HEAVEN

Tasting Menu @elcielomiami

My second visit to heaven was somehow better than the first.

The first time I experienced El Cielo, in Washington D.C., everything was technically flawless. The food was exceptional, the service impeccable, and the creativity impossible to ignore. Yet, as a Colombian, I left feeling like I had visited a beautiful interpretation of Colombia rather than Colombia itself.

This time, in Miami, something felt different.

The flavors carried a familiarity that only comes from understanding a place deeply. There were moments throughout the menu where I could taste not only ingredients, but memories. The spirit of Colombia was present in every course, not loudly, but confidently.

What I admire most about Juan Manuel Barrientos is that he doesn’t simply serve food. He orchestrates experiences. He challenges guests to abandon the rules they’ve spent a lifetime learning in fine dining. He invites you to get your hands dirty. To eat in ways that would normally earn you a raised eyebrow at the next table. To follow instinct instead of etiquette.

At one point, you’re encouraged to do exactly what many of us secretly want to do when something tastes extraordinary: forget the rules and simply enjoy it.

It’s playful. It’s liberating. And somehow, within the walls of a Michelin-starred restaurant, it feels completely natural.

El Cielo is a tribute to Colombia, but it’s also a tribute to curiosity. To childlike wonder. To the idea that hospitality extends far beyond what’s placed on a plate.

Yes, there are parts of the restaurant that feel a little dated. But great experiences have a way of making those details irrelevant.

Some restaurants feed you.

Others tell you a story.

El Cielo invites you to become part of one.

#miami#colombia#michelin#barranquilla#orlando Less