An unqualified success at the Hotel Mercer
" Executive Chef Xavier Lahuerta, Maître Rôtisseur, created an outstanding menu "
So that its members and their guests could celebrate World Chaîne Day together the Bailliage promised a magnificent evening in the Mercer Restaurant at the Mercer Hotel.
This 5-star boutique hotel is one of the best in the city. Given this pedigree it was a foregone conclusion that the attendees would be comfortable and that the service would be exceptional.
That the Mercer’s restaurant is one of the gastronomic spaces that count among gourmets in Spain’s second biggest city was also an excellent omen.
It was no surprise therefore that Executive Chef Xavier Lahuerta, Maître Rôtisseur, created an outstanding menu to celebrate World Chaîne Day.
To commence the evening’s fantastic gastronomy was traditional Catalan pastry “pan de coca” with anchovies, tomato and blood orange with lime and Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and fried marinated mullet.
We continued with …
- Roasted violet carrot, sour cream and chocolate mole sauce
- Atlantic scallop, duck foie in ravioli and vanilla celery
- Grilled Nebraska entrecote, Parmentier potatoes, onions
- “Sweet moment” - Cheese mousse and red berries
- Coffees and infusions
As well as Cava to get the evening off to a sparkling start, Ánima de Raimat Blanco (Tierra Alta DO) and Ramón Bilbao Rioja Crianza provided the vinous accompaniment to the courses.
The Ànima de Raimat is a fresh, creamy, fruity white wine, with some touches of citrus. It is produced by Raimat in Costers del Segre. A blend of Chardonnay, Xarel-lo and Albariño varieties, the grapes come from Raimat’s estate where sustainable viticulture, certified by the Catalan Council for Integrated Production, is practiced.
The Rioja was amazing with its aromas of fresh dark fruit, lovely ripeness and generous fruit structure.
At the end of the evening the work of all those in the kitchen and front of house was appreciated by rapturous applause. The dinner exceeded all expectations confirming that Spain’s World Chaîne Day 2019 was an unqualified success.
César Gonzalez
Chargé de Missions
Wonderful food, setting and company