New Basque restaurant to open at The Halkin by COMO, London: Ametsa with Arzak Instruction, a team of five including Juan Mari Arzak, Elena Arzak,  Mikel Sorazu, Igor Zalakain and Xabier Gutierrez

COMO Hotels and Resorts will be opening a new Basque restaurant, ‘Ametsa with Arzak Instruction’, at The Halkin by COMO in London’s Belgravia.
Debuting February 2013, Ametsa will be a unique collaboration between The Halkin and a team that includes chef Elena Arzak– voted World’s Best Female Chef by Restaurant magazine earlier this year – along with her father Juan Mari Arzak, Mikel Sorazu, Igor Zalakain and Xabier Gutierrez. Father and daughter hold three Michelin stars at the original Arzak restaurant in San Sebastian, Spain.

“Ametsa means ‘dream’ in our language,” says Elena: “The dream of a kitchen beyond our frontiers, in the middle of London, in the heart of the Halkin Hotel.” “It is a very exciting development for us,” adds Juan Mari: “An Ametsa team led by Arzak Instruction`s culinary advice.”

Arzak Instruction was established by a team of five from Arzak restaurant to deliver the philosophies of a unique cooking style. The approach is rooted in the traditions of ‘New Basque Cuisine’, pairing the earthy flavours and techniques of Spain’s Basque region with modern, surprising twists. Fresh, locally-sourced and organic produce from land and sea are Ametsa`s building blocks.

Interiors, designed by the London-based partnership, AB Rogers, will reflect Basque heritage while embracing COMO’s tradition of contemporary design and the restaurant’s location at the heart of elegant Belgravia.

The new restaurant will replace the award-winning nahm, London, which has been at The Halkin since 2000. nahm, run by celebrated Australian chef David Thompson, was the first Thai restaurant outside Thailand to win a Michelin star. In 2010, Thompson opened a second nahm at the Metropolitan by COMO, Bangkok, voted one of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants in the 2012 San Pellegrino awards. Bangkok is where Thompson will continue to work.