catalan gastronomy

Santi Santamaria’s daughter in charge of her father’s restaurants

September 19, 2011 02:31 PM | CNA

The Catalan chef Santi Santamaria, whose restaurant ‘Can Fabes’ has been awarded three Michelin stars uninterruptedly since 1994, died last February in Singapore, when he was unveiling his new restaurant ‘Santi’. At the time, Santi Santamaria had 7 Michelin stars, being one of the most lauded chefs in the world. Regina Santamaria, aged 25, will follow in her father’s footsteps and take charge of the four restaurants the family has in Sant Celoni (half way between Barcelona and Girona), Barcelona, Madrid and Singapore.

Ferran Adrià’s El Bulli will be opened again to clients for two months in 2012 or 2013 because of a Hollywood film

June 18, 2011 02:38 PM | CNA / Violeta Gumà / Tània Tapia

The Catalan restaurant has been considered the best restaurant in the world for five consecutive years. Chef Ferran Adrià announced he would close his restaurant definitively this July, and will be transformed into the ‘elBulli Foundation’ in 2014. However, the movie Hollywood is planning on the restaurant has obliged the Catalan chef to change his mind and open again for two months in 2012 or 2013. His idea is to show the movie team how the restaurant works.

Harvard students investigate the relation between food and health in Central Catalonia

May 30, 2011 11:29 PM | CNA / Estefania Escolà

The five top students of Harvard University course ‘Cuisine and Science’ are spending three weeks in the Fundació Alícia, a reference and unique centre exploring the link between food, health and innovation. The course is organised by Ferran Adrià and the Fundació Alícia, which is co-directed by the world-known chef. The prestigious American university will offer this course for at least the next five years.

“Mona de Pasqua”, the Catalan Easter cake topped with chocolate figurines

April 22, 2011 05:56 PM | CNA

Catalan tradition dictates godfathers to offer a “Mona de Pasqua” to their godsons or goddaughters for Easter Monday. The cake goes with a chocolate sculpture or figurine, which in some cases are true masterpieces. Chocolate houses, chocolate trains or popular cartoons made out of chocolate are some of the creations that top the cake. Catalan patissiers expect to sell 660,000 “mones” this year, although smaller ones due to the economic slowdown.

"Business must be as innovative as possible. All the staff has to take part”, says the President of Torres Wines

April 4, 2011 11:58 PM | Gastroteca.cat / CNA / Ignacio Portela Giráldez

Torres is one of Catalonia's most globally recognised wine houses, with vineyards and wineries in places such as Chile and California. Company President Miguel A. Torres believes that innovation in every step of the process of wine production is necessary. He also stressed the importance of exports to get over the crisis.

Carme Ruscalleda: “Our cuisine is more rural. It focuses more on local products and is more accessable”

March 14, 2011 09:55 PM | Gastroteca.cat / CNA / Ignacio Portela Giráldez

In a video interview, the Catalan chef who has been awarded five Michelin Stars, Carme Ruscalleda, explains her vision of Catalan cuisine. She describes it as a combination of specific techniques and wit carried out by farmers and fishermen mixed with French and Italian bourgeois cuisine. According to her, Catalonia’s gastronomy is derived from local products and is spreading worldwide, thanks in part to the influence of Ferran Adrià.