I just found out that there will be story published in the weekly magazine of this Saturday's El Mundo paper about my dinner at Marques de Grinon.
I have no idea as to the contents but I consider it a big honour.
I am told that El Mundo is Spain's New York Times.
The dinner was for 64 people. We shopped at MercaMadrid Market for the ingredients. It is the 2nd largest fish market in the
world based on size but the 1st based on variety. We also got vegetables, meats and dry sundry from the different zone of the market.
My Sous chef, helper & I along with a friend were the only cooks. The event was held on Friday, October 30th at 930 pm. We left the hotel at the market to shop at 430am. We were told not to get rabbits and red legged partridges as they would be provided by the winery (see attached pictures)....well they were....and could not have been any fresher. (LOL) but the extreme freshness did cause our planned prep to run about 2 hours longer so a nap was out of the question. We pushed hard to get ready until about 8 minutes before showtime. We all took a "sink bath" to refresh our faces and got dressed. The people in attendance were the press from Madrid's largest 3 newspapers, the national presidents and members of the acedemia de gourmands and acedemia de vinos as well as
my brother and parents (no pressure).
as usual I did not drink during service but after enjoyed a cigar and some wine with my brother, my kitchen staff & dinner guests. The feedback I've gotten is that we have pulled of the impossible and created one of the most successful events at the winery. The pics attached are the ones that I have personally taken. There was a photographer at the events and I will forward the pictures he took of the event in the dining room.
This event has been a very special one for all of us at Restaurant Jezebel as I would have never guessed that we would actually do a wine dinner with one of my most favourite wines at the actual winery and in Spain!!!!
I have never heard of this ever happening.....and definitely not for a cook at a small, independent restaurant in Austin that does not even have a PR firm. and to think it became a reality because the export manager from the
winery actually had dinner at the restaurant in Austin.
This is a great story because it shows that in this world if you do what you love and follow your dreams......that everything is possible.
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