WHAT IT IS?
Fine dining Michelin Star restaurant ‘El Cielo’ is a Colombian restaurant which offers a wide variety of traditional dishes in their à la carte and tasting menus. The founder, executive chef and person behind the magic is Juan Manuel Barrientos. Restaurant ‘El Cielo’ offers its customers unique culinary experiences. Some cuisine critics have described them as a roller-coaster of emotions, combining avant-garde cuisine techniques with Colombian traditional methods. There are a total of four El Cielo restaurants, in Washington D.C, Miami, Medellin and one in Bogota. At the Washington DC location, two tasting menus span 15 to 25 courses and include ‘sensory immersion’ experiences.
Here we want to focus on one Cool and distinctive touch point. That’s the ‘choco-therapy’-moment when guests ‘wash’ their hands in liquid chocolate to awaken their senses. To start, a little dehydrated towel is brought out to your table. As water is gently poured on top, it inflates like magic, and you can wipe your hands clean. Then comes the ‘choco-therapy’, melted chocolate will be poured over your hands right at the table, for you to wash your hands with. While your hands are being covered in chocolate you can wash them with it like it is soap. In the end, they’ll pour water over your hands to wash it off. The experience will leave your hands feeling soft and with a sweet aroma.
WHY IT´S COOL?
El Cielo restaurant is a gathering and reflection of local traditions. This gives customers the chance to get to know a whole country, from their table. Each dish has its very own story, from the Amazonian jungle communities to one inspired by Gabriel Garcia Marquez — the Colombian Literature Nobel Prize novelist. The choco-therapy moment adds a distinctive touch point to the overall immersive experience.
WHY IT HAS FUTURE GROWTH POTENTIAL?
Tourists nowadays are traveling not just to visit the most iconic local destinations. More than before they desire to experience more special, more ‘off the beaten track’ places and services. El Cielo Restaurant fits perfectly in this trend. More people who visit Columbia right now have a sincere interest in really absorbing Colombian culture, including its food. El Cielo Restaurant has created the perfect scenario to showcase this. With choco-therapy as its most distinctive touch point.
For further information about El Cielo please visit https://elcielorestaurant.com/en/home-english/
