Mauro Colagreco at Raffles London at The OWO

A Garden-Inspired Dining Journey at MAURO COLAGRECO From the moment I stepped into MAURO COLAGRECO, I felt like I was entering a serene garden. The warm welcome and thoughtful introduction, including the inspiring background of Chef Mauro, set a gentle and elegant tone for the afternoon. After choosing our five-course menu, the sommelier came by and introduced several wines. We selected a beautifully crisp white wine from France that paired seamlessly with the dishes. One of the most poetic touches came at the beginning—a selection of bread served with a Pablo Neruda poem, one of my favorite poets. Each course was introduced with a small card explaining the featured vegetable, which made the meal feel intimate and educational. A few highlights: the onion in the appetizer was astonishingly soft and sweet, almost like a gentle surprise. Another dish invited us to “find” the element hidden among fresh herbs—playful and immersive. The meat course with fermented fig was unexpected and exquisite, and the dessert brought the whole journey to a satisfying, harmonious close. The atmosphere was calm, like sitting in a sun-dappled garden on a breezy afternoon, surrounded by the subtle aroma of blooming herbs. Chef Mauro’s ability to blend vegetables with each dish in such a balanced, thoughtful way was truly impressive. Thank you for a delightful and memorable afternoon. MAURO COLAGRECO’s Garden Dinner Experience The moment you step into MAURO COLAGRECO, it’s like walking into a quiet garden. The warm welcome and detailed introduction, including Chef Mauro’s moving background story, set the elegant tone for this afternoon feast. After choosing the five-course set menu, the sommelier came to introduce a variety of wines. We finally chose a white wine from France, which was refreshing and pleasant and went perfectly with the meal. The most poetic opening was the appetizer bread paired with a poem by Pablo Neruda, one of my favorite poets. Before each dish was served, a small card was attached to introduce the characteristics of the main vegetable, making the whole dining experience more intimate and profound. Several of the dishes were impressive: an onion-based appetizer, the onions were unexpectedly soft and sweet; another dish was like a treasure hunt in a herb bush, requiring you to "discover" the main ingredients yourself, which was very interesting. The meat in the main course was paired with fermented figs, which was a big surprise with rich flavor layers; and the dessert was a perfect end to the feast. The overall atmosphere is like sitting in a garden in the afternoon, with gentle breeze and lingering aromas, which makes people relax and intoxicated. Chef Mauro's understanding and use of vegetables are extremely delicate, and he skillfully integrates them into each dish to achieve an amazing balance. Thank you MAURO COLAGRECO for bringing such a wonderful afternoon.