Chef Mario Sandoval, with two Michelin stars, will be the star of the IV Gastronomic Gala of Puerto Banús, taking place tomorrow at the Muelle de Honor. The event, supported by the City Council and the Junta de Andalucía, aims to reinforce Marbella's image as a fine dining destination.
On Wednesday night, the Muelle de Honor of Puerto Banús will become the stage for the IV Gastronomic Gala, an event that gathers nearly 300 guests and features chef Mario Sandoval, owner of two Michelin stars, as its main attraction. The event, which will kick off at 20:30, is not only an opportunity to taste an exclusive menu but also a strategic move by the municipality to de-seasonalise tourism and position Marbella as an international culinary reference.
A menu that travels through the history of Puerto Banús
Mario Sandoval has designed a menu that pays tribute to the history of Puerto Banús since its inauguration in the 1970s and to the cultural diversity of the Costa del Sol. The proposal begins with a reinterpretation of the classic prawn cocktail, made with local products and tropical fruits. This is followed by a farmed sea bass prepared between ceviche and escabeche, which fuses citrus and sherry vinegar.
The main dish is a beef preparation with Ras el Hanout spices, a nod to the Arab world's influence in the region. The grand finale is a pistachio tart. The chef explained that the entire experience has been conceived
“with care for every detail, from the presentation to the selection of the tableware, linens, and glassware, with the aim of offering attendees a very special dinner.”
Gastronomy as a tool against seasonality
The General Director of Tourism of Marbella, Laura de Arce, has highlighted the public-private collaboration that makes this event possible.
“For us, it is a true honour to be part of this project, not only this year but also in previous editions, and we hope to continue doing so for a long time,”she noted, thanking Puerto Banús and its team for their involvement.
De Arce emphasised that Marbella has an extraordinary culinary offering, with five Michelin stars in the municipality, and that gastronomy is a fundamental tool for attracting visitors year-round. The gala is part of the Tourist Plan for Large Cities, jointly funded by the City Council and the Junta de Andalucía.
For the residents of Marbella, this gala is not just an elite event: the tourism de-seasonalisation it promotes impacts local economic activity, creating more jobs and business during the low season. Furthermore, the presence of a chef of Sandoval's stature reinforces the municipality's image as a luxury and quality destination, attracting a profile of visitors with high purchasing power.
Puerto Banús consolidates its commitment to fine dining
The CEO of Puerto Banús, Juan Núñez, has emphasised that this fourth edition represents a further step in consolidating the port area as an international reference also in the culinary field.
“Puerto Banús is a benchmark in nautical activities, lifestyle, fashion, jewellery, and shopping, and fine dining is increasingly playing a more important role within that identity,”he explained.
Núñez highlighted that Mario Sandoval's participation makes this edition a true privilege, as it is the first time the gala features a chef distinguished with two Michelin stars.
“Being able to add his innovative capacity and culinary vision to the values of excellence that we promote in Puerto Banús is an honour,”he assured.
The event will gather institutional representatives, entrepreneurs, and personalities from the social and economic spheres, establishing itself as one of the major gastronomic events of the summer. For local readers, the gala is a showcase that projects the image of Marbella and Puerto Banús to the world, attracting quality tourism that benefits the entire value chain of the service sector.
The event, which will start tomorrow at 20:30 at the Muelle de Honor, promises an evening where fine dining merges with the history and culture of the Costa del Sol. Attendees, around 300 guests, will be able to enjoy a unique sensory experience, with a menu that is a tribute to the land and the culinary tradition of Andalusia.
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