HOUSTON, June 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- BBVA Compass announced today the three exclusive locations — a Miami luxury yacht, a country club in Birmingham, Ala., and one of Houston's most celebrated establishments — that will host private client dinners prepared by Spain's Roca brothers, whose restaurant took the No.1 spot on the influential World's 50 Best Restaurants list earlier this month.
Kicking off in Miami, the brothers and their staff will prepare dinner for guests on Aug. 12-13 aboard the SeaFairMiami, the fourth-largest private yacht in the U.S. Then, in Birmingham, the brothers will bring their culinary wonders to a private country club on Aug. 18-19. The tour will conclude in Houston on Aug. 24, 25 and 26 at Caracol, co-owned by Chef Hugo Ortega, a four-time finalist for James Beard Foundation Awards.
"We wanted venues as diverse and dynamic as the Rocas themselves," said BBVA Compass Chairman and CEO Manolo Sanchez. "From the Miami coastline to the hills of Birmingham to Houston's international urban core, we are providing memorable settings across the BBVA Compass footprint for a series of memorable events."
The Roca brothers — head chef Joan, sommelier Josep, and pastry chef Jordi — will shutter their El Celler de Can Roca for five weeks for their global tour sponsored by BBVA Group, BBVA Compass' parent company. BBVA is sponsoring the chefs' tour as part of its three-year partnership with El Celler de Can Roca.
During this second edition of the tour, a total of 40,000 dishes will be served in three countries. Over the two tours in 2014 and 2015, the brothers will have traveled almost 75,000 miles, equivalent to circumnavigating the world three times.
Joan Roca is considered a pioneer in sous-vide, a cooking process where food is vacuum-packed and cooked in water. He developed the Roner, a professional sous-vide cooking device. Josep Roca, the sommelier, meanwhile, has won over critics with his unorthodox wine pairings and techniques. And Jordi Roca, the pastry chef, won the World's Best Pastry Chef Award 2014. The judges called him "part chef, part architect, part magician" and an "eccentric but modest genius," citing his work recreating famous perfumes in edible form.
Restaurant magazine, announcing the brothers had won the No. 1 spot on its World's 50 Best Restaurants list again this year, said of the trio: "The holy trinity of head chef Joan's thoughtful but original cooking, pastry chef Jordi's imagination-defying desserts and sommelier Josep's beautifully considered wine pairings already adds up to significantly more than the sum of its parts, before you add in a vibrant family dynamic and a deep sense of hospitality."
About BBVA Group
BBVA Compass is a subsidiary of BBVA Compass Bancshares Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of BBVA (NYSE: BBVA) (MAD: BBVA). BBVA is a customer-centric global financial services group founded in 1857. The Group has a solid position in Spain, is the largest financial institution in Mexico and has leading franchises in South America and the Sunbelt region of the United States. Its diversified business is geared toward high-growth markets and relies on technology as a key sustainable competitive advantage. Corporate responsibility is at the core of its business model. BBVA fosters financial education and inclusion, and supports scientific research and culture. It operates with the highest integrity, a long-term vision and applies the best practices. The Group is present in the main sustainability indexes. More information about the BBVA Group can be found at www.bbva.com.
About BBVA Compass
BBVA Compass is a Sunbelt-based financial institution that operates 672 branches, including 341 in Texas, 89 in Alabama, 77 in Arizona, 62 in California, 45 in Florida, 38 in Colorado and 20 in New Mexico, and commercial and private client offices throughout the U.S. BBVA Compass ranks among the top 25 largest U.S. commercial banks based on deposit market share and ranks among the largest banks in Alabama (2nd), Texas (4th) and Arizona (5th). BBVA Compass has been recognized as one of the leading small business lenders by the Small Business Administration, and its mobile app recently earned the Mobile Banking Leader in Functionality Award for the second consecutive year from Javelin Strategy & Research. Additional information about BBVA Compass can be found at www.bbvacompass.com, by following @BBVACompassNews on Twitter or visiting newsroom.bbvacompass.com.
Editor's Note:
BBVA Compass is a trade name of Compass Bank.
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SOURCE BBVA Compass