Miami has become a booming culinary hot spot featuring not only a treasure of multi-cultural eateries but now double-digits of Michelin Star-rated restaurants. On July 9th, 14 restaurants in the state of Florida, for the first time, were awarded Michelin Stars, the world’s most famous and coveted restaurant distinction. Eleven of these restaurants are in Miami. Ten received one Michelin Star, and one - L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon in the Design District - received two.
I had the pleasure and honor to come enjoy dinner at one of these restaurants this past week, and I am still floating in a gastronomical cloud from the experience. I felt like I was in heaven for three hours and I literally was.
El Cielo Miami, by Chef Juan Manuel Barrientos is not just a place for dinner. It is a multi-sensory experience, an adventure that will take you deep into the Gateway of South America, to taste the boldest and most memorable flavors of Colombia, in a creative and artistic way.
Chef Juanma, as he is affectionately called, is internationally known for his unique culinary talents, with locations in Bogota, Medellin, Washington D.C. and here in Miami’s Brickell. He is currently featuring The Experience at El Cielo Miami, a 21 course menu that tells a story with each bite or sip, and that immerses you in an adventure that stimulates your senses of sight, smell, hearing, touch and taste.
When we first arrived at El Cielo Miami, we were warmly welcomed and taken to our table. Service is outstanding here and every step of the experience includes attention to detail. I looked on the table and saw the menu, with my name elegantly printed on the top. I knew immediately we were in for a memorable evening.
The waiter came and placed a small white object on a shell in the middle of the table and proceeded to pour warm water on it. As it grew before us, I noticed it was a towel to wash our hands. Very nice beginning. After that we enjoyed a nice, cold glass of Champagne.
Following this opening, our first course was brought to our table. A small vial with an orange-colored liquid lay gently in a wooden pot filled with coffee beans. This was the Passion Fruit Mistela and it was delicious. It cleansed our palates to prepare us for the entourage of treats to come.
Next on the experience were a series of snacks, drinks and plates, each with a personal story from the chef, and each highlighting a moment in Colombia and in life. Among these first courses was the Crab Empanada. Beautifully plated on a bowl with rocks, the crab-shaped empanada was the perfect bite. The chef recommended we topped the empanada with the pineapple chili to bring out the flavor, and that’s exactly what we did. The bite was magical and we literally closed our eyes to experience it.
Another unforgettable course was the Chocotherapy. Every sense took part in this moment. The waiter explained the experience behind the chocolate being poured on our open hands was to take us back to our childhood, a simpler time when we loved to touch everything and enjoyed each sensation. It was divine. We inhaled the aroma, we tasted the sweetness, and then, he poured some sugar and coffee as exfoliants and we rubbed our palms together before he rinsed them off. It was pure ecstasy and our excitement grew.
They then brought out yet another beautiful course: the Tree of Life. A crispy piece of yuca bread, filled with mozzarella cheese sat atop a wire shaped like a tree. It was both delicious and artistic. I couldn’t stop eating it, bathing it with the sweet butter spread that accompanied it. It quickly became another favorite.
Several seafood courses followed and then the meats. But first there was the Seasonal Soup. It blew us away with its hot and cold combination that toyed with our palates and left us wanting more. We enjoyed the signature dishes like the Artichoke - Apple with mustard seeds, the Lobster Roll served like a hot dog, with it’s tantalizing Sriracha kick, and the Seafood Cazuela, topped with a leaf-shaped piece of paprika. All have transcended each seasonal menu change.
There were also some new items like the Duck, a smoky delight with butternut squash and asparagus. I loved the smoky flavor that enveloped my taste buds with each bite. The next course was the Lamb with Yuca and Lavender. It was absolutely exquisite and paired very well with the Malbec.
Up next began the sweet portion of the experience- one course after another of dessert treats to take us to a new level of happy endings. The first was a palate-cleansing Red Fruit Cone followed by the Late Harvest Orange and Honey.
In the spirit of once again cleansing our palate, our waiter brought us a shot of Colombian Aguardiente presented beautifully and surrounded in smoke.
Then came another favorite: the Coffee Field, served with a Yellow Butterfly and a Colombian Emerald. This course was part cuisine and part a virtual experience. Like the chef wanted us to do, we imagined ourselves basking in a Colombian morning fog relaxing in a coffee plantation on a mountainous region, as we smelled the bitter aroma, while slowly sipping the dark nectar. Once again, I was mesmerized. The waiter filtered the coffee on our table as he told the story, and brought to life the smoky fog all around us with liquid nitrogen vapor. We enjoyed the hot liquid with a cookie shaped like a yellow butterfly, its wings spread wide next to a sweet and creamy Colombian emerald cake.
Our seafood courses were paired with a smooth and refreshing Pinot Grigio while our meats were paired with an Argentinian Malbec. We ended our experience with a nice after dinner drink, and some rose petals with cream for our hands.
You can choose to enjoy The Experience menu on its own or adding the Wine Pairing option. For the ultimate experience, I would recommend treating yourself to the wine pairings which strategically cleanse your palate and bring out the flavors in each course. You begin your adventure with a welcome glass of champagne, white and red wines with your courses, and an after dinner liqueur of your choice. I feel it complements the experience so much more and truly elevates each moment.
I can clearly see exactly why El Cielo received a Michelin Star and cannot wait to return. The menus are changed seasonally so you can enjoy the experience again and again and taste something different each time. Check out my Instagram post at AdventuresoftheFoodaholic for a video of the entire experience. There are two seatings available: 6 pm and 9 pm. For more information, or to make your reservation, visit their website here.
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