A blue house, a discreet door and a world of flavors. On the facade, a gold plate announces: there is the Celebration . Those who observe carefully notice other plaques gleaming below – there are eight awards proudly displayed on the wall, the first evidence that an experience, at least special, is about to begin.
Under the command of the chef Jaime Rodriguez the celebration runs away from the conventional. Unlike most restaurants present in rankings, and it proudly occupies the 6th position of the 50 best restaurants in Latin America – here There is no tasting menu . The choice was made by the chef a few years ago to make the experience more accessible, welcoming and democratic : Customers can share dishes in the center of the table or simply order a main course accompanied by a drink.
But accessibility does not mean less sophistication – quite the contrary. Each CELETE CREATION IS A TRUE Passport for flavors and Aroma Colombian aromas combining technique, local identity and affection. More than a meal, the restaurant provides a Unique Cultural Immersion in Cartagena connecting visitors to the richness of native ingredients and the stories of the region.
For Jaime and his team, valuing local ingredients goes far beyond following a trend: it is a way to celebrate roots, territories and knowledge. Each fork is a culinary manifesto that extols the pride of being Colombian honor ancestral traditions and highlight small producers and ingredients often forgotten or underestimated in everyday life.
Here you will not find caviar or imported ingredients that dominate tasting menus around the world. Instead, get ready for a Caipira chicken served in the center of the table accompanied by an intense broth with Bananas baked in coconut oil and fried banana peels . Or one Caribbean flower salad with rich cashew cream. Or even the Fresh tuna with mango and mayo flower – A dish that translates the fusion between technique and territory. The drink menu follows the same premise and it is worth proven.
Each creation arrives at the table in handcrafted dishes made by women in the region, adding another layer of authenticity to the experience. Aesthetics, by the way, is an essential part of the ritual: the dishes are finished with flowers, textures and colors that visually narrate the richness of Colombian Caribbean .
It is a complete sensory journey-which touches the taste, vision, smell and memory-but never loses focus: the deep appreciation of the ingredient and the land from which it comes.
Project that surpasses the walls of your kitchen
The chef Jaime Rodríguez is the founder of Caribbean Project Lab And, for over 14 years, has been going through the Colombian territory researching the gastronomic culture and biodiversity of the country. Without giving up indigenous, African, Spanish and Arab influences – which form the historical and cultural base of Colombian cuisine – the restaurant Celebration in Cartagena, builds its dishes from native ingredients Colombian Caribbean . This choice strengthens the regional economy and generates a direct impact on farmers, fishermen, artisans and small producers. The restaurant acts simultaneously as a cooking research center and a platform fair trade, sustainability and social transformation .
The use of local ingredients is also a tool for change lives in the communities involved . Many of the inputs used – as Orejero, Algarrobo, ñame, corn, sesame, cassava, cashews, hibiscus flower, pacay, cocoa and several varieties of pepper – come from the region of Montes de María about three hours from Cartagena. Thanks to the performance of the Caribbean Lab, more than 100 families were directly benefited and about 200 began to cultivate sustainably finding a new source of income. Previously forgotten, discarded or used ingredients as an animal feed, as Pomarrosa, Candia, Cañandonga, Moringa, Diabolines, Chirrinchi, Guaguao and chipacorinas were rescued and incorporated into a new culinary repertoire.
Celele also offers local training, teaching how collect, transform and conserve these foods, transforming producers into Guardians of Biodiversity and Colombian ancestral cuisine .
Celebration : CALLE DEL SPIRIT HOLY CAR 10C #29-200 BARRIO GETSEMANI, Cartagena das Indias-Colombia / Tel.: (57) 3017420389 / Reservations via website, Click here.
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The Post Celebra is more than a restaurant: it is the soul of the Colombian Caribbean at the Appeared First on CNN Brazil V&G table.
Source: CNN Brasil
Johanna Foster is an expert opinion writer with over 7 years of experience. She has a reputation for delivering insightful and thought-provoking articles on a variety of subjects. Her work can be found on some of the top online news websites, and she is currently lending her voice to the world stock market.
