Madrid He will lose this summer one of its most emblematic spaces for lovers of television gastronomy. He Masterchef restaurant, located in the number 150 of Velázquez Streetwill close its doors on July 31 after seven years in operation. The reason is none other than Roberto Franci's retirement66 -year -old Florentine businessman and owner of the premises of the premises. “It knows me fatal to have to close it. It has been a success case, both in occupation and satisfaction. In seven years we have served 500,000 peoplehalf of them from outside Madrid, ”he told El País.
The restaurant, which opened its doors in 2018was the first permanent store of the Masterchef brand in the world, beyond the ephemeral spaces that had been created in other countries. His proposal: bringing the diners iconic tive talent dishesas well as recipes with the personal seal of the jury of the program (Jordi Cruz, Pepe Rodríguez and Samantha Vallejo-Nágera). One of the most remembered elaborations was The reinterpretation of the viral 'León Come Gamba'turned into an emblem of the program after the expulsion of its author, Alberto Sempere.
Until the last day of service, the restaurant continues to offer a 63 euros tasting menu (Without drinks), with dishes such as tuna tartar with strawberry gazpacho, white asparagus with kimchi and Iberian bacon, salmon with cava and miso sauce, or Iberian sirloin in red fruits sauce. In addition, it has a Children's proposal for 38 eurosdesigned for children under 12, which includes from Baos to Count de Red Velvet. “We wanted to make haute cuisine for everyone, we have democratized it,” says Franci, who claims to take “very exciting stories with customers.”
The place has also been a Meeting point for program followers of all ages and backgrounds. 20 people work in it and there used to always have some ex -concursing in the room: currently the finalist Jothaof the eleventh edition.
Jotha en 'masterchef'
The restaurant already has successor
Although the Masterchef brand will disappear from spaceit will not be empty: if everything is going as planned, it will be the Arturo Cantoblanco Groupowned by businessman Arturo Fernández, who takes over and recovers the spirit of the OLD LA NICOLASA Restaurant. Franci is satisfied with the agreement, which will allow the current template.
From the Shine Iberia producer They recognize that, although it was never its own business, the restaurant was a dream fulfilled. “It seemed to round the circle, that people could try the star dishes of the program,” they say. After years of success and even a pandemic overcome, The restaurant closes with the peace of mind of having marked a before and after In the kitchen for all.
