Pequeño local. Menú degustación que supone un viaje por varios países de Latinoamérica
La idea es fácil pero complicada en su consecución: lograr la perfecta alianza entre la gastronomía colombiana y sudamericana más arraigada y la frescura y variedad de producto de la comida mediterránea y valenciana. Y, sin duda, está más que conseguido…
En TABERNA PARAÍSO TRAVEL es posible degustar las mejores clotxines (mejillones) valencianas con un espectacular aderezo de salsa verde mejicana completamente adictiva, dejarse llevar por el exquisito sabor del ceviche cartagenero sobre torta de plátano macho o “patacón pisco» (increíblemente a mí no me gusta el plátano…), volver a los sabores de los guisos marineros más auténticos con la anguila guisada y llegar al éxtasis con el mar y montaña, tan sencillo y crujiente que guardas en tu memoria indefinidamente….
Una maravillosa sorpresa aderezada por un excelente servicio (¡grande Paco!) divertido y completamente implicado en el descubrimiento del lugar y al que sólo pondría dos pegas. La coctelería, que se ha paralizado de momento hasta que el chef ponga en marcha su nuevo (y ansiado) proyecto gastronómico, Origen Clandestino, y el postre, totalmente desacorde con la progresión al alza en sabor y placer de un menú que no llega a los 40€ por persona. ¡Ah! y nos quedamos con ganas de probar un latin crab que prometo degustar la próxima vez. Porque, sin duda, la habrá… Es de esos lugares que hay que marcar con fosforito en las agendas para que se convierta en visita obligada a la capital valenciana.
Upon arriving in Valencia to celebrate my birthday with my girlfriends, I decided to try to book a table at this tiny restaurant in the city’s El Carmen neighbourhood. And booking was a good call, because if I had walked by without knowing it was there I probably never would have entered. But by luck we did… And we discovered a little culinary oasis full of nuance and medleys with the Colombian signature of its chef and alma materJunior Franco, who I’ve been following for some time now, fascinated by his youth and extraordinary vision for Asian and Mediterranean fusion in his dishes.
Small restaurant. Tasting menu is a journey through several Latin American countries
It’s a simple idea that’s complicated to execute: achieving the perfect balance between the most traditional Colombian and South American cuisine and the freshness and variety of products typical of Mediterranean and Valencian food. And he has certainly nailed it…
At Taberna Paraiso Travel you can try the best Valencian clotxines(mussels) with a spectacular Mexican salsa verde that is completely additive, get swept up in the exquisite flavour of the Cartagena ceviche on a plantain cake, or patacón pisco(incredibly I don’t like plantains …); come back to the flavours of the most authentic seafood casseroles with stewed eel; and experience the ecstasy of surf ‘n’ turf, just as simple and crunchy as you remember it ….
It’s a wonderful surprise paired with excellent fun service (Bravo Paco!) that is fully engaged in your discovery of the place. I would only pick two nits: the cocktails, which are on hold for the moment until the chef launches his new (and long-awaited) culinary project Origen Clandestino; and the dessert, completely out of sync with the building of flavour and pleasure of a menu for under €40 per person. Oh! And we didn’t get a chance to try the latin crab, but I promise to order it next time. And a next time is guaranteed … It’s one of those places that should become a required stop on any visit to the Valencian capital.
