Huerto – a taste sensation in Puerto Banus
We were lucky enough to get a sneak peak inside Huerto before the doors officially open to try some of their food and we were totally blown away by what this talented team have achieved.
This is food like you will never have experienced it before, blending flavours and textures which you would never think of putting together and creating something totally exquisite. You really need to try this food to believe it and it should be top of the list for any foodie on the Costa del Sol.
All the food reflected the ethos of the restaurant which is to apply the low food-miles concept, selecting the very best, fresh, local produce to create imaginative and surprising dishes. They have found the best local producers, farmers and fishermen and want to showcase their fantastic produce in modern dishes which offer a powerful and intoxicating blend of flavours.
The Menu
It was fantastic to be given a taster menu of dishes which you may have never selected on an a la carte menu but which will surprise you and delight all your senses. We were presented with four courses of the most extraordinary food which was said to be the “best food I have ever eaten in Spain” by the food critic on our table and I certainly agree.
We started with a beautiful ceramic dish in the shape of an egg which was filled with a smoked potato puree, a slow cooked duck egg yolk, Rio Frio caviar and a piece of crispy chicken skin with lemon powder. The flavours which were combined in this simple sounding dish were unlike anything we’d tasted before and it was described as “a hug in a pot” by one of our fellow diners. This was a great way to start the meal and had everyone talking and realising that this meal was going to be something special!
This was followed by fried oysters in a creamy champagne sauce with walnuts, another unusual combination which totally worked. It was presented on stones with dry ice producing the effect of a beach scene which really brought the dish to life. I think this was probably my favorite dish of the night for the textures and flavours and the beautiful presentation.
Then came organic, grain fed fillet of beef with a rich sauce and seasonal vegetables. You could really taste the quality of the meat as the flavour was so intense and almost gamey. They had cooked it to perfection but very simply to let the quality shine through.
Finally we rounded off our sample menu with a sublime pudding of pear sorbet, a pear jelly, roasted white chocolate powder and a sorbet of toasted fennel seeds which was light, fresh and totally delicious.
This was just a small representation of what you can expect to receive at this innovative restaurant and hopefully whets your appetite to come and try it yourself. When it opens on 24th June there will be two tasting menus to choose from – 7 course taster menu (€65 per person excluding wine) or the 13 course taster menu (€130 per person excluding wine) and these will change depending upon the ingredients which are delivered by their local producers each day.
After trying the food I am convinced this will quickly become the place to eat in the area, so make sure you book your table quickly before a waiting list develops! The number to call to reserve your table is 951 087 064.