Architect：RCDESIGN

Location：Viale della Liberazione 15, Italy; | ;

Project Year：2015

Category：Restaurants

NO NACHOS, NO BURRITOS BESAME MUCHO AUTHENTIC MEXICAN GASTRONOMY

Besame Mucho is a restaurant that seeks to position the real Mexican cuisine, named by UNESCO as intangible heritage of humanity in 2010, in the European market. The restaurant is located in Milan, capital of fashion, Italian creativity and economic engine of the country, located in the "Porta Nuova" area, few minutes from the historic Brera district, this new area of the city becomes a natural extension of the revitalized city center, and one of the major developments that establish the new business district of Milan. The “Liquen” Agency, developed the brand concept Besame Mucho, was inspired by the Mexico of the 50's, when Acapulco was considered the favorite Hollywood´s stars international destination. The agency commissioned the firm RCD (Ricardo Casas Design) restaurant´s interior design, emphasizing the importance of creating an atmosphere in which clients live a "Mexican" experience; and Chef Mario Espinosa menu design, emphasizing the importance to include dishes that cover the different regions of Mexico and eliminating false concepts of Mexican food as burritos or nachos.

Considering the requirements, it was decided to generate an open kitchen which functions as multiple scenario, where you can observe the ingredients and the way the food are prepared, or you can also take cooking classes, food or wine tastings, and know Mexican food brands and products. There is another element, which dominates the space due to its originality, scale and aesthetic level: the monumental chandelier hanging from the ceiling. RCD designers used the Acapulco chair, one of the most iconic elements of the 50's. The piece is made up of forty blue chairs in three rows of concentric circles.

In order to generate a neutral base that gives uniqueness to the environment, most of walls and columns are covered with Italian handcrafted ceramic in dark tone, evoking the traditional Oaxaca black clay and, which was placed in a "thorn fish” way, simulating the pattern of Mexican baskets and textiles. Some of the walls are covered with wallpaper in Mexican pink color, most used in vernacular architecture in the country and widely used by some representative architects of the modern movement in Mexico as Luis Barragán and Ricardo Legorreta. Another touch of color is achieved through the range of blue chairs, tableware and accessories.

Furniture is mostly made of natural wood. The Liquor Storage, an independent area in place, is located within a cube of concrete that has wooden shelves; fifty desk lamps recalling Moooi´s piece, Dear Ingo that was designed by Ron Gilad in honor of Ingo Maurer, illuminate it. A neon sign that says “Salud” gives the emphasis in this area, word that Mexicans use to say “cheers”.

Finally, bathrooms are covered with a special coating where people can write phrases and drawings with colored chalks.

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