15 kilometers from Valencia, in San Antonio de Benagéber, there is a restaurant that has just won its first star in the Michelin Guide. It is Simposio, the restaurant of chef Roger Julián.
After being included in the recommendations of the French guide last September, this November it received its first star, one of the highest recognitions in European gastronomy.
What is Simposio’s cuisine like: raw materials and market produce?
This restaurant, 20 minutes from the capital, focuses on 3 main pillars: a total connection with the territory, the full use of raw materials and an open and central kitchen, where the chef Julián interacts directly with the diners.
A chef by vocation with more than 18 years of experience in the sector, Simposio’s head chef has trained in restaurants La Sucursal, Apicius, Evo and hotel chains such as Hesperia, Westin or Las Arenas before opening his own gastronomic establishment for the first time.
On this basis, Simposio dazzled the French guide as one of the great surprises of September. “It is one of those restaurants that justify our selection, as it treasures a small culinary jewel,” the guide defined.
It also highlighted its “cozy space with a contemporary atmosphere, shared by the dining room and the kitchen” where diners can observe the entire creative process and even chat with the chef.
Simposio’s menu: four tasting menus.
Simposio’s proposal, far from the traditional menu, is articulated around four tasting menus. Named San Antonio de Benagéber (68€/person), Simposio (85€/person), Simposio Ovolactovegetariano and Roger Julián (105€/person), these menus explore the flavors of the Valencian territory with a refined technique and respect for the product.
In exchange, the diner gets a unique experience in which the rhythm of the service and the preparation of the dishes happen in full view of everyone.
Simposio is located at Calle de las Moreras 2, in San Antonio de Benagéber. One of its peculiarities is that, on its closing days, the space is transformed to host gastronomic workshops for cooking enthusiasts.