Garum: Fine dining in Marbella

Marbella’s Paseo Maritimo is awash with places to eat, drink and gaze at the magnificent views of the Med and Atlas mountains of Morocco. But one place stands out from the rest. Why? Perhaps it’s the low lighting, creating that intimate feel. Maybe it’s the modern, minimal but warm décor. Or perhaps it’s the smiles on the waiting staff’s faces. Whatever it is, we like it. And we’re pretty sure you will too.

Timo, the man behind the magic of Garum, is an outgoing, enthusiastic Finn who, from the second we step onto the large, open terrace, truly cares about our dining experience.

As the bubbles from our apertif (Vallformosa Brut – a light, refreshing cava) start doing their job, we’re presented with 2 mini Prawn Cocktails, courtesy of the chef. Fresh, juicy prawns in a scrumptious caesar dressing – served with freshly baked herb-infused bread and olive oil prepare our tastebuds for the gastronomic delights to come.

It all makes scents

Next, we share a Foie Gras Crème Brulee with Red Onion Confit and Papadums. Breaking through the sweet surface of the brulee, unearths a smooth, creamy, savoury mousse which is quite simply divine. The jelly-like texture of the confit, the crunchiness of the poppadums and the velvety feel of the brulee make for a very sensual experience indeed.

It’s evident that the chef takes pride in his work. Presentation of the food is second to none and the citric and floral aromas rising up from the Salmon with Lavender and Pepper Crust (resting on a neat bed of fresh tagliatelli and a zesty orange sauce served with vegetables) are irresistible. Like a bouquet of assorted flowers, there’s something about this unlikely marriage of ingredients which just works – on every level.

The Veal Liver (served with potato, bacon and onion cake with apple and calvados sauce) offers that perfect melt-in-the-mouth texture, accompanied by a deliciously sweet marmalade-like flavour.

Sweet love

There’s no room for dessert, thanks to excellent portion sizes but with mouth-watering possibilities like the White Coffee Mousse with Cinnamon and Pear Compote and the Trilogy of Chocolate Parfait winking at us from the menu, declining is anything but easy. However, we savour the laid-back ambience and enjoy watching the world go by with a bottle of Gurpegui, a fruity sauvignon blanc with a gorgeous gooseberry aftertaste – a pleasure to sip slowly under the stars.

Attention to detail is what Garum’s all about. Whether it’s the way the chef has arranged a salad, the amount of time given between courses,  or the spacing between each table, everything has been carefully considered so we can enjoy the best possible dining experience. We’ll be back!

Where: Paseo Maritimo, Marbella

Cuisine: Cosmopolitan, creative, modern fusion

Ambience: Chilled-out, trendy

Clientele: Trendy families and couples

Service: Fantastic – friendly, attentive and informative

Opening Hours: 11am – 12pm

Reservations Tel: 952 858 858

X-Factor: Everything!