Kazakhstan hosts two Spanish chefs showcasing Mediterranean cuisine

Astana, Nov 14 (EFE).- Two Spanish chefs treated Kazakh diners to top Mediterranean dishes on Friday as part of the “Astana Global Gastro” project, which dedicated the day’s edition to Spanish cuisine.

Paolo Romano, a chef at Barcelona’s three-Michelin-star ABaC restaurant, brought “many dishes” from home to the Central Asian nation.

One of the highlights, he said, was marinated tuna with curry, given a “Kazakh twist.”

Romano, 33, said the team experimented with a wide range of ingredients and, after tasting dishes at local restaurants, decided to use fermented milk to give the tuna a unique flavor and a touch of traditional Kazakh cuisine.

His colleague, Cheng Yonghao, also works at ABaC, whose head chef, Jordi Cruz, is one of Spain’s most popular culinary figures as a MasterChef judge.

“Today one of the dishes we’re presenting represents Spain and the fusion of cultures,” Cheng told EFE, referring to Roman-style calamari.

He said the version served in Astana was different from the traditional dish.

“We’ll have a squid tartare, finely chopped and dressed with olive oil and Maldon salt, and we’ll add a reduction of cephalopods as a sauce,” he said.

Cheng said he also sampled local specialties, including beshbarmak made with horse meat.

“I loved it,” he said, highlighting “the powerful flavor of a different kind of sausage” he wasn’t used to.

Romano said he was delighted with Astana despite the cold and snow, adding that the city’s “special atmosphere” had inspired ideas for future creations back in Spain.

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Paolo Romano, head chef at Barcelona’s three-Michelin-star restaurant ABaC, during “Astana Global Gastro” in Kazakhstan. EFE/Kulpash Konyrova

Paolo Romano and Cheng Yonghao (pictured), two Spanish chefs, treated Kazakh diners on Friday to top Mediterranean dishes as part of the “Astana Global Gastro” project, which dedicated today’s edition to Spanish cuisine. EFE/Kulpash Konyrova