Q&A with juan Manuel Barrientos

from The Alea Journal - May 2020

Elcielo Hospitality Group

How did the business first begin?

We began Elcielo 12 years ago when I was 23 years old, and it was the same conceptmodern Colombian cuisine, and an experience for all the senses

What are the main differences between running a business in Colombia and the United States?

I think the laws and the culture are very different All the technical issues like payrolls, marketing, production, and food providers are very very different, and it’s very challenging but very exciting to understand both countries.

In terms of clients there are different types of cultures; Miami and Medellín are more Latin, and Washington is a little bit more sophisticated and at the same time more polite, so clients change between the cities

What parts of your job bring you the most joy?

The most joy is seeing the smile of the clients when they come to the restaurant, especially the kids And another part of my job that I enjoy very much is travelling, and finding other restaurants and other chefs Other than running exceptional bars and restaurants,

What other ambitions do you have for the business?

I like real estate very much and with the hotel we re mixing the real estate and the hospitality businesses

Could you explain a little about the multi-sensory experiences you provide?

The multi-sensory experience is based on awakening the senses with the dishes - you can wash your hands with chocolate and lick your fingers, you can smell things, taste things that look like one thing and taste like another

Locations

Medellín:

Elcielo Restaurant, Elcielo Classic, Kai (vegan restaurant), Aguafresca (mexican restaurant), La Serenissima (italian restaurant), Cuon (asiatic restaurant), Cerdología (Pork restaurant), Papaya Guacamaya (colombian typical food) Shibari and El Navegante (Bar).