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Most people associate Miami with fast cars and fashion. This past weekend Chef Juanma joined world-renowned chefs on a culinary voyage for the famous “Once Upon a Kitchen” 6k per plate event.
Formula 1 is the fastest racing series in the world and is known for its exhilarating action and high-speed thrills. Precision, talent, and perfection are required of every participant in this activity. Every member of a Formula 1 team, from the drivers to the engineers, are essential to the team’s performance on the racetrack. What about the chefs, though? Enter Chef Juanma, the chef joining Michelin star chef and host Massimo Bottura, Chef Bernardo Paladini, and molecular biologist Alex Ott, at Miami’s F1 one-of-a-kind dining experience, “Once Upon a Kitchen,” on May 5th.
A meal Juanma created for the 2019 Chinese Grand Prix stands out as one of his most notable works. Every dish on the menu had an animal name that was taken from the Chinese zodiac. For instance, the appetizer was referred to as “Dragon’s Head,” and the entrée was “Tiger Prawns and Rice.” The menu was well received by the teams and demonstrated Juanma’s talent as a chef.
Chef Juanma reflected on the success of the evening, and said, “Working with the Formula 1 team has been an incredible opportunity and a true honor…It’s been a great challenge to bring my culinary vision to life in a different environment, and I’m grateful for the trust and support I received from everyone involved.”
At that Miami F1 Dinner, Chef Juanma was joined by Michelin-starred chefs, including Clare Smyth, the first female chef to run a three-Michelin-starred restaurant in the UK; Mauro Colagreco, the Argentine chef behind the three-Michelin-starred restaurant Mirazur in France; and Virgilio Martinez, the Peruvian chef behind the acclaimed restaurant Central in Lima.
Barnabas Carrega, CEO of Gr8 Experience and producer of Bottura’s Once Upon a Kitchen, is ecstatic about the culinary environment at the Miami Grand Prix.
According to Carrega, “There will be such an extreme level of talent under one roof. If you want to fly to Italy and try to get a reservation at Bottura’s restaurant… which is nearly impossible… and pair it with all the talent and creations that will be at our event, you are actually getting great value here. This will be a multisensory experience, and there are no events that are comparable.”
What makes Chef Juanma stand apart from other chefs, is the passion he pours into everything he prepares, and that his menus are created to meet the particular requirements and tastes of each driver and squad. When he creates his menus, he also considers the day of the week, the location, and the weather. The meals are not only decadent but fun and entertaining.
This Formula 1 dining experience is destined to be great, with the top chefs at its helm and an array of skills to impress the guests, the anticipation grows as to how bold and delicious these dishes will be. Keep an eye out for Chef Juanma’s work at Formula 1 and what’s to come next for the great chef.
Colombian chef Juanma, also known as Juan Manuel Barrientos, is a two time Michelin star winner that has over 20 years of experience in the food industry. He is not just another culinary artist. He has worked with A-list celebrities (Sofia Vegara, Rafael Nadal, among other prominent athletes and celebrities) and in some of the best restaurants in the world, including El Bulli, a renowned Michelin three-star establishment. He is also the founder and creator of the restaurant chain, Elcielo, with locations in Miami, D.C., Medellín, and Bogotá. Chef Juanma has more than twelve restaurants, bars, and clubs under his management and has been recognized as the youngest chef in the 50 best chefs of Latin America.
In 2011, Juanma started his Formula 1 career with the HRT team. He has since collaborated with other organizations, including Red Bull Racing, McLaren, and Ferrari. Juanma’s responsibility is to make certain that the teams and drivers have access to wholesome meals that will enable them to perform at their peak on the track. Considering the tremendous demands of Formula 1 racing, this is no simple task.
