It’s not every night that one gets to dine inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art. However, last night, the Charles Engelhard Court acted as the ideal setting for a once-in-a-lifetime dinner prepared by José Andrés. Exclusive to Capital One cardholders, co-hosts Capital One and The Cultivist brought out an illustrious guest list, including chefs Daniel Humm and Fredrik Berselius along with designer and actor Waris Ahluwalia. But before everyone could tuck into the meal, it was all about the art. Guests enjoyed private, tours of Juan de Pareja: Afro-Hispanic Painter exhibition, of which Andrés drew inspiration for the menu.
A former slave of the Renaissance artist Velàzquez, de Pareja was given his freedom and went on to create some of the Spanish Renaissance’s most alluring pieces including The Calling of Saint Matthew from 1661. But despite de Pareja’s skills, the Met’s exhibition is the artist’s first show in a major institution. This resonated with Andrés who composed an elaborate evening taking guests on a culinary journey starting with ajo blanco (a chilled marcona almond soup punctuated with ossetra caviar), atún de almadraba (Andalusian red tuna with mojo verde topped with gold leaf and potato crisps), solomillo de ternera (sirloin steak with a Marrakesh rub, carrot puree, apricot, and pine nuts), ultimately ending with arroz con leche (traditional creamy rice pudding with saffron espuma). As the sun set, guests lingered over bites and glasses of complementary vintages—think Spanish whites, Moroccan reds, and an opulent Malagan dessert wine—for a truly triumphant evening of art on the plate.
And if all the incredibleness of last night piques your interest, make sure to get a jump on the next dinner—a meeting of the culinary minds on the west coast bringing together two MICHELIN Guide Three Star spots. Chef William Bradley of Addison in San Diego will travel to Healdsburg, California where he'll whip up magical flavors alongside fellow Three Star (and Green Star) chef Kyle Connaughton of SingleThread Farms. To learn more about Capital One Dining or to purchase tickets to the SingleThread x Addison experience, please click here.
Hero image: Neil Rasmus/BFA.com
All images: Neil Rasmus/BFA.com
