Once again, Gela gathered connoisseurs of culinary art for another fine-dining evening from the series The MENU. The eleventh edition carried that sense of measured elegance that can only arise where the mountain meets the inner world.
For MENU XI, we were joined by Ivana Gelova, a chef whose path has led her through culinary peaks such as the two-Michelin-starred ION HARBOUR in Malta and the legendary L’Enclume by Simon Rogan. A sustainable approach to food, seasonal ingredients, and intention behind every step – this is not just her philosophy, but a practice elevated into art.
The evening unfolded gently. Like a story unhurried, allowing each dish to speak in its own voice.
We began with sourdough made from sweet purple potatoes, paired with whipped butter infused with forest herbs – a warm, earthy welcome to what was about to unfold. Next came a caramelized patatnik, served with homemade Rhodope lutenitsa and local yellow cheese.
The wild trout brought with it the freshness of spring, paired with kombucha gel, nettle emulsion, and microflowers, it felt like the gentle flow of a river.
A consommé of wild forest mushrooms offered a moment of quiet pause. The reimagined Rhodope beans, finished with fermented wild garlic, brought depth and balance.
The lamb, served with a buttery fennel and kohlrabi sauce, reduced whey, caramelized onion, and parsnip purée, offered a bold but tender highlight.
The finale – brânza ice cream, candied ham, and tamari – was unexpected, and yet exactly right.
The wine didn’t just accompany the menu, it expanded it. Carefully selected, each bottle added new dimensions to the dishes. From bright freshness to velvety richness, building bridges between flavors and highlighting subtleties that might otherwise remain unseen.
But the experience didn’t end with dessert. The evening slowly shifted into a rhythmic, emotional state. Plamenna Flamme, with her distinctive style, wove together organic house, gentle electronic vibrations, and nostalgic threads from the ’80s and ’90s, blending the atmosphere into a shared rhythm of presence.
MENU XI was a night where food spoke, where connections were made, and where the experience lingered long after the last sip of wine.
We eagerly await the next special evening, and the chance to share it with those ready to fully live it.
