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The establishment was ravaged after the storm. Sensum

A Renowned Chef from Alicante Sponsors a Restaurant Devastated by the Storm

Sensum Gastrobar, located on the Paiporta promenade, lost everything in the floods

Tere Compañy Martínez

Alicante

Domingo, 29 de diciembre 2024, 07:16

The devastating storm that struck Valencia on October 29th has led to countless personal tragedies amidst an almost apocalyptic scene. One such story is that of Sensum Gastrobar, a restaurant located on the Paiporta promenade, which supports the family of Victor, its owner.

This is the establishment sponsored by one of the rising stars of Alicante's culinary scene, Pablo Montoro. The chef, who has been awarded a Sol by the Repsol Guide, could not stand idly by in the face of the disaster caused by the floods and immediately traveled to the area to assist with the cleanup efforts.

Solidarity in the Face of Catastrophe

Chef Pablo Montoro speaks confidently about the ongoing need for help in Valencia. Besides being one of the volunteers who donned rubber boots and rushed to aid those affected by the storm, the chef has been contributing from the outset.

From the beginning, he has collaborated with the Alicante Gastronomic Solidarity initiative, which has distributed thousands of hot meals in the affected areas. "From one day to the next, you lose everything, and tomorrow, what do you do to feed your family?" the chef reflects.

This is why he has been committed to continuing his support, even organizing a charity dinner at his restaurant, the exclusive Espacio Montoro, where all proceeds, over 3,000 euros, were donated entirely to aid reconstruction efforts.

"If people were truly aware, they would all rush to help there. Besides donations, there is still much to be done physically; cleaning, cooking, or assisting the elderly. Solidarity is essential," concludes the chef.

"We couldn't just stand by, and we've gone many Sundays to help clean with the pressure washers. In my group, there's a friend from Paiporta, so we had many contacts and knew where to go to help," explains Pablo Montoro.

But after the initial response, the chef sought ways to continue lending a hand, doing so in the way he knows best—through cooking. In this case, he reached out to his friend to share the idea of partnering with a local restaurant to aid in its reconstruction, which led him to Victor and Sensum.

1. The facade of the establishment during the flood. 2. The terrace next to the Paiporta promenade. 3. The interior of the establishment before the storm. Montoro
Imagen principal - 1. The facade of the establishment during the flood. 2. The terrace next to the Paiporta promenade. 3. The interior of the establishment before the storm.
Imagen secundaria 1 - 1. The facade of the establishment during the flood. 2. The terrace next to the Paiporta promenade. 3. The interior of the establishment before the storm.
Imagen secundaria 2 - 1. The facade of the establishment during the flood. 2. The terrace next to the Paiporta promenade. 3. The interior of the establishment before the storm.

At that time, the establishment was in ruins. Montoro explains that the force of the water tore away the kitchen, walls, and facade, even the industrial extractor hood. So after the flood, Victor and his family were left with nothing.

"We've arrived there with everyone we could gather who could help us—architect, surveyor, interior designer, my head chef is devising some new recipes and reorganizing the kitchen," states Montoro. Indeed, everything at Sensum needs to be redone, and the work is immense.

For now, this team of volunteers has started by completely redesigning the establishment, making plans, organizing the kitchen, the dining area, and the restaurant's office. To begin construction, they must wait until everything is clean and dry, but the Alicante chef hopes that by April or May, Sensum will be able to reopen its doors.

"They are very happy to see that people have rallied around them and are helping; they also see it as a second chance to become more professional," explains Montoro. The chef acknowledges that Sensum already had a good menu of rice dishes and Valencian paella, a traditional menu with a touch of fusion, and above all, his team will be there to assist with new costings, some recipes, and proposals to streamline processes.

If all goes well, the restaurant will open its doors in the spring, following work that Montoro estimates to be worth over 250,000 euros, a small part of the economic toll the storm has left in the most affected areas of Valencia.

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todoalicante A Renowned Chef from Alicante Sponsors a Restaurant Devastated by the Storm