World's Number Two Restaurant Sets Venues for Texas Tour Dates

The world's number-two rated restaurant El Celler de Can Roca — which held the title of world's best restaurant until it was unseated by Copenhagen's Noma in April — is preparing to embark on a world tour in August. Can Roca will temporarily shutter its restaurant in Girona, Spain to take modern Catalan cuisine on the road, and it's kicking things off in Texas. The Can Roca tour will hit Dallas on August 8 and 9 at the Rachofsky House, a super-modern private residence located in wealthy enclave Preston Hollow that houses some 800 contemporary works of art. Prior to that, the tour will stop in Houston for three nights at the Rienzi Museum of Fine Arts; following the Texas dates, it's off to Mexico and South America.

The tour is sponsored by BBVA, Spain's second-largest bank and parent company of American bank BBVA Compass. Led by Can Roca's founders, brothers Joan, Josep and Jordi Roca, a team of 20-plus staffers will serve elaborate multi-course dinners to — here's the bad news — BBVA clients only. (Hey, there's probably still time to call up the bank and set up an investment portfolio.) Per yesterday's New York Times, the Roca brothers will be leaning on local ingredients and "well-known local chefs" to customize their menus for each tour stop.

· BBVA Selects Two Texas Art Venues to Host Dinners by Famed Roca Brothers [BBVA Compass]
· The World's #2 Restaurant is Definitely Coming to Dallas [-EDFW-]
· El Celler de Can Roca [Official]

Rachofsky House. [Photo via BBVA Compass]