NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- BBVA Compass, as part of its mission to bring the age of opportunity to everyone, is bringing world-class chef Joan Roca to Manhattan to host and serve two dinners at Cipriani Wall Street on September 18 and 19 for select attendees.

Roca is the co-owner, along with brothers Jordi and Josep, of El Celler de Can Roca, which is consistently voted in the top 3 in the World's 50 Best Restaurants list by Restaurant magazine, capturing the no. 2 spot in 2018. This is the fifth consecutive year that the bank has brought the famed Spanish restaurant's experience to its clients across its footprint.

"We're excited to welcome Joan Roca, his staff, and his innovative culinary masterpieces to New York," said BBVA Compass Head of Corporate and Investment Banking Michael Adler.  "BBVA Compass is an innovative financial institution, always looking for ways to deliver unique client experiences with our products and services. Joan and his team follow those same principles in the culinary world."

Roca will also spend time with culinary students at the International Culinary Center in New York City, where he will teach a master class. The class will include a short Q&A session, as well as cooking demonstrations and instructions on techniques Roca uses in his own kitchen. Select students will also have a chance to prepare dinners with Roca's staff, where one of them will be announced as a scholarship recipient, allowing them to train at the famed restaurant overseas.

The Roca brothers have been BBVA brand ambassadors for the past five years, and during that time have traveled across the globe with the bank to bring clients the atmosphere and innovation that has made their restaurant a culinary gold standard. Known as the "holy trinity" of the culinary world, the brothers' restaurant has also obtained three Michelin Stars, an extremely rare and prestigious achievement for restaurants the world over. Joan serves as the head chef, Jordi is the establishment's pastry chef, and Josep is the sommelier.

Last year, Jordi Roca traveled to Denver to delight diners with awe-inspiring dishes that included the brothers' most famous dish, Dig Into the World, where five bites each consisted of flavors inspired by different countries visited on the BBVA Roca Tour in previous years. Also included were suckling pig, prepared by a sous vide technique, vegetable consommé, and a dessert called Lemon Cloud that mimics the scent of perfume. A dessert in the shape of a football was also included at the end of the meal- a nod to the local professional football team.

Other cities the brothers have traveled to as part of their tour with the bank include:

• Birmingham
• Dallas
• Houston
• Miami
• Phoenix
• San Francisco

To learn more about BBVA Compass, visit: www.bbvacompass.com

For more news visit: www.bbva.com and newsroom.bbvacompass.com

About BBVA Group
BBVA BBVA is a customer-centric global financial services group founded in 1857. The Group has a strong leadership position in the Spanish market, is the largest financial institution in Mexico, it has leading franchises in South America and the Sunbelt Region of the United States; and it is also the leading shareholder in Garanti, Turkey's biggest bank for market capitalization. Its diversified business is focused on high-growth markets and it relies on technology as a key sustainable competitive advantage. Corporate responsibility is at the core of its business model. BBVA fosters financial education and inclusion, and supports scientific research and culture. It operates with the highest integrity, a long-term vision and applies the best practices. More information about BBVA Group can be found at bbva.com.

About BBVA Compass
BBVA Compass is a Sunbelt-based financial institution that operates 645 branches, including 332 in Texas, 89 in Alabama, 63 in Arizona, 61 in California, 45 in Florida, 37 in Colorado and 18 in New Mexico. BBVA Compass ranks among the top 25 largest U.S. commercial banks based on deposit market share and ranks among the largest banks in Alabama (2nd), Texas (4th) and Arizona (6th). BBVA Compass has been recognized as one of the leading small business lenders by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and ranked 6th nationally in the total number of SBA loans originated in fiscal year 2017. Additional information about BBVA Compass can be found at www.bbvacompass.com. For more BBVA Compass news, follow @BBVACompassNews on Twitter, visit newsroom.bbvacompass.com, or visit bbva.com.

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SOURCE BBVA Compass