For my 30th birthday, we were fortunate enough to be in sunny San Sebastian in Spain, and high on my list of ‘must do’ dining experiences was the famous degustation at Martin Berasetugui’s namesake restaurant, Martin Berasetugui.
Consistently rated as one of the world’s top restaurants, the restaurant is very exclusive and we had made reservations months in advance. Upon arrival at 9pm for our reservation (we tried to book for 8pm, but they told us nobody dines so early in Spain, so 9pm it was!), we were shown to our beautiful candlelit table right in the middle of the restaurant – best seat in the place!
It was fine dining all the way, from the lovely “two waiter” introductions through to the footstool that was placed at our table next to my chair… for my handbag of course! No placing handbags on restaurant floors in here!
This was our first Michelin dining experience, and I was completely blown away by the level of service we enjoyed. The sommelier was fantastic and really educated us on the various wines, plus the two waiters we had were lovely (their Spanish accents incredibly lovely to listen to!), and the way they served us simultaneously – bringing our plates over to us at the same time, then holding the colosh’s over our covered plates, before flourishing them off at the same time and bowing… we felt like superstars!
The highlight of the evening (besides the spectacular 12 course meal) was Martin himself came out to introduce himself and see how we enjoyed the food at the end of the meal – bless him, he spoke fluent French as well as his native Spain but not fantastic English, so I stumbled through my French to tell him how much we enjoyed the meal, and that we were on our honeymoon and it was my birthday – he gave us a beautiful signed plate as a memento, one we will treasure forver.
Check out the photos below – each course was truly like a work of art and the flavour combinations were to die for. Highlights were the squid ravioli, which just literally exploded with flavour in your mouth as you popped it, the roasted black garlic and beetroot carpaccio – amazing flavour combination, I still dream of the caramelised garlic! Also, I cannot forget to mention the beautiful refreshing cucumber / gin dessert which was almost like a zesty martini!
Unreal dining experience, we were certainly spoilt with this one and it was a damn fine introduction to the glamorous world of Michelin dining! I would highly recommend anyone making their way to San Sebastian to splash out and hit up Martin Berasetugui!
The lovely entrance!
Me enjoying a lovely glass of French bubbles!
Mille-feuille of smoked eel, foie-gras, spring onions and green apple
<Photo missing> Squid Soup, Creamy squid ink ravioli served with squid crouton
This was absolutely amazing, the squid ravioli just BURST in your mout and exploded with flavour! So good I forgot to take a photo!!
<Photo missing> Oyster with cucumber, kafir and coconut
This was the second (and last) course I forgot to take a photo of… whoopsie!
Sauteed black garlic with beet ceviche, iceradish and raifort cream
Little pearls of raw fennel, risotto and emulsion
Roast Foie Gras with seaweed resting on horseradish curd, fermented soy broth and hazelnut salt
“Gorrotxategi” egg resting on a herb liquid salad and dewlap carpaccio
Warm vegetable hearts salad with seafood, cream of lettuce and iodised juice
Red Mullet with edible scale crystals, soybean sprouts, wheat semolina and cuttlefish
Roast pigeon and onion with Iberian pig’s snout, ginger juice and capers
The Dessert of apple, lemon, celery, cucumber, gin and mint (probably my other favourite!!)
Mist of coffee and cacao over banana with whiskey sorbet and slush
My wonderful date for the evening with our final dessert, little petit fours and homemade chocolates in a dessert tree 
Our signed plate from Martin himself – one for the poolroom!
