When I was a young cook I went to Manhattan to help open a branch of El Dorado Petit, a very elegant restaurant in Barcelona. The restaurant did not make it but I stuck around taking jobs in a variety of kitchens while I figured out my next step. I was considering returning to Spain when I was approached by some restaurateurs who wanted open a tapas bar in Washington, DC. I thought they were crazy but I decided to take a risk. More than fifteen years later, here I am. Together, my partners and I have built THINKfoodGROUP, a successful restaurant company in Washington, with five very different and unique concepts. Below is little more information on what we do. I hope you'll pay us a visit some day!
minibar by josé andrés This ‘restaurant within a restaurant’ is a glimpse into the creative mind of Jose Andres. Found on the second floor of Café Atlantico, the six stools available twice an evening are some of the toughest seats in town. An innovative 30-course tasting menu is designed to amuse, challenge and satisfy your palate all with a sense of fun and whimsy.
Cafe Atlantico Inspired “Nuevo Latino” style cuisine is offered alongside superb mojitos and an extensive wine list featuring the stars of South America. The Latin Dim Sum brunch served on weekends and the always-inventive lunch and dinner fare have made this a favorite destination for DC’s diplomats and gourmands alike.
Jaleo Tapas Bar A taste of Spain comes in each of the 50 plus tapas, or little dishes, available at this festive restaurant. Jaleo, which means ‘merry making’ and ‘revelry,’ serves paellas and grilled meats and seafoods alongside these traditional and modern flavors. The award-winning wine list will allow you to visit nearly every region of Spain. The interior of the restaurant focuses on a large mural of a flamenco dancer inspired by John Singer Sargent's painting Jaleo. A consistent favorite downtown destination for Washingtonians and visitors alike, Jaleo also has locations in Bethesda, Maryland and Arlington, Virginia.
Zaytinya Taking its name from the Turkish word for “olive oil”, this Washington hot spot is the sleek home of classic and contemporary Mediterranean cuisine. Focused on the foods of Greece, Turkey and Lebanon, the small plates, or “mezze,” are meant to be shared along with a wide array of wines from this region that are sure to surprise and delight.
Oyamel Cocina Mexicana Drawing on pre-Hispanic, colonial and modern traditions, Oyamel Cocina Mexicana’s menu reflects Mexico's rich culinary heritage and the fun and informal street food of Mexico City. Recently named a “Best New Restaurant” by Esquire magazine, as well as being cheered by Washington’s food press, this new installment in the Penn Quarter is fast becoming a city favorite.