50 Best Restaurants List.

It's the second time the Girona, Spain-based restaurant has landed at No. 1 on the prestigious list. The Roca brothers trio, all of whom are BBVA brand ambassadors, accepted the award at an awards gala Monday night in London. Joan, Josep and Jordi Roca will launch their second BBVA-sponsored gastronomic tour on August 1, and will recreate their restaurant's experience for BBVA Compass clients in Houston, Birmingham, Ala., and Miami.

"Congratulations to El Celler de Can Roca and to the innovative Roca brothers," said BBVA Compass Chairman and CEO Manolo Sanchez. "Their efforts to push the envelope and create extraordinary experiences for their clients are well aligned with the bank's mission to do the same. It is an honor to be working with them again this year."

El Celler de Can Roca was last crowned No. 1 in 2013, and has claimed one of the top two spots on the British magazine's list for the past five years. The annual event is considered one of the highest recognitions in the culinary world.

"The holy trinity of head chef Joan's thoughtful but original cooking, pastry chef Jordi's imagination-defying desserts and sommelier Josep's beautifully considered wine pairings already adds up to significantly more than the sum of its parts, before you add in a vibrant family dynamic and a deep sense of hospitality," Restaurant magazine said of the trio on its website after the 2015 award was announced.

The list is compiled based on the opinions of professional chefs, reporters and food critics from all over the world. Each region has a dedicated panel of 36 experts, headed by a chairperson.

"It was a magical moment experiencing the same feelings as two years ago," said Joan Roca. "This recognition makes us very happy, but it is above all down to our team, which is unquestionably the best in the world, and all those who have supported us all this time. We will endeavor to carry the title responsibly."

2015 BBVA-El Celler de Can Roca Tour

Over five weeks this summer, Joan, Josep and Jordi Roca, accompanied by 40 of their staff members, will serve more than 2,500 BBVA customers and guests in Buenos Aires in Argentina; Miami, Houston and Birmingham, Ala., in the U.S.; and Istanbul in Turkey. Their journey will recreate the experience from their top-rated restaurant.  

During this second edition of the tour, a total of 100,000 dishes will be served in six countries. Over the two tours in 2014 and 2015, the brothers will have traveled almost 75,000 miles, equivalent to circumnavigating the world three times.

Full information, pictures and videos on the BBVA-El Celler de Can Roca tour are available at http://elcellerdecanroca.bbva.com/en/ and via the following social networks:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CellerRocaBBVA
• Twitter: @CellerRocaBBVA
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/cellercanroca/

Success outside of the kitchen, too: Cooking Up a Tribute

At the Berlin International Film Festival in February, the Roca brothers premiered "Cooking Up a Tribute," a documentary about their 2014 tour around America. They will be filmed again this summer as they travel to and cook in Turkey. The film will again be directed by Luis Gonzalez and produced by BBVA Contenidos. Over the coming weeks, the Roca brothers will decide on the local ingredients they will feature in their Turkish dishes.

About BBVA Group
BBVA Compass is a subsidiary of BBVA Compass Bancshares Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of BBVA (NYSE: BBVA) (MAD: BBVA). BBVA is a customer-centric global financial services group founded in 1857. The Group has a solid position in Spain, is the largest financial institution in Mexico and has leading franchises in South America and the Sunbelt region of the United States. Its diversified business is geared toward high-growth markets and relies on technology as a key sustainable competitive advantage. Corporate responsibility is at the core of its business model. BBVA fosters financial education and inclusion, and supports scientific research and culture. It operates with the highest integrity, a long-term vision and applies the best practices. The Group is present in the main sustainability indexes. More information about the BBVA Group can be found at www.bbva.com.

About BBVA Compass
BBVA Compass is a Sunbelt-based financial institution that operates 672 branches, including 341 in Texas, 89 in Alabama, 77 in Arizona, 62 in California, 45 in Florida, 38 in Colorado and 20 in New Mexico, and commercial and private client offices throughout the U.S. BBVA Compass ranks among the top 25 largest U.S. commercial banks based on deposit market share and ranks among the largest banks in Alabama (2nd), Texas (4th) and Arizona (5th). BBVA Compass earned the top ranking with customers in American Banker's 2014 annual reputation survey of the top 25 largest U.S. retail banks. It also has been recognized as one of the leading small business lenders by the Small Business Administration, and its mobile app recently earned the Mobile Banking Leader in Functionality Award for the second consecutive year from Javelin Strategy & Research. Additional information about BBVA Compass can be found at www.bbvacompass.com, by following @BBVACompassNews on Twitter or visiting newsroom.bbvacompass.com. 

Editor's Note:
BBVA Compass is a trade name of Compass Bank.

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SOURCE BBVA Compass

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