I love Spain. I’ve visited and travelled through the country a fair few times and each time I’ve wished I could speak the language better than I can, which is not a lot. I can get by as a tourist and do the “Where is? / How much? / I’d like a table for..” routine but not much more. Shameful really. I speak much better french (you know, raise a smile, ask a question and understand the anwer, in short, have a conversation of sorts). No, this year I definitely have to get to grips with the language because I know how being able to hold some conversation opens doors and enriches the visiting experience and Spain is a country well-worth getting to know.
Many years ago my OH and myself, fresh from redundancies, decided to travel around Europe in our old VW campervan. Of all the countries we visited, we felt that Spain was the most magical, surprising and breathtaking. We already knew something about the rich history of Spain, the artistic contributions to the world and her architecture before we first went. Basic school and college learning. What we didn’t realise was that while the cities in Spain are indeed vibrant, culturally rich and, for the most part, beautiful, the countryside is simply outstanding. Wild, expansive and underpopulated. With huge variation of flora from the the central plateau to green forests to stunning coast, with outstanding birdlife (the eagles and vultures are amazing), with lovely landscapes to gaze upon it seems almost an embarrassment of riches to find that everywhere but everywhere the most wonderful fresh produce is available. You do not know how good a red pepper tastes like until you have bought and cooked a red pepper in Spain. And fish, really flippin’ fresh fish available in every town market, even in the centre of this huge country. Crazy really when even now in London, so near the sea, you have to check your fish carefully before purchase for freshness.
One city we found to be ‘extra’ special was Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, a region in north eastern Spain. My OH is an architect and so was in raptures over the chance to view the many examples of catalan modernist architecture (Antoni Gaudi being the most celebrated architect of that movement) and if I say we walked all over the city, I’m not kidding. A lot of shoe leather was worn away on the pavements of Barcelona. Apart from the (many) Gaudi gems there were other Art Nouveau buildings to admire, plus the Mies Van Der Rohes’ Pavilion to visit and of course the 1992 Olympic site (our first visit was 1993) was a ‘must do’ for any architect… and his girlfriend it seemed (it was pre ‘ball-and-chain’ as my OH charmingly calls our marriage). Ah, young(ish) love.
Luckily I found La Boqueira, the food market, off Las Ramblas. If you ever doubted that Spain was a gastronomic destination, then two minutes after entering La Boqueira all doubts get cast aside. Put simply, it is food heaven. The ‘market stick’ that all food markets are measured against. And what better place to eat in than in here which we did (one good tip for all travellers is that wherever you travel, find the central market and eat at the market stall holders cafes. You’ll eat the freshest food, you’ll taste the cuisine of the region and you’ll meet the locals). Yes siree, Barcelona ticked many of our boxes as a fabulous place to visit.
So when I was invited to a Barcelona Evening event hosted by Rachel of Catalan Cooking and Codorniu I pinged off a “Si, por favor” inmediatamente! As some of you may know I’m a fan of Rachel’s efforts to bring Catalan cuisine to these shores. I’ve attended one of her excellent cooking classes and participated in her some of her twitter ‘cookalongs’. Codorniu, who make the most delicious range of cava – and incidently have been wine producers since 1551 - produce the best selling cava in Spain, Anna de Codorniu Brut. They will be sponsoring future Catalan Cooking supper events and the partnership is a perfect match (check out the Codorniu range available in the UK here) which bodes well for that relationship.
For this Barcelona Evening a few food and drink bloggers were treated to a wonderful feast. We snapped and tasted and sipped as Rachel (and supper club co-chef Franz Schingal) plied us with treat after treat. It was a fun evening and lovely to meet some bloggers that I follow that I hadn’t met before (Su Lin and I shared a table and behaved ourselves admirably in the face of so much cava). Codorniu have a good range of cava, which I admit I didn’t know, and we were lucky enough to try the whole range. Each course was matched with one of their cavas and while I enjoyed ALL the cavas my favourite was Codorniu Reina Maria Cristina Blanc de Noirs 2008 a lively fresh cava with a smooth finish. Saying that, I was gifted a bottle of the top selling, Anna de Codorniu Brut, and had it a few days later with my OH on Valentine’s Day with fish and chips. A delicious combination and one we’ll definitely repeat again.
In fact now that I’ve sampled cava as a food match I’ve stocked up so that, like the canny folk of Barcelona, I’ll make drinking some bubbly a regular occasion and not just leave it for ‘special’ occasions.
The next Catalan Cooking Supper Club is taking place today, March 20th. Rachel also runs catalan cooking classes so if you’ve ever wondered what Barcelonians like to dine on now’s your chance to sign up or find out about future Supper Club events here. You’ll experience the many delights of Catalan Cooking and enjoy some cavastic tastings.
The Barcelona Evening Menu
Ahem, this is what we ate and drank, read and salivate:
Aperitiu: olives, fuet, cheese, iberico chorizo and ham, potato tortilla, courgette, tortilla Wine match: Anna de Codorniu Brut
Primer: Carn d’olla soup Wine match: Codorniu Seleccion Raventos Brut
Principlal: squid stuffed with aubergine / fried potatoes with tomato sauce or aioli / fideua with squid / rice cooked in the oven with wild mushrooms / rabbit cooked with onions / roast peppers, aubergines and onions / pickled cauliflower Wine match: Codorniu Reina Maria Cristina Blanc de Noirs 2008
Postres: cremam catalan / catalan doughnuts / hazlenut soup with crocanti and ice-cream Wine match: Codorniu Pinot Noir Ros
If you’d like to more know about the evening please read fellow diners accounts of the food / wine matching:
Ooo I do like to read a good menu.
Photo of me looking most pleased was taken by Tyson Sadlo who kindly gave permission for use.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Great to hear from another person who loves the Spanish countryside! Frangelico is half Spanish, and we traveled a fair bit from Madrid down through Andalucia and back years ago with his family. Such spectacular scenery that I had just never heard about before actually seeing it! Completely fell in love. Reading your post brought me back.
Truffle
Yes it’s such a beautiful country. Can’t wait to go back again this year. We’re going to Andalucia to the Las Alpujarras with some aussie in-laws. Busy trying to brush up my spanish, very rusty.
: )
I love Spain, Spanish and Spanish food so will definitely have to find out more about the classes and superclub.