Sergi Arola Instagram – I hadn’t yet experienced Lab by @sergiarola, but I’m convinced I arrived at the perfect moment.
Sergi, a prominent figure in Spanish gastronomy – one of Ferran Adrià’s numerous protégés, as well as @PierreGagnaire’s – currently resides in Chile but visits Portugal annually. During his stay at @penhalongaresort, he reunites with his teams from Arola and Lab. The Lab’s 8-year history, along with several more years of the more casual Arola, demonstrates a strong bond. In fact, during this visit, Sergi took the opportunity to renew his contract for another 5 years.
Conceived during the period when his Madrid Gastro held 2 Michelin stars, Lab initially drew inspiration from Sergi’s most iconic dishes. However, Sergi now describes it as a Portuguese restaurant, drawing on market-fresh ingredients and the ambiance of the Serra de Sintra. @vladmirveiga, the Portuguese-Cape Verdean chef who has helmed the kitchen for many years, understands Sergi’s vision like no other. Sergi sketches in Chile, sends them to Vladmir, who tests and executes them, returning them as photographs. Sergi claims he doesn’t need to taste the dishes to know that Vladmir has perfectly captured his idea.
After a delightful chat in the kitchen, with sparkling wine served by @diegoapolinario_somm, it was time to ascend to the dining room and see firsthand whether this seamless coordination between Sergi and Vladmir was just a beautiful story or an undeniable reality.
Post 1/3 | Posted on 08/May/2024 14:59:05
