Have You Been To Sevilla, The Spanish Themed Restaurant at The Claridges

In this blog post, I unveil Chef Jordi Guillem's new menu at Sevilla, the Spanish themed restaurant at The Claridges, New Delhi.

A visit to Sevilla was long overdue! Much like its namesake city Seville, the capital of southern Spain's Andalusia region, Sevilla the Spanish themed restaurant at The Claridges, New Delhi, charms and seduces in equal measure with its varied Mediterranean cuisine that draws influences from Romania, Morocco, Italy, and Spain.

The restaurant's Moorish past has just been given a new flourish with an extensive, delicious fare courtesy Chef Jordi Guillem, who brings with him a vast experience of the hospitality industry with successful culinary trips around Europe, America, and Asia.

During his long voyage, Chef Jordi has worked in Michelin starred restaurants like Sant Marti Sarroca in Barcelona and Elizabeth Restaurant in Chicago.

On March 16, I had the rare privilege of sampling an elaborate new menu curated by Chef Jordi at Sevilla, the Spanish themed restaurant inside The Claridges, New Delhi. The Chef's Table menu comprised of a three-course meal which started with a pairing of Spanish wines (Campo Viejo Rioja Tempranillo (Red) and Campo Viejo Rioja Tempranillo White) with several rounds of Tapas, followed by an elaborate main course, and finally ending with an array of delectable desserts.

The evening started with a serving of Olive Oil Candle with Vegetable Sausage (a. k. a. Sobrasada in Spanish). When you light this candle, the heat of the flame melts the 'edible' wax (olive oil) near the wick. You can then consume the semi-liquid wax together with the sourdough bread, which tastes so freakin' good. I loved the unique and somewhat unusual pairing of these two delectable Spanish appetizers.

The Fried Steamed Bread with Leek and Mushroom was so good that I actually requested the chef to share its recipe.

Another highlight was the Bread Airbag with Tomato Puree and Ham. A Spaniard friend of mine, who shared the same table, compared this dish to our very own Panipuri. Although the analogy was not exact, I couldn't have agreed more!

I also enjoyed the Stewed Gigot Lamb with Mediterranean Spices and Potato, and the Panko Coco crumbed Prawns with Romesco sauce.

While tapas are a gourmet exploration in itself, I was totally blown away with the Puree of Root Vegetables. This was followed by the delicious Pumpkin Risotto White Manchego Cheese.

Complementing the captivating fine-dining surroundings, the Chef with painstaking attention to detail came up with a wide selection of outstanding main course dishes such as Lamb Chops with Smashed Turnip and Apple, Pip-pil Cod with Parmentier Smashed Potatoes, and Vegetables Zarzuela Sauce. My favorite though was the Roasted Duck Breast with Fresh Cherry Sauce.

Spanish food is full of flavor and character, but if you want a real taste of Spain's culinary culture, you just can't afford to miss the desserts. With The Sunset, Chef Jordi played the last ace up his sleeve using mango, cocoa, Curacao, and yogurt. Seemed like he saved the best for last!

The soft candlelight and a select list of exclusive wines created the mood and occasion for an exceptional evening of intimacy.

Suffice to say, time spent with Chef Jordi at Sevilla was an ode to culinary perfection, an ode to bonhomie, and an ode to luxury … Meet the talented and experienced Chef Jordi Guillem and his talented colleague Chef Sandra Marlene from 15th to 30th March at Sevilla, and allow them to take you to a gastronomical journey to taste the flavors of Spain!