A culinary journey: El nuevo Arume

I fell in love with Tomeu Martí’s culinary art on my first visit at Arume years ago. His cuisine is not just Asian-Mediterranean fusion, it is a unique combination of Asian recipes with local ingredients. Tomeu’s fabulous creations keep surprising me every time I return and try a new menu. Dining at Arume is kind of a culinary journey – Tomeu and his wife Belen always bring back a caseload of ideas and inspiration from their frequent trips to faraway countries.

Have you ever tried anchovies, coconut and mushrooms, topped with a light sauce of almonds, garlic and plankton? Or a variety of different mussles with picornells, the small tasty Mallorcan mushrooms? A nigiri of mahi mahi, dry apricots and curry, or of negrito with fresh truffle and citrus? Our seven courses the other night were topped off with an exotic-looking yet most delicious arrangement of corn, yellow curry, mango and black mushroom. Pretty wild!

Try to get a seat at the bar right next to the large open kitchen up front the restaurant. It’s not just a bar but the rear side of the countertop you are sitting at. I always love to watch chefs preparing my meal. But hardly ever do I get the chance to follow at such a short distance as in the new Arume.

Tomeu and Belen were celebrating Arume’s 10th birthday this year with the renovation of their restaurant. With the grand open kitchen el nuevo Arume is a gift for themselves and for their many truthful guests. If you are a regular you might even get a place for your personal chopsticks in a shelf next to the entrance. I’ll make sure to bring mine soon.