Tonight's SBWFF Perrier-Jouët Bubble Q will feature a whole lot of very talented chefs, but make sure to check out whatever Mauro Colagreco is cooking up. I had the privilege of sampling his food at a Graffigna wine luncheon at the W Hotel South Beach this week, and it was one of the most dazzlingly delicious meals I've had in quite some time.
The Italian-Argentinian is chef/owner of Mirazur located in Menton, on the Côte d Azur. Within a year of opening the restaurant in 2006, Colagreco had his first Michelin star. More recently, he was named 2009 Chef of the Year by the esteemed Gault-Millau guide -- first non-French chef to nab that honor. Mirazur was also ranked among the 50 best tables worldwide. Not sure how many other Michelin chefs will be cooking up BBQ tonight, or how many worked as sous chef to Alain Passard (2003), or as demi chef de partie at the Plaza Athénée under Alain Ducasse (2004). Anyone who knows food will need no further convincing.
We'll allow the dish descriptions and photos to speak for themselves,
but I have to note that chef Colagreco redefined the oyster for me with
his opening masterpiece: Each shelled mollusk came embedded in a light
shallot cream and then wrapped in a thin sheath of ripe pear; fresh
sprigs of garden cress draped each pristine parcel. Delicate floral and
peachy notes of a Graffigna Centenario Pinot Grigio (2009) hugged the
oysters perfectly. Sadly, I don't have a photo of this one.
Langoustine with avocado in osetra caviar broth:
Pork belly with orange, lime, and wasabi sauces and braised endives --
potent flavors paired with an assertive duo of Graffigna Grand Reserve
Malbec 2006 and Graffigna Centenario Cabernet Sauvignon 2007:
Pairings
were performed by prestigious Argentine enologist Victor Marcantoni of Pernod Ricard Argentina, seen to the right of chef Colagreco in photo:
