Dani García: "Eating a mixed sandwich made incredibly well is also luxury"

Gastronomy

Dani García in his new restaurant, at the five-star Four Seasons.

Oscar Romero

The Andalusian chef tells about Dani, the luxury brasserie located on the top floor of the exclusive Four Seasons Madrid hotel that has just opened its doors

It is an eclectic and informal proposal, with "haute cuisine connotations" that avoids corsets.

With independent access to the seventh floor of the hotel, it has a terrace with spectacular views of the capital

It is not that

(Marbella, 1975) has gained momentum in recent months, it is that the momentum brings it as standard.

At least it looks like it.

Restless and almost hyperactive, the soul and body of BiBo (Madrid, Marbella, Tarifa and Doha), Lobito de Mar (Marbella and Madrid) and Leña (opened last June in Marbella, where Dani García Restaurante was located, closed in 2019, at year of obtaining the three Michelin stars) has had an intense week.

On Monday the 21st, the Great Mediterranean Family started in the capital, its food delivery service that will soon arrive in Barcelona and Marbella, and today, Friday the 25th,

: an elegant

A touch in the gastronomic and (almost) in the physical, because the new space of the Andalusian chef and businessman is located

.

The first branch in Spain of this Canadian hotel chain is part of

a luxury macro-complex that brings together seven historic buildings in the capital, all rehabilitated and recovered to become a benchmark for avant-garde leisure and tourism and whose first phase has just been completed. be inaugurated after seven years of works.

Dani's terrace offers spectacular views of the city.Ó.R.

THE IDEA

How did Dani come about?

"Some time ago, when the promoters of the complex presented the project to us, we liked it and, when they confirmed that Four Seasons was going to manage it, we liked it even more.

and I have to say that I am tremendously happy for the choice; they could have brought

In that sense I feel privileged ", explains Dani García.

The opening takes place just when clouds of possible closures of bars and restaurants hang over Madrid, however, the Marbella chef

.

"We must not go thinking that we are going to open today and close tomorrow. If we have to close, we will, we must not go head butting. I am not saying it only for Dani, but in general. Energy must be lost in doing things the best possible, in

. Reality prevails, it puts you in your place and you have to play with it in the most sensible way possible and without letting frustration eats you, "he says.

Interior of the restaurant.Ó.R.

ECLECTIC PROPOSAL

And the reality is Dani, a dining room that fits the concept of the

.

"As my mother used to say, you have to put the eggs in different baskets. We like to work for McDonald's, for La Gran Familia, for BiBo, Lobito or Leña ... And we also like to set up

that, in addition, fit with our vision of what this type of restaurant should be: a

proposal

, with menus that satisfy both the customer staying at the hotel and the Madrilenian diner, the

or the people who follow us, "Garcia specifies.

This is, an extensive menu, in which creativity, technique, avant-garde and traditional Andalusian recipes coexist

and

.

Green gazpacho, nitro tomato and shrimp tartare, one of the Andalusian chef's icons.Ó.R.

From updated classics like Dani's Tortilla (with caramelized onion and blu di bufala cheese);

Dani's César (with smoked sardines, chicken, Parmesan and almonds);

Dani's Burger Rossini (with old beef and Iberian secret with foie gras) or tuna sirloin (with Cádiz onion, celery and red sorrel) to

in the culinary history of the Marbella chef and his Dani García Restaurant.

"In the menu

:

, such as nitro tomato with green gazpacho, anchovy with truffle, eel, and, above all, some of the

, the one

,

says.

WITHOUT CORSETS

Although in the proposal there are pieces that due to their value and gastronomic recognition could be part of an anthology, Dani's menu is not.

"In the end, you try to cover all the gaps. On the one hand,

who, just like

trying

a hamburger or pasta, can eat, without being part of a 16-pass tasting menu,

, like the can of caviar with tarragon that we had a season or the nitro tomato. Or why not finish with a grilled meat.

", argues.

Tuna sirloin with onion, another must.Ó.R.

The common thread of the concept runs away from corsets: "If I came here,

Why can't it? Why are we corseted when we go to a restaurant? dining room? ", reflects García.

And he continues: "

For me there are more things: the dishes, the atmosphere, the service, the light ... Everything that happens around a restaurant. In a luxurious setting, they bring me a sandwich with a good ham, a good melted cheese, a good toasted butter, crunchy, melting ..., I don't need the caviar to arrive, because eating an incredibly made mix there Well, it is also luxury. And that is our vision and that's what we are going for in Dani: that you eat

THE MADRILEÑO SKYLINE

The place has an

, directly to the seventh floor, to the sky of Madrid, since its roof terrace offers

.

"I do not know all the terraces in Madrid, but I doubt that there is a better one than this. It is brutal and

", ventures the Andalusian chef.

In terms of decoration, the place is committed to a colonial interior design (by the

, one of the great international designers of restaurants and hotels), where green, yellow and certain red elements predominate that provide warmth and harmony to the establishment.

Carrot tartare with EVOO caviar and sunflower seeds.Ó.R.

As for the

. They are very skilled and very good people, because not everyone enters this hotel chain that is at the top of the pyramid. Their team is brutal, even so, for a month and a half, two members of our group will accompany them in the kitchen:

, chef de cuisine at Dani García three stars, and

, our R&D director, "he says.

At the head of the room is

, with a long history in restaurants -such as Alma, the Lisbon star with two Michelin stars- and in other European headquarters of the hotel chain.

The liquid proposal, directed by the renowned sommelier

, exceeds 400 references, with special vintages and signature labels;

a varied selection of wines by the glass of the main Spanish DOs, champagnes, cavas ... Without forgetting a careful cocktail menu, by

, one of the best bartenders in the world.

DANI A SECAS

Although other names were considered for the restaurant,

.

"I think they

, and I think that Dani embodies who we are deep down, because in essence they are our dishes in their purest form."

A very personal and exclusive "something".

"Of course, deep down they [Four Seasons] have the exclusivity of

. In the end, they have something that nobody has and I think there is nothing more exclusive than, for example, nitro tomato ", he points out.

The burger offer is varied.

It is difficult for Dani García to feel successful, not even looking at his present from the top of the Four Seasons is totally satisfied, because "there is still much to do.

. What gambling dens work for us , yes, but I want them to continue doing it next year and the next and the next ... For that reason, I am never satisfied. We are happy about how we are doing, but not confident. We have to continue day by day and there is to give everything ".

And now it's time to do it in this luxurious,

brasserie

, close,

and informal that "includes the proposal of the two-star Dani García and some dishes with which we arrive at three. place where you can have a truffle stuffed chicken or a lobster salad with nitro popcorn at reasonable and reasonable prices and also a hamburger or pasta.

, without a doubt. "

Dani.

Sevilla, 3. Telf .: 91 088 33 33. It opens from Monday to Sunday with food service (from 12 a.m. to 4 p.m.), dinner (from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.) and bar (from 12 a.m. to 12 p.m.).

Average price: 70-80 euros.

Old cow tartar

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