Buddha-Bar Mexico City Opens February 2011

Buddha-Bar arose from the vision of Raymond Visan, founder of the George V Eatertainment Group, who in 1996 found an incredible space at Rue Boissy d'Anglas, near the famous Place de la Concorde, in one of the finest neighborhoods of Paris.

Inspired by Eastern cultures, he created a restaurant concept unique to the world that combines a Restaurant with a Bar-Lounge area both adorned with refined Asian elements where one can listen to live D.J. music with selections from around the world. The menu is based on Pacific Rim Cuisine, using recipes, ingredients and spices from Chinese, Japanese, Thai cooking, among other flavors of East Asia, that are subtly combined with western seasoning, creating a fusion of flavors and cultures. The exoticism and energy that surround Buddha-Bar immediately captivated Parisian society and soon became a must for travelers from around the world.

This successful concept has been recreated in other major cities such as Beirut, Dubai, Cairo, Kiev, Monte Carlo, Prague, Sao Paolo, and Washington. Now in Mexico City, one of the most influential places in Latin America, the most recent Buddha-Bar in the world opens. On Presidente Masaryk Avenue in the exclusive area of Polanco, Buddha-Bar Mexico found the perfect place to recreate the ambience and atmosphere that represents this magical name among the international gastronomy.

Chef David Contreras, who was born in Mexico and has seven years experience in Buddha-Bar Paris, is leading a kitchen team made up of 50 people, including a Sushi Chef and Pastry Chef. This team has been trained following the guidelines and philosophy of the group. Each dish is prepared with the finest ingredients and meets rigorous quality standards that characterize the brand, exceeding the expectations of his sophisticated clientele though sight, taste and atmosphere.

The fusion menu is rich, healthy and exotic, mixing fruit flavors and spices, with a carefully balanced selection of classic recipes and new creations, reflecting the inspiration of the Buddha-Bar chefs worldwide. The Mexico location has a comprehensive array of more than 40 specialties, 30 varieties of sushi and about 12 desserts. In addition, the bar-lounge has an interesting selection of finger food and sushi.

The dishes are served under the Buddha-Bar's Family Style concept; generous portions which are intended to be shared. Among the most popular dishes worldwide, and which can now be enjoyed in Mexico, are the Buddha-Bar Chicken Salad, Crispy Shrimp with basil sauce, sweet but at the same time fresh and spicy, Red Thai Curry with Shrimp, Black Cod in Miso-Yuzu sauce, Wok sautéed Beef with Thai basil, and Curried Lamb with mango Chutney. The sushi list includes the Buddha-Bar Roll, Red Dragon Roll and the New Style Tuna Tataki. Another distinguishing feature of Buddha-Bar is the dessert menu, where the French influence is predominant but always accompanied with subtle Asian touches, such as Chocolate Bars with sesame paste, Creamy Vanilla Rice, and the Cheese Cake, which earned the nomination for Best Cheese Cake in New York two years in a row.

The cocktail bar offers a creative and cutting edge menu which is enhanced by the training the team received in Paris, taking the best recipes from the various Buddha- Bars in the world.

The cellar–which was created under the guidance of Sommelier Claudia Zarate– offers an extensive choice of wines from around the world, with over 150 labels selected for maximized pairing with every dish.

The architectural project was developed in Paris by a team of the George V Eatertainement Group, following strict guidelines that allow each Buddha-Bar to maintain the essence of the original.

The entrance that leads through the spectacular Bar-Lounge area offers an incredible view of the restaurant, the terrace, and of the D. J. booth, all under the complacent gaze of a giant Buddha. This is the most emblematic symbol of Buddha-Bar. It measures 3.60 meters in height and weighs approximately one and a half tons. It was handmade in Thailand and after a long journey, was assembled and retouched in Mexico by the same Thai artisans who created it.

The staircase that leads to the restaurant slowly passes by the lounge and terrace. The predominant colors are black, red oxide, and gold and the furniture has been manufactured in Mexico with exotic woods. The upholstery, designed with European textiles selected from the latest collections, includes brocade with oriental themes in shades of blue, gold, red and chocolate, bringing warmth, exuberance and exoticism.

The lighting, which is controlled by an advanced intelligence system, projects different intensities of light and color, bathing the room in different colors appropriate to the time of day or night, giving soul to the atmosphere.

Buddha-Bar has also made history in the music world. The Buddha-Bar CD collection reaches its 12th edition of well known compilations by renowned D. J. 's who have marked musical trends around the world under the label George V Records, the group's record company.

In Mexico, the D. J. booth is managed by Naz, a D. J. with great sensibility and experience and who has worked for over four years at the Buddha-Bar in London and Dubai.

The music strategically occupies space in every corner of the Restaurant, the Bar-Lounge and the Terrace, thanks to the sophisticated audio equipment installed in order to distribute music with the best quality, allowing appropriate sound at different times, ambient, and moods.

Buddha-Bar Mexico arrives with serenity and harmony to conquer the cosmopolitan clientele of the city of Mexico, one of the most vibrant in the world, becoming a unique place where the body, spirit and senses are nurtured and converge in a sense of wellbeing, exoticism and sensuality.