The World’s Leading Culinary Icons Come Together in Marbella
The gorgeous Puente Romano resort played host to five superstar Chefs for the second edition of its signature gastronomic event
With over twenty leading restaurants and bars, Marbella’s Puente Romano has long been celebrated as one of Europe’s most sought-after gastronomic destinations. The luxury property, envisioned as a beautifully curated whitewashed Andalusian village-style resort, is a haven for discerning travellers and foodies alike.
Cue Culinary Icons, one of the resort’s signature annual events, which returned earlier this week for its second edition. Against a backdrop of Mediterranean sun and an audience of nearly 300 glamorous guests, Puente Romano welcomed Chefs Nobu Matsuhisa, Izu Ani, Dani García, Yiannis Kioroglou and Albert Adrià to showcase some of their most iconic dishes live on stage at La Plaza, with proceeds benefiting the humanitarian work of the Spanish Red Cross. Four of the Chefs have restaurants at the resort, including the eponymous Nobu, Dani García’s celebrated Leña, Riviera favourite La Petite Maison helmed by Yiannis Kioroglou, and Chef Izu’s Greek-Mediterranean GAIA; whilst Middle Eastern diners are very familiar with the plethora of award-winning restaurants led by Chefs Nobu Matsuhisa, Izu Ani, and Dani García throughout the region including dining hotspots in Doha, Dubai, and Riyadh.
Over the course of the afternoon, guests had the opportunity to experience live cooking demonstrations by each Chef, followed by a tasting. Chef Nobu Matsuhisa presented a moreish Tuna Tataki Tosazu and Seabass Kombujime Oshi Sushi, whilst Chef Izu Ani wowed with a delectable Salt Crusted King Crab. Chef Dani García showcased his legendary Nitro Tomato with green gazpacho and Motril shrimps, one of modern Spanish gastronomy’s most celebrated dishes; followed by a Riviera-inspired offering from Chef Yiannis Kioroglou featuring Rigatoni aux Truffes and Caviar Pissaladière. Chef Albert Adrià closed the afternoon with two desserts: the Cork Stopper, a playful creation disguised as a wine cork, and a Chocolate and Yuzu Waffle balancing richness with bright Japanese citrus. Inventive beverages were also served courtesy of SIPS Barcelona, a former recipient of the World’s Best Bar accolade, currently enjoying a three-month summer residency at Bar La Plaza.
Chef Izu Ani opened his presentation by talking about the joy of sharing food with people we love; focusing on how food can unite us by bringing us together around a table, encouraging conversations, and becoming a source of happiness. It was a sentiment that ran through the afternoon, with each Chef pouring love into their dishes and inspiring audiences with both their skill and their passion for their craft. As guests heard stories about the vision and conception behind each dish and witnessed them coming to life, they too felt swept up in the celebratory ethos of food and inspired to put some of the expertise shared into practice in their own cooking journeys.
The Chefs were welcomed to the stage by Puente Romano Marbella owner Daniel Shamoon. Having collaborated with a young Dani García in the resort’s kitchens over twenty years ago and having brought Chef Nobu Matsuhisa to Spain to open the country’s first Nobu restaurant in 2017 and hotel in 2018, Shamoon’s words reflected the genuine friendship he has with the gastronomic legends. “To see Dani bring back his Nitro Tomato, the dish he first created here in Marbella, and to watch Albert Adrià close the afternoon with dessert, was something very special,” he said following the event. “Culinary Icons started as an idea to celebrate the Chefs whose restaurants have made this resort what it is today. It keeps getting better.”
For hotel or restaurant bookings, visit www.puenteromano.com
Lead Image Credit: Yiannis Kioroglou, Dani Garcia, Daniel Shamoon, Nobu Matsuhisa, Albert Adrià and Izu Ani
All images courtesy of Puente Romano Marbella