This Monday we were able to see the 11th edition of the prestigious list of the best European restaurants published every year by the well-known guide Opinionated About Dining (OAD). At a gala held at the Mandarin Oriental Ritz hotel in Madrid and hosted by chef Quique Dacosta, this classification awarded 150 establishments, of which 45 are Spanish.
The Danish restaurant Alchemist, with chef Rasmus Munk In front, it has been awarded as the best restaurant in Europe, an achievement that it can boast of for the fourth consecutive year. The OAD 2024 podium has been completed Etxebarri (Axpe, Vizcaya) and JAN (Munich, Germany) in second and third place as the best on the entire continent.
Rasmus Munk, 29, is head chef and co-owner of the winning restaurantopened for the first time in 2015 and moved in 2019 to a 22,000 square meter premises that was formerly a stage construction workshop. This location fits perfectly with the curious approach of this restaurant’s gastronomic offering: holistic cuisine that “is made to be experienced.”
In this impressive restaurant, awarded with two Michelin stars, haute cuisine mixes with art, theater and social criticism, creating a sensory experience that seeks to go much further than just satisfying the palate. “Just as ancient alchemists sought to fuse philosophy, natural sciences, religion, and the arts to create a new understanding of the world order, the goal of holistic cooking is redefine and expand our understanding of the concept of food”, explains the restaurant’s website.
Alchemist presents a proposal of haute cuisine that fuses the world of gastronomy, theater and art, as well as science, technology and design, to create “a comprehensive sensory and dramaturgical experience”. Its menu, made up of 50 dishes, is accompanied by a pairing selected by the client, an experience that lasts between 4 and 6 hours.
The dinner is divided into events and takes place in various locations, such as a balcony, a games area and a spectacular planetarium-type dome with images projected on the ceiling. The dishes are technically complex and very creative, preparations with which Munk seeks surprise, laughter, social reflection or even repulsion. From this point arise such curious options as a realistic eye design inspired by George Orwell’s novel, 1984, or a cod with edible plastic designed to raise awareness about ocean pollution.
This gastronomic trip has a significant cost, with the basic “Alchemist Experience” menu valued at 5,400 Danish crowns, equivalent to about 723 euros. Wine pairings range in price from the basic for 1,800 crowns (about 241 euros) to the exclusive pairing for 8,500 crowns (about 1,140 euros). For those looking for an even more exclusive experience, Alchemist has the “Sommelier’s Table”, a premium option that includes high-end champagne, a special selection of wines, coffee, tea and a digestif, for a total of 14,900 Danish crowns (approximately 1,999 euros per person).
