17-08-2015
Left to right: Thomas Piras, Matias Perdomo and Simon Press. Respectively maître, chef and sous-chef at Contraste, on top of being partners in the restaurant management. The ex chef at Pont de Ferr will start his new adventure in a few days’ time. Here he’ll try to offer each client a culinary experience as personalised as possible (photo by Niccolò Vecchia)
«We’re opening on 1st September», says Matias Perdomo, walking us through the doors in Via Meda 2, where Contraste, his new restaurant in Milan, will soon open. His two partners look at him, with a doubtful and complicit smile: «To tell the truth we’re still waiting for a few authorisations, offices are now closed, they’ll open at the end of the month but we hope we’ll get everything on time», they say. «1st September, 1st September», the Uruguayan chef repeats, laughing. This scene sums up all the hopes and team spirit livening up Perdomo and those to whom so far we’ve referred to, no lack of respect intended, as “the other two”. These are Argentinian Simon Press, for many years at work beside Matias in the kitchen, and Italian Thomas Piras, for four years dining room manager at Pont de Ferr, where Perdomo conquered a Michelin star. After a long period in Maida Mercuri’s restaurant the mutual choice of taking separate roads came. The understanding with Simon and Thomas is complete and Contraste (the plural form of “contrast” in Spanish) is born from the meeting of their experience and creativity. The name has been clear in their minds for a long time and it is most of all «a way to present their desire to find a harmony between many different, sometimes conflicting, elements».
«Enough with open view kitchens – says Matias Perdomo – today’s focus must be on our guests. Who if they wish, can peep from this keyhole into our kitchen»
Riflesso: the mirror-tasting menu at Contraste
Those who don’t like “risks” will also find a tasting menu with 7 courses announced from the start. And a small menu for anyone who’d like to choose just two or three courses. The cellar will initially offer 350 labels but the ambition is to grow further.
A glimpse of the dining room at Contraste
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by
Journalist, based in Milan. At 8 years old, he received a Springsteen record as a gift, and nothing was the same since. Music and food are his passions. Author and broadcaster at Radio Popolare since 1997, since 2014 he became part of the staff of Identità Golose Instagram: @NiccoloVecchia