José Andrés Talks Oyamel Expansion at Cayman Cookout

Eater National wrapped up its extensive coverage of this year's Cayman Cookout with an extensive interview from DC chef José Andrés. In the interview, Andrés chats about Mi Casa, his new Puerto Rico project, Minibar critics and the recent controversy over tasting menus. But the Eater National team also asked the chef about the upcoming Oyamel expansion.

Andrés confirmed he will be expanding into the space next door to Oyamel, currently occupied by TicketPlace. The expansion will mean a bigger bar for the restaurant. "It's a natural move," said Andrés, who described the restaurant more as a solid performer than as the latest trendy place in town. The expansion will add between 60 and 80 more seats at the location. "Expansion is a good way to begin the new year," he said. The chef didn't offer additional details on what the redesigned space would look like. A bigger bar makes sense, given that Oyamel's is always overflowing at busy times.

The chef said he has a "few more concepts on the way", but said he couldn't talk about what they might be. He had some comments on the backlash over Minibar's recent price increase, too. "The controversies about price, I don't get it. I subsidize Minibar, how much I charge, I subsidize everything. What I charge doesn't pay for what it cost. No one should be thanking me for that, I don't care, but when people come to me and say you're too expensive, I don't get it. The guys some times have to wake up at 7 am to be ready for 6 pm service, that's sometimes the way it is. They put passion in it, and that's expensive."

· José Andrés on Tasting Menus, Critics, and the Democracy of Restaurants [EN]
· All Previous Oyamel Coverage [-EDC-]