BOLD FLAVORS, BOLD DESIGNS: THE CUISINE AND Culinary Educator: Gabriella Ranelli de Aguirre CULTURE OF NORTHERN SPAIN itinerary:
® THE CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA SEPTEMBER 26- Presentedby Travel Programs OCTOBER 4, ® 2008 spain itinerary
Join us for a splendid culinary and cultural tour of Catalonia and the Basque Country, and discover why Spanish cuisine, like Spanish architecture, is captivating Americans with dazzling and sophisticated invention. Spain is a country of strong, seductive flavors – rich red pimenton, saffron, cumin, and some of the finest olives and olive oils in the Mediterranean. But these regions of the Iberian peninsula also offer succulent fresh seafood, traditional and innovative rice dishes, tender baby lamb, fine dry-cured hams and sausages, wild mushrooms, fresh and aged cheeses, and wines that garner praise from consumers and critics alike. From the elegance of three-star restaurants to time-honored rituals like tapas, the imagination and creativity of Northern Spain is dazzling the gastronomic world.
Our tour will begin in Barcelona, arguably Europe’s most scintillating city, and then we will move down to the Priorato, one of Spain’s newest and most interesting wine regions. Next will be Rioja, one of Spain’s oldest and most acclaimed wine regions, where we will stop in the small hill town of Laguardia. From there we will go on to the Basque country, Bilbao and San Sebastian, cultural capitals of the Basque region with more three-star restaurants per capita than any other part of Europe. En route we will take the opportunity to see a number of buildings by Spain’s (and the world’s) most exciting architects – from Gaudi to Gehry – and speculate on the relationship between the two great arts, creating cuisine and creating culture.
THE ITINERARY BELOW IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
Day 1: Friday, September 26 (Barcelona) We will welcome you to Spain with a glass of cava, Catalonia’s favorite bubbly, at our hotel – the former Compania de Tabacos de Filipinas. This magnificently restored hotel lies right in the middle of the Rambla, Barcelona’s main shopping and strolling boulevard. After an introduction to Catalonia and its cuisine, we will set off for one of the city’s foremost restaurants. After sampling a special tasting menu, we’ll have a chance to chat with the chef. Hotel: 1898, D
Day 2: Saturday, September 27 (Barcelona) A short and leisurely morning walk will lead us to the Boqueria, one of Europe’s oldest and most vibrant markets. We will tour this fascinating site and have a hearty breakfast in the marketplace. Next we will walk to a nearby cooking school for a class based on traditional Catalan recipes, such as exqueisada and fideua. Lunch will feature the dishes we’ve prepared. The afternoon will be free for you to relax or explore Barcelona on your own. We will meet again for dinner at an animated tapas bar. Hotel: 1898, B, L, D
1 Day 3: Sunday, September 28 (Barcelona) In the morning we will have a guided tour of some of Barcelona’s most renowned architecture, including the city’s modernist (Gaudi, Puig-Cerda) traditions and the exciting work of new young architects like EMBT (Enric Miralles and Benedetta Tagliabue) and their delightfully inventive Santa Caterina Market. Next we’ll take a short drive up to Saint Celoni to the domain of Santi Santamaria, the first chef in Catalonia to receive three Michelin Stars. A self-taught wonder, Santi has lovingly restored and expanded his family’s ancient homestead to house his highly acclaimed restaurant. We will return to Barcelona in the late afternoon, and you will have free time to explore, shop, or just relax at the hotel. Dinner will be on your own. Hotel: 1898, B, L
Day 4: Monday, September 29 (Barcelona – Priorato) We will check out of our hotel and head south to the Priorato, a wine area that has experienced an amazing renaissance and is gaining recognition for extraordinarily high- quality red wines. We will visit the marvelous Clos de l’Obac, one of the pioneer wineries of Priorat’s quality revolution. After a tasting of their wines and lunch, we will head to La Selva del Camp, where we will check into our hotel – a small, modernist jewel designed by Domenech i Montaner on the edge of the Mediterranean. We will enjoy a light dinner at the hotel. Hotel: Mas Passamaner, B, L, D
Day 5: Tuesday, September 30 (Priorato – Laguardia) We will check out of the hotel and get an early start. We will begin with a visit to the DOC olive oil region of Borges Blancas. Although it will still be too early for the olive harvest, we will tour the amazing facility with its experimental plantation of olives from all over the world. After a tapas lunch demonstrating the wide-ranging uses of Catalonia’s great arbequina oil, we will proceed by bus to Laguardia, a charming medieval town. We will be in the middle of Spain’s most acclaimed wine region, as you will see from the tempranillo vineyards blazing with color just before harvest. At the hotel we will have an introduction to the various styles of Rioja and the innovations taking place there, along with a light dinner at the hotel. Hotel: Villa de Laguardia, B, L, D
Day 6: Wednesday, October 1 (Laguardia) We will start the morning off with a brief visit to Ysios winery, primarily to view the extraordinary building designed by Santiago Calatrava, one of Spain’s most prominent architects (Calatrava is doing the new transportation hub at the World Trade Center). After a taste of Ysios wine, we will go on to Bodegas Roda for a tour of the state-of-the-art winery and a tasting of some of Roda’s most important vintages. Lunch will be with the winemakers at a delightful local restaurant that specializes in modern innovations of traditional Riojana dishes. After lunch we will visit Marques de Riscal with its spectacular Frank Gehry designed building. In the evening we will enjoy a traditional Rioja dinner at a favorite local spot within walking distance from the hotel. Hotel: Villa de Laguardia, B, L, D
2 Day 7: Thursday, October 2 (Laguardia – Bilbao – San Sebastian) After an early morning checkout, we will proceed to Bilbao, the industrial and commercial capital of the Basque region. A former grimy port town, it has been revitalized by some of the most exciting architectural developments in Europe. After a brief tour of the city center we will meet at the Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum. You will have free time to explore the exhibitions and exterior of the museum on your own. Lunch will be in a delightfully informal restaurant in the museum, and afterwards we will continue by bus to San Sebastian and check into our hotel, the historic Maria Cristina. Dinner will be a pintxos (tapas in local dialect) tour of the small and charming old quarter of this beautiful city. Hotel: Maria Cristina, B, L, D
Day 8: Friday, October 3 (San Sebastian) We will start the day with a panoramic tour of enchanting San Sebastian, ending in La Bretxa, the local market. San Sebastian is famous for its male-only sociedades gastronomicas, or eating clubs. After the market tour, we will visit one of these for a cooking demonstration and sampling of local products. Lunch will be at the Michelin three-star restaurant, Arzak, one of the two most acclaimed restaurants in Spain. There we will visit the kitchen, the laboratory for food experiments, and the wine cellar. You will have the afternoon and evening on your own. Hotel: Maria Cristina, B, L
Day 9: Saturday, October 4 (San Sebastian) In the morning we will set off into the hills above San Sebastian to visit a shepherd who makes prize-winning Idiazabal cheeses, a local Basque cheese that has achieved international renown. We will take a quick tour of a family-run Txakoli winery, which overlooks the Cantabrian Sea on the coastal pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. Next we will go on to Getaria for an informal seaside lunch in the lovely fishing village. After an afternoon rest, we will enjoy an early dinner at a divine restaurant featuring sensitive renditions of traditional Basque cuisine. Hotel: Maria Cristina, B, L, D
Day 10: Sunday, October 5 (Departure) You will transfer to the Bilbao airport, which is about 1 1/2 hours from San Sebastian, for your outbound flight. (There is also the possibility of flights from the San Sebastian airport.)
HOTEL WEB SITES Barcelona www.hotel1898.com Priorato www.maspassamaner.com/ing/hotel.html Laguardia www.hotelvilladelaguardia.com/default_contenidos.asp?id_idioma=2 San Sebastian www.starwoodhotels.com/luxury/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=86
CULINARY EDUCATOR American born, Gabriella Ranelli de Aguirre is an experienced translator and art historian. She worked in contemporary art galleries in New York and Madrid before moving to Spain in 1989. Gabriella is an international reference on Basque cuisine, appearing frequently in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Gourmet, and other publications. She holds a Masters in Viticulture and Oenology, and as the founder of Tenedor Tours, has spent the last 10 years introducing people to the wonders of Spanish foods and wines.
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