Xabier Gutiérrez (San Sebastian, 1960) is a chef, psychologist and writer. He is head of the department of innovation in the Restaurante Arzak in San Sebastian and also contributes to various media organs, in addition to acting as a consultant to companies in the food sector and teaching on the Masers in Innovation and Restaurant Management course at the Basque Culinary Centre. He has published twelve cookbooks and five essays on culinary aesthetics. Ten of his works have received such prestigious prizes as the Best World Cookbook Award and the Premio Nacional de Gastronomía. El aroma de crimen is his first novel.