maria marte
6 june 2024

barrafina invita 06: maria marte

Following the sold-out success of the inaugural Barrafina Invita series, Barrafina is proud to announce the upcoming edition of the quarterly series showcasing the breadth and quality of Spanish cooking from all over Spain and the rest of the world, in partnership with Gin Mare.

The first guest chef in the series is María Marte, who in 2018 became the only woman in Spain and the entirety of Latin America at the time to achieve two Michelin stars while helming a kitchen. Her work at El Club Allard in Madrid, for which she achieved the prestigious stars, was career-defining and cemented her as one of the best, and most inspirational, female chefs in the world.

Born in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic, María moved to Spain in 2003 to pursue her dream of becoming a chef. She joined El Club Allard as a kitchen porter, before quickly rising through the ranks of the kitchen and becoming sous chef just three years after she arrived, and head chef in 2013.

Since returning to the Dominican Republic in 2018, María has established the María Marte Foundation, opening a cooking school for young women in her hometown, and more recently, launched Flavour Fusion, a festival promoting social inclusion and the sharing of culture, traditions, and customs. Their mission: ‘To infuse the Latin culture through the art of gastronomy while engaging and educating non-Latin communities about our culture’.

Marrying culinary flair with a profound respect for her native ingredients, Maria Marte is ushering in a new era of Dominican cuisine. The £85 tasting menu will include:

Appetisers

Cassava cake, quail egg, truffle foam

Sweet potato crisp with stewed cod

Entrée

Chilled lobster salad with mango guacamole

Sweet potato cream with herring caviar

Main courses

Seasonal fish with coconut sauce

‘Asado Negro’ (Angus beef) with sweet plantain and crispy rice

Dessert

Hibiscus flower with pisco sour foam & pistachio crumble

Bizcocho with coconut ice-cream

Barrafina Invita sees Barrafina’s Executive Chefs, Antonio Gonzales Milla and Francisco Jose Torrico, invite the best Spanish chefs or chefs cooking Spanish food, over to cook a special menu at Barrafina Borough Yards. Previous guest chefs include Jordi Bross of San Sebastián’s celebrated two-Michelin starred Mugaritz, Borja Marrero of MuXgo in Gran Canaria and Miguel Caño of one-Michelin starred Riojan restaurant, Nublo.

María Marte will be cooking a special set menu at Barrafina Borough Yards on the evening of 6th June. The experience is priced at £85 and includes a Gin Mare welcome drink and set menu.