Sometimes, your food should entertain you. It should combust, smoke, foam and pretty much do Olympic-level gymnastics on your plate. Well, for 32 courses, that’s just what the tasting menu at Barcelona’s Disfrutar aims to do.
The History
Disfrutar translates to “to enjoy” — a simple, succinct mission for the culinary geniuses behind this cutting-edge restaurant in Barcelona’s Eixample neighborhood. Disfrutar is the avant-garde brainchild of Mateu Casañas, Oriol Castro and Eduard Xatruch. The three chefs previously made their mark on Spain’s haute-cuisine scene through their work at the iconic El Bulli, before its closure in 2010. It’s no wonder then, that Disfrutar was created around the whimsical and imaginative molecular gastronomy that earned El Bulli three Michelin stars and made it a favorite of chefs, celebrities, and critics alike. Now, Disfrutar is following in El Bulli’s footsteps with two Michelin stars of its own.
The Restaurant
Let’s be honest. Fine dining can sometimes have an air of stuffiness and elitism. But Casañas, Castro, and Xatruch have thrown all of that out of their bright, airy windows. Immediately upon entering Disfrutar, guests are met with that warm Mediterranean hospitality that makes strangers feel like old friends. On top of that, Disfrutar features an open kitchen. So, diners can peek behind the metaphorical curtain at the restaurant’s chefs, who seem to double as artists and scientists as they create the restaurant’s experimental and interactive dishes.
The Tasting Menu
At Disfrutar, the main event is The Menu Disfrutar Classic; a sprawling 32-course extravaganza of texture and flavor that features the restaurant’s classic dishes. The tasting menu costs €295 and can easily take up to five hours to work through. It’s more like an experiential art exhibit than a meal. From the starters to the desserts, diners are presented with a series of dishes that turn everything you know about fine dining on its head and then make it do a few backflips. And don’t expect course after course to be plopped in front of you. No, a ton of the courses are actually created right before your eyes in some top-tier tableside theatre that include pouring, cracking, shaking, and fizzing.
You know the saying “I’ll believe it when I see it”? Well, at Disfrutar, you can’t even believe what you see. Think the edible teacups from Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. Transparent tubes might actually be a perfectly cooked pasta noodle. Or, a spicy red pepper might be masquerading as a decadent chocolate mousse. But the element of surprise and deception of your senses is key to the magic of Disfrutar. So, we’ll let you experience the rest for yourself. That is, if you can get a table. Reservations at Disfrutar are fully booked over a year in advance, so your best bet is crossing your fingers for a last-minute cancellation.
FAQs:
Q: How much does the tasting menu at Disfrutar cost?
A: The tasting menu at Disfrutar costs €295 ($319.40).
Q: How can I make a reservation at Disfrutar?
A: You can make a reservation at Disfrutar on their website. However, since they are fully booked up to a year in advance, most people join the waiting list and hope for a last-minute cancellation.
Q: Where is Disfrutar located?
A: Disfrutar is located at Calle Villarroel 163, 08036, Barcelona, in the city’s Eixample neighborhood.
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