Lasarte - seven 3* in one week

The final stop of this gastronomique journey took me to Lasarte where Paolo Casagrande upholds the 3* standard set by Martín Berasategui.

I substituted the risotto listed below for a beet and caviar risotto, and remarked to Chef Paolo, "Does Mauro Colagreco know about this?" Chef Colagreco being the one who spread beet + caviar around the world.

A menu to take home was not presented at the end of the meal, and service was exceptionally formal. Although the surroundings were quite luxe and invited a power crowd to dine.

The foie gras and eel mille-feuille among the snacks stood out. This "pressing" in to a cozy sandwich kept with the theme of feeling luxurious.

The sweetbreads were among the best I've had. Tender and glazed, coconut milk provided a cool and subtle contrast. Quite a unique and worthwhile combination.

You'll also notice the five "shades" of butter, which I could tell was a substantial investment. However, getting accompanying bread was a bit of challenge, both literally and figuratively, trying to figure out which bread to have with which course.

The risotto, completely different from Chef Mauro's invention, was the perfect consistency. The vibrant colours on the plate translated to the palate. Definitely worth the substitution!

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