On 2nd December, one of the world’s leading gastronomic pioneers, Virgilio Martinez, will bring a taste of his internationally acclaimed restaurant, Central, to the UK for the first time. Located in the Peruvian capital, Central is ranked #4 in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Set to take place at the chef’s London outpost, Michelin-starred LIMA Fitzrovia, the evening will be a celebration of the upcoming launch of Virgilio’s monograph, Central (Phaidon), a visually rich exploration of the incredible diversity of Martinez’s homeland, and will provide a rare opportunity to sample some of the restaurant’s most innovative dishes outside of Lima.
Whilst LIMA Fitzrovia’s links to Central have long been celebrated, with Virgilio a continuous source of insight and creative direction for the team, the upcoming event will mark the first of its kind at the restaurant, with guests to be served a 7 course tasting menu of dishes all from Central. With the recipe for each course included in the monograph, the menu will showcase Peruvian produce from different altitudes and ecosystems, matching the book’s exploration of Central’s approach to cuisine. From pulpo en su corral, a dish that evokes an octopus camouflaged in its natural environment, to a dessert of arcilla de altiplano, crushed, edible Andean clay meringues served with a Peruvian cacao crumb, each plate will be as educational as it is exquisitely flavoured and beautifully presented.
Each ticket will also include a copy of Central. With each chapter exploring a different altitude and its produce, 150 striking images of the wild Peruvian landscape alongside photographs of the restaurant’s magnificently crafted dishes, and an extensive glossary of Peruvian ingredients, the monograph is a true insight into every aspect of Central and the perfect keepsake from a fantastic evening celebrating the very best of Virgilio’s innovative cuisine.