Every once in awhile, a meal becomes something more than a meal. It becomes an event, a feast for all of the senses. I had that experience recently at El Cielo in Medellin.

The evening began with a tiny white object that looked like a large pill. When put into water, it expanded into a refreshing hand towel. The first taste was a crunchy creation with a spiced cream cheese, presented in a wooden box with greenery and music sprouting from it. Next was a hand wash with delicious smelling yogurt that felt like Play-doh. It was pure fun, and my hands felt fantastic. This was followed by a traditional creamy Colombian soup--delicious. Next, there was a warm cheese-filled bread presented on a wire tree with a sauce made of onion, tomato, and coconut milk. The next course was a deconstructed shrimp tamal...wrapped in Swiss chard, filled with chorizo and a cornmeal concoction. The tamal was followed by tilapia over pureed yucca, then chicken and rice in a beet sauce...both solid, but not knockouts. 

Then came the pork belly, which was ridiculously good. It was on a bed of spinach in a delicious fruit-based sauce, cooked to perfection. There was a beef dish that was not especially memorable, but good. Then came the desserts...the house made ice creams were standouts, as were the chocolate truffles filled with pina colada flavoring. Throughout the meal, the palate cleansers were also innovative and yummy--lemon sorbet infused with vodka was my personal favorite. The night ended with a fun and surprising twist on Pop Rocks.

Unfortunately, the photos from that night didn't come out so well, but please trust me: El Cielo is a must for any visit to Medellin. I definitely plan to return.