Contraste Milan

 Enjoyable mind game in Milan

Strawberry and tuna sauce Creme brulée with figs and foie gras Sardines "in saor"

The like of Fat Duck by Heston and El Bulli by Ferran Adrià has put molecular gastronomy cuisine on the map more than 15 years ago. Back then it was grand breaking and turned the dining experience into a fantasy journey and not just a dinner. Fast forward to 2023, such cuisine become common in many parts of the fine dining world but has also lost the hype it used to command. At the end of the day, is it just gimmicks? Contraste in Milan doesn't offer many clues when you check its website, and it does feel like you put your trust in the kitchen team to deliver a tasting menu that is full of surprises.

Andrea Aprea Milan

Contemporary food art in Milan

Tomato, basil and burrata

Chef Andrea Aprea held 2 Michelin stars back in the days when he was the executive chef for VUN hotel in Milan. In late 2022, he fulfilled his dream of having his very own restaurant, launched within an art museum on the top floor of the Luigi Rovati Foundation. Within the space of half a year since opening, the restaurant got a Michelin star to its name, something truly amazing. The restaurant space itself is also impressive, with an open kitchen on display in front of very few tables (about 16 covers), yet it has close to 25 staff for one service. There is 3 menu to pick from, a 4, 6 and 8 menu, but all have their very own dishes without overlapping.

Osteria Conchetta Milan

Traditional Milano cuisine with a twist

Handcut Mangaliza ham aged 24 months

Whenever I visit Italy, eating at a local traditional restaurant is a must as those venues can be just as amazing as fine ding venues. I picked Osteria Conchetta mostly based on the restaurant is not too far from my hotel, but just from looking online, the offering is really exciting with plenty of great reviews. Good ham, rice, and meat dishes, all sound wonderful to me. What caught my eye is the restaurant's take on risotto, besides all the classic Northern Italian ways of cooking rice, Osteria Conchetta's signature is creamy rice cooked in a giant Grana Padano cheese wheel with vodka. 

Saddle Madrid

Classic yet classy

Mediterranean red prawn, tartare with its own coral and garlic

Saddle in Madrid position itself as a classic contemporary fine-dining restaurant, with a high degree of respect for traditional cooking concepts, with a touch of modern elements in the mix. Classic is a classic for a reason, the reason it lasts so long is down to the sheer popularity and taste. Looking at Saddle's menu, it does has a feel of a traditional vibe with its food offering, with dishes such as buttered dove sole and steak tartare served tableside. I like what I see as when classic dishes are done well, it is hard to beat.

Restaurante Gaytán Madrid

Kitchen theater in Madrid 

Canapes

Gaytan in Madrid has the kind of hipster feel written all about it. Located in the northern part of Madrid in a residential zone. Hidden within a crowd of old flats with hardly any branding at the front. However, once you step inside, you look at one of the edgiest restaurants with a well-designed space. All the tables are surrounding the open kitchen, where the chefs become the central point of the restaurant, this goes beyond the trendy kitchen counter concept and takes it to another level. Gaytan offers ALC lunch time and a tasting menu in the evening.