FORGET about the typical Spanish croquette or Iberian ham. Michelin-star chef Rodrigo de la Calle will take guests on a new adventure in Spanish cuisine Tuesday and Wednesday at the Pipette French restaurant at the five-star InterContinental Hotel Shenzhen. By uniting gastronomy and botanical products, he created the “gastrobotanics” philosophy — the discovery of new species and the revival of forgotten ones. The son of a farmer from Madrid, de la Calle leaves no plant untried in his innovative cuisine. For him, meat and fish are just dressings, and the main thing is the vegetables. Under his hand, vegetables, flowers and herbs are transformed into carefully executed, vibrant plates too pretty to eat. A sampling of the refreshingly light menu: baby carrot tacos with peanut praline, beetroots with flowers, broccoli couscous with garlic mushrooms, cheesecake and citrus sorbet. More substantial options are present too — like scallop rice and seaweed with allioli, or roast pigeon with dates and iceplant — but the vegetable courses are where de la Calle gets most creative. Besides the novel, healthy and colorful dishes that make people wonder if they had been stolen from the dinner table out of a fairy tale, guests will be able to enjoy their meals accompanied by piano and guitar music performed by five Spanish artists, led by pianist and conductor Manolo Carrasco. Passionate flamenco music, choice wines and neo-Spanish dishes will create an unforgetable evening for even the most fastidious gourmets. A special event planned to mark the 10th anniversary of the Spanish-themed hotel, the meals come at a price. Each diner can expect to pay 1,300 yuan, plus a 10 percent service fee and a 6 percent tax for the five-course set dinner. Tel: (0755) 3399-3388 ext. 8581 Venue: 1/F, InterContinental Hotel Shenzhen, 9009 Shennan Boulevard, Nanshan District (南山区深南大道9009号华侨城洲际大酒店一层) (Debra Li) |