The first day of San Sebastian Gastronomika always reserves a few minutes for the opening ceremony. A solemn moment for the Homage Award, and this year the accent is English. Albeit an American English accent, because the winner is the legendary Thomas Keller.

The only American chef with three Michelin stars at two different businesses (The French Laundry, California, and Per Se, New York) will travel to San Sebastián to collect the award and report on his current status, which is similar to the status that helped make his restaurant, The French Laundry, the world's best restaurant for two years running (2003 and 2004), the second restaurant in the world to achieve this (the first was elBulli in 2002).