Cook & Taste Workshops, Barcelona
Repeat visits to a city afford you the time and luxury to step off the beaten tourist path and explore a different avenue. This time round, food and food adventures was my goal, from markets to local bars and the best restaurants (many of which I’m still to write about).
If I loved Barcelona before, I loved her ever so much more after we visited in May this year. Tucked in a narrow street in the Barri Gotic, with many old bakeries, sweet shops and the odd football souvenir outlet in a neat little square, the Cook & Taste school hosts cooking workshops all year round.
We attended a morning workshop with the dashing Chef Candido, where along with nine other participants (including an American family with two children under the age of 12) we cooked a meal consisting of:
- Chupito de Sopa de Tomate al Aroma de Idiazabal (shot of tomato soup flavoured with idiazabal smoked cheese
- Tortilla de Patatas y Pan con Tomate (Potato omelette with tomato bread)
- Paella Valencian style
- Crema Catalan (Catalan cream)
The class, as you will note, accommodates all levels and this particular one was perfect to relax in. If you’re an advanced cook and want to learn at a faster pace, this may not be the right class for you.
In our case, I wanted my husband to feel comfortable and our focus was vacation and delectable food- we enjoyed this and I picked up some valuable tips too.
Paella
Paella is not a typical Catalan dish, but Chef Candido explained that it’s requested so often that they’ve incorporated it into the menu. We did pick up indispensible tips on using quality stock, bomba rice being the paella rice of choice and the sofrito- the flavour base. It is customary that smoked paprika is used with chicken and saffron with seafood. There is also a point towards the middle of cooking at which the rice may not be touched, only the pan rotated or swirled.
Hanging tomatoes (tomatoes strung on a thin rope) are the very best quality and honestly make the difference between a tomato stained bread that you find at some of the restaurants along the Ramblas and a delectable, fully flavoured one.
Chef Candido mentioned his very senior grandfather who’s breakfast to this day, consists of a slice of tomato bread and wait for it…a schnapps.
Crema Catalan
Crema Catalan is an uncooked creme caramel, flavoured subtly with lemon with a caramelised sugar top. The kids in the group practically leaped up to be assigned the task, much to their mother’s horror! Chef Candido was as patient with the children as he was the the 19 year old who-never-cooks. I bet he has a problem with a lot of woman watching him in action and falling madly in love- a Spanish man, with gentle manners who can cook well…no need for further elaboration.
For more details on Cook & Taste Barcelona and their classes and prices, visit them
here.
*They do a cooking class with market tour as well, which I highly recommend. I went on a market tour with a private guide and La Boqueria Market (post to follow soon) is also best seen through the eyes of an expert guide *
What a beautiful post (and chef) – makes one want to say olé! and grab the spatula!
This looks like so much fun!!!! I will have to remember this if we go to Barcelona 🙂
Please do if you get a chance!
Ai ai ai ai aiiiiiiii ….. what an experience, I have moved Spain up to the top of my ‘travel’ list – i am dying to go and taste all of that beautiful food – tapas particularly!!! wonderful post – chef Candido – is surely a bit of eye candy too!!! xxx have a fab evening xxx
This looks like so much fun! I’ve went to Barclona a few weeks ago and absolutely loved it – spent most of my time eating not cooking but would love to give this course a go next time I’m there! I’ve just posted a review of the restaurant Gelonch on my blog http://t.co/5chvBlu – ever been there? Would definitely recommend next time you’re in the city!
Hello! Thanks for the lovely comment- will check out your review soon! Thanks for the recco, always looking for lovely spots.
My My My! Aren’t you a jetsetter! Loved reading this post. Sounds like you had an amazing time. Did hubby also participate in the cooking class? Thanks for sharing!
Hey Thuli- yes, husb joined. He’s in 2nd collage, top row, centre- guy on the right. Was a lot of fun. Did you see the post before about cooking with Ms Rocca in Venice? That was really different and loads of fun too.
What a great idea to take cooking classes as you travel, will have to remember this. I bet you 200 creme catalans that Chef Candido does not know South African pan-slamming technique though, he looks way too gentle!
hehe, nope you’re right- far too gentle to know of our chicken bashing skills!
Oooh, a hot Catalan chef! ;o) I love the Barri Gotic and adore Barcelona – this class looks like such a fab way to spend an afternoon/evening there. Proper paella is da bomb!
Fantastic post and pictures!!!!
We’re very glad to read you enjoyed the experience and so grateful to you for your great review about our cooking workshop!!!
Your blog is amazing and we are really happy for being included on it!!!
Thanks a million and we hope we will have the opportunity to welcome you again!!!
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