Test Kitchen Hong Kong 158A Connaught Road West - Shop 3 - Sa Ying Pun 00000 Hong Kong
INNOVATIVE ARGENTINIAN CUISINE AT TEST KITCHEN FROM CHEF PABLO LAGRANGE, ALUM OF NOMA, TICKETS AND MUGARITZ AND ONE OF SAN PELLEGRINO’S TOP 10 YOUNG CHEFS FOR 2018
He brings a culinary resume that includes some of the world’s most celebrated restaurants such as NOMA, Mugaritz and Tickets, but Barcelona-based Argentinian chef Pablo Lagrange is clearly happiest when sharing with diners his talent for modern cuisine from his South American homeland.
After studying in Buenos Aires and at the prestigious Basque Culinary Center in San Sebastian, he has cooked all over the world in destinations including Istanbul, Lyon, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, USA, Ukraine and Russia. Most recently he has helmed the kitchen at La Cuina Den’Garriga in Barcelona.
His menu for his four-night pop-up at Test Kitchen in Hong Kong features innovative Argentinian-inspired dishes celebrating the finest seasonal ingredients. For example, a South American classic of ceviche is taken to new heights by using quince and clementine in the famous leche de tigre sauce that accompanies it.
No dish better represents Argentina than the humble but delicious empanadas, delicious fried pastries. His feature slow braised brisket and a classic criolla flavours, as well as one with chicken, smoked creme fraiche and dill oil.
Desserts too are innovative and delicious in equal measure. If ‘lacto potato ice cream’ or ‘black banana with shrimp sauce’ don’t intrigue, then there’s even more to tempt the adventurous.
Vincent Mui, founder of Test Kitchen, commented: “The food of Argentina is vastly underrated and Pablo is one of the country’s most exciting young talents. His resume speaks for itself and he has clearly been inspired along his culinary journey working in some of the world’s most renowned restaurants. I’m so excited to welcome him to Test Kitchen where his food will let Hong Kong diners know why Argentina is a vastly underrated culinary destination.”
CHEF PABLO'S ARGENTINIAN MENU
Carob Alfajor (a classic Argentinian starchy cookie) and sweetcorn tofu
Sour and sweet ceviche – quince, and clementine leche de tigre, pine oil
Market Fish, burnt chestnut foam, vodka and honey foam, black ashes
Braised brisket empanada and criolla sauce
Chicken empanadas and smoked creme fraiche and dill oil
Braised sweetbreads, burnt aubergine water and pine oil with parsley roots, parsley oil, cheese milk, fresh mushrooms
Pablo Lagrange is a young chef with Argentinian roots. After getting the opportunity to learn and share his knowledge in kitchens and cultures around the world, he has built his identity as a cook, forging personal and intimate dishes based on memories, tradition, fire, and Argentinean landscapes.
Noma, Borago, Mugaritz and Relae are just some of the places which have formed him as a chef and as a person. For the last three years, Pablo has lived in Barcelona, a place where in 2018 he was recognized as one of San Pellegrino’s top ten young chefs. Representing Spain and Portugal at the competition, he has also worked with Albert Adria from elBulli and Tickets.
Through sharing and listening very carefully, he has learnt from and been inspired by people and art, music and colors, landscapes and society, waves of thinking, stories and most of all, food.
After then cooking in Istanbul, Lyon, Barcelona, the Basque Country, Copenhagen, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, USA, Ukraine, and Russia, he went on to study in Buenos Aires and at the Basque Culinary Center.
About Test Kitchen
Test Kitchen is a pop-up dining movement in Hong Kong. Situated in Sai Ying Pun, the menus are ever changing to showcase up-and-coming chefs from across the world. Whether diners come alone, in pairs, or in groups, they all come to share their passion and love for food. #testkitchenhk