LZF’S CANDELABRO SHINES AT MERCADO LITTLE SPAIN, NYC

For anyone seeking a taste of Spain in New York City, Mercado Little Spain is a must-see. A part of Hudson Yards (New York’s latest urban development), it is described as a ‘veritable love letter to Spain’. Penning that letter is Chef José Andrés—Mercado Little Spain is the accumulation of his many passions, culinary expertise and a devotion to storytelling. This new food venture is inspired by the traditional mercados (markets) found throughout Spain and offers visitors a chance to socialise and eat in a myriad of Spanish-style spaces.

In creating Mercado Little Spain, José Andrés collaborated with fellow chefs Albert and Ferran Adrià (of El Bulli—named the world’s greatest restaurant no fewer than five times). Spanning 35,000 square feet, Mercado Little Spain has three Spanish restaurants (including an Iberian take on the all-day American diner) and a coffee shop. The Mercado itself is a bustling area, with food kiosks and bars, sitting at the heart of Little Spain. And within the Mercado, you will find LZF’s magnificent Candelabro.

In any setting, LZF’s Candelabro is a lighting showpiece, a masterful display of creativity, craftsmanship and technical competence. Designed by LZF co-founder Mariví Calvo, the majestic Candelabro is an expression of LZF’s love for avant-garde concepts and playful forms. The lamp is made up of six different LZF designs, presented in tight formation: Agatha, Minimikado, Raindrop, Totem, Pod and Poppy. In the Candelabro, Mariví offers a theatrical cluster of lights, something she further embellishes with the addition of several golden birds.

José Andrés is very much a culinary marvel. With a number of restaurants to his name, he is a celebrated chef, author, educator, television personality, humanitarian and philanthropist. Originally from Asturias in north-west Spain, Andrés is a zealous champion of immigration reform in the US and believes that undocumented migrants are ‘part of the DNA of America’. In 2018, Andrés was named as one of Time Magazine’s ‘100 Most Influential People’ and has been nominated for the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize—for his work in responding to natural and man-made disasters, through his World Central Kitchen charity.


Photo: Alex Staniloff via Eater New York, Zachary Zavislak via The New Yorker.