The process
How does the first contact work?
A short enquiry through the website is enough — the occasion, an approximate date, the venue and roughly how many will be at the table. Within 24 hours, you hear back directly so availability can be checked and, if it fits, a first proposal prepared.
Is there a contract before any payment is made?
Always. Before any money changes hands, you receive an individual service agreement together with the proposal and the terms of engagement. Everything is set out in writing, clearly and in advance.
What happens after that first message?
A conversation follows, by email or phone, whichever suits you better. We go through the occasion, the guests, preferences, the venue and anything else worth knowing before the evening takes shape.
How much notice is best?
Most dates are confirmed several weeks ahead. For occasions that need a little more room, more notice helps. If the date is close, it can still be considered — availability is simply the deciding factor.
The experiences
What actually separates Essence, Vanguard and Atelier?
Essence lets the produce lead, with a restrained hand across five refined courses. Vanguard goes further — more technique, deeper sensory layers and a broader arc, usually across eight courses. Atelier is built from zero for one specific brief.
What size of gathering is each one made for?
Essence and Vanguard are designed for intimate tables and work best that way. Atelier adapts to the project, the venue and the occasion, so it can respond to broader formats without losing clarity.
Does the menu ever repeat?
No. Each menu is written from scratch for that evening, that date and that particular group. The structure may feel familiar, but the exact composition always depends on the season, the produce and the conversation behind it.
Can one experience borrow elements from another?
Within Atelier, yes, because it is an open format. Essence and Vanguard are designed as complete structures, so changes are only made when the overall coherence remains intact.
Logistics
Where does dinner actually happen?
At your residence, villa, finca or another private venue of your choosing. The chef arrives with the mise en place already done and everything needed to work with order and discretion. Events outside Madrid are reviewed case by case.
Do you only work in the evening, or at midday too?
Midday as well. A private lunch, a company table or a weekend family gathering is prepared to exactly the same standard as a dinner. What changes is the rhythm of service and, more often than not, the light in the room, which tends to work in its favour.
What does the kitchen need to have?
Running water, electricity and a reasonable amount of worktop. If there is any doubt, the space can be checked beforehand, in person or by video call. Anything the kitchen lacks is brought in or arranged in advance.
Is there service staff, or does the chef work alone?
That depends on the size of the group and the experience chosen. For intimate dinners, the chef often manages the whole rhythm of service solo; for larger tables, or an Atelier project, additional staff can be arranged if that suits the evening better.
Can wine pairing be arranged?
Yes — a pairing can be built course by course on request. If you would rather choose your own wines, that works equally well; in that case, we will simply guide you towards what sits best alongside each dish.
Is the evening kept confidential?
By design, yes. Menus, hosts and service details are private. If the event calls for stricter confidentiality, a specific non-disclosure clause can be included.
Before payment
How is a booking actually confirmed?
Once the details have been agreed, the evening is secured with a signed contract and a 50% deposit. The remaining balance is due on the day of the event, unless the individual proposal sets out a different timeframe. Every specific term is put in writing beforehand.
What is included in the price?
The menu for the chosen experience, all ingredients, mise en place, travel within Madrid and clearing down once the evening ends. Wine pairing, additional staff and travel outside Madrid are quoted separately.
And if plans change — what about cancellations?
That is set out in the terms of engagement and the individual agreement. Because each evening is tied to one specific date, the notice given and any costs already committed determine whether there is a full refund, a partial one, or retention of sums already due.
Do you issue invoices?
Yes. Invoices are issued for all services in line with applicable regulations.
Dietary needs and documents
Can menus be adapted for allergies or intolerances?
Yes, provided the information is shared in good time and the change is technically viable. Allergies and intolerances are built in from the outset, not patched in at the last minute.
Can a vegetarian or vegan menu be created?
Yes. The technical logic is the same: the language changes, not the standard. The menu can be built entirely around plant-based dishes without losing precision or level.
What if the table has different restrictions?
That is normal. The menu is designed so the whole table shares one coherent experience, while the passes that need individual adjustment are adjusted discreetly and cleanly.
What documents does the client receive?
The proposal, the terms of engagement, the privacy policy, the cookie policy if you browse the website, and — before payment — the individual service agreement for review and signature. Where a right of withdrawal does not apply because of the nature of the service or the specific date, that is stated in writing.