Monaco: the Iberian fantasies of Sergi Arola | Gilles Pudlowski’s blog
When a great Iberian chef arrives in Monaco, Alain Angenost, our correspondent for the Côte d’Azur, is there…
For the past month, Intempo, the main restaurant of the Méridien Beach Plaza, has taken on the colors of Spain, becoming : Intempo by Sergi Arola. Catalan media “rock star” chef, trained by big names including Ferrán Adriá and Pierre Gagnaire, twice starred for twenty years in his eponymous Madrid restaurant, Sergi Arola is at the origin of merging culinary concepts that he has exported in major gourmet cities from Madrid and Barcelona, Paris, Istanbul, Sao Paulo and Abu Dhabi.
Manuel de Vasconcelos, CEO of the Méridien Beach Plaza, and Laurent Colin, its executive chef, sought to give an original identity to the Intempo with regard to all that was offered in the Principality, between Italy, Greece, Peru, Japan and China . They have integrated an enticing menu that Alexandre Lamberet, chef of Intempo, is responsible for simmering cheerfully with his brigade. On the program: exquisite plates to share with Mediterranean and Catalan touches skilfully combined with local land and sea products.
We are quickly conquered by this joyful and traveling delicacy which delights with mimosa of crab meat, heart of home-smoked Borvo salmon with its horseradish foam, asparagus tempura with Romesco sauce and batatas bravas, these typical tapas Spanish stuffed potatoes, Arola style. Same for the shrimp sautéed in bisque and especially the surprising and delicious lobster rice, which is, without a doubt, by way of a subtle and tasty shellfish paella, the house’s piece of bravery. And among the wood-fired grilled meats, hats off to the whole sea bass cooked in the Josper charcoal oven, accompanied by an asadillo of piquillo-style red peppers.
As for desserts, the pastry chef Julien Beaulieu also plays in the tapas register, such as the pavlova with red fruits and light lemon cream, and the crispy milk chocolate, grilled almond turrón and homemade whipped cream. To lick your fingers. The valiant service is led jointly by Antonio Fochi and Dominique Milardi, president of the Monegasque sommeliers, relayed by Jonathan Durante who manages a wine list featuring a wide range of vintages from around the world. In preparation for the start of the school year in September, a formula for the weekend around paella. So, ” buen provencho ya you salud ! »
The Intempo “by Sergi Arola” at the Méridien Beach Plaza Hotel
22 Princess Grace Avenue
98000 Monte Carlo
Such : +377 93 15 78 88
Map : 75€
Hourly : 12:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. 7 p.m. 11 p.m.
Weekly closing: always open
To place : www.lintempo.com