Saturday, February 28, 2009

Guggenheim Bilbao

This post references the gastronomic restaurant inside the tremendous and breath taking Guggenheim Bilbao...its run by the famed and Michelin starred Martin Berasategui who has installed a terrific young chef named Josean Alija.

This place overlooks the river and was pretty well booked out the night we were there in Mid February.  We took the earliest reservation offered at 9 pm and our party of four opted for the tasting menu entitled:

Creation, Freedom and Tendencies

Cucumber impregnated with vegetable drops, melon sauteed with mint, all seasoned with kafir, cardamon and grapefruit

Roasted Red Endives soaked in a shellfish and cardamon stock, with a smooth orange blossom flavored grapefruit cream

Roasted aubergine flavored with makil goxo, based on  a yogurt emulsion, Farga olive(reputed to be from 1000 year old trees)

Roasted Fish on a wild garlic juice with Ballobar capers and lemon herb

Iberian Pork piece, honey, marinated potato

Baker esperiega apple gnocchi on whipped cheese with green cardamon and cinnamon ice cream

An unusual finale  entitled "Use your Hands"  which had a coffee textured toasted beer ice cream, orange skin confit with orange blossom

Service was absolutely terrific.   Some molecular gastronomic touches with the added bonus of a magical expanding napkin and a little bit of theater with a solitary leather gloved bread service that made me think of Michael Jackson.

Not a single missed note....expect great press and Michelin recognition soon for Josean.

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