The world-famous chef and winner of 8 Michelin stars recently held a special evening at his award winning restaurant located in the Paradisus resort
The word passion can take on many meanings depending on what you are referring to. In the case of chef Martín Berasategui, it’s the name of his restaurant, located in the luxurious Paradisus Hotel on 5th Avenue and Calle 88. His restaurant, Passion, offers a menu with a mixture of local ingredients, done with great skill and imagination, and showing a high degree of technical and aesthetic accomplishment. All done with passion, of course!
The world-famous chef from the Basque region of Spain is considered one of the best in the world and has been awarded 8 Michelin stars. He was recently named as the number two chef in Le Chef magazine´s list of the top 100 chefs in the world. When I received an invitation to attend a special private dinner hosted by him, I knew that I was about to have a culinary experience of a very high level, if not the highest.
Before the dinner began, we were treated to a tasting of champagne by Moet and Chandon, with three different types to sample; a dry, a rosé and one that was chilled like a wine, while receiving a brief explanation of each. After this brief intro, it was time for the main event in the dining room.
Martín was accompanied by Maximiliano Sola, the executive chef in charge of the kitchen at Passion, and a graduate of the Argentine Institute of Gastronomy in the city of Buenos Aires. He has been with the Martín Berasategui Group since 2004 and is a key part in the operation. Throughout the dinner, he provided us with information about the various dishes via microphone.
The evening soon began, and course after course followed, accompanied by servings of wine and delivered by the well-drilled team of servers who moved with skill and precision. I was impressed by their synchronized timing in the placement and removal of dishes, as I was with the variety of flavors and tastes that were put before me. I have never seen food presented in such a manner, with small touches that turned them into miniature works of art. It was food as a form of artistic expression.
I am not accustomed to eating this way, and at the conclusion of the dinner, I was quite full. The multiple servings were deceptively small individually, but collectively adding up to a meal fit for a king. I imagined that this is how royalty would eat. This easily stands as one of the best meals I have ever had, in all aspects; the quality of food, the presentation, and the detailed attentiveness of a master who knows his art.
The chef has said, “when you do your work well, and have a good team that tries to always be the best, I feel the happiest”. Based on what I saw as a guest in his restaurant the feeling is likely to be reciprocated many times over by those who are lucky enough to eat there.
If you’d like to make reservation and experience Passion for yourself you can do so by calling 01 984 877 3900 or visiting their website: www.passionbymb.com. Or their Facebook page:
Facebook/Passion by Martín Berasategui
