El Bullí Hotel Hacienda Benazuza - Sanlucar la Mayor, Sevilla, Andalusia

How many members had dined at El Bullí ?  Would love to hear about your dining experience in Las Rosas, Costa Brava, Girona - Catalonia ?

In one of deepest parts of Andalusia, at the far end of the Iberian Peninsula from Costa Brava, in an ambiance that could not be any more different from that of the former El Bullí, Ferrán Adriá set out intentionally to create a contrast ... The history of the building dates back to the 13th century when the Catholic King Ferdinand III, called Saint Fernando conquered Muslim Sevilla and had kept the Hacienda Benazuzu for himself.

The Star restaurant LA ALQUERÍA is the keystone of this hotel. The venue offers the opportunity to eat under the Adriá banner as its extraordinaire feature.

Our perfect host, José ( Pepe ), after arriving on an unusual day, it was drizzling ... had organised a wine tasting for interested guests. Disciple and Chef Rafael Bellido, reproduce some of the most outstanding recipes created by the former El Bullí Restaurant during its prolific decade. The delectable repeertoire contains over hundreds of creations per season multiplied by 20 years of work.

The bill of fare includes quotes and comments by the renowned Chef of fame that has changed the way Iberians dine.

The parade of flavors seemed endless. It had begun with a cocktail called a Solid Whisky Sour, followed by 10 SNACKS ( a Picateo = nibbles ) which included:

Cured Reggiano Parmesano Straws

A deconstructed Piña Colada

Caramelized Quail Eggs

Cod Fish Skin

An Artichoke Lollipop

Flame Grilled Melon with salted mint - a perfect contrast of flavours

Cauliflower Cous Cous

Lobster Gazpacho

Beetroot Ravioli filled with Rasberries and Prawns

Tagliatelli made from Jelly Consommé

Then the four main dishes plus the range of desserts ...

Delicious to eat, served on awesome wavy plates and gorgeous to look at:

The Red Mullet ( salmonette ) Gaudí Style

The breaded fresh grilled Sardines

The dolce vita sweet tooth pleasures were:

Chocolate Mold with curry and coconut

Little chocolate bom boms with Eucalyptus Jelly

Well, all in a globetrotting editor and writer´s diary ...

The Madriaje, which in Spanish translates to: a wine paired for each of the various parts of a meal, or dishes paired with each wine ...

If in Spain, this is where to go now ...

Forget everything you have called breakfast too ... The juices of the day, change daily ...

I had sipped and sampled the following:

apple with basil

hibiscus with pineapple and coconut

pink grapefruit and thyme

Butter comes in 3 different modalities:

Nutmeg

Fisherman´s Lozenges

Chive with creamcheese

The Jams and Mermalades included:

Rsaberry

Praline

Juniper with Pineapple

The croissants, brioche, pastries with fresh fruit ... 90% of the breakfast is not the same on the 2nd night´s stay !

My faves were the Papaya and the yogurt mousse with Lemon curd.

As Ferrrán Adriá has stated to me during an interview:  " Buscamos lo nuevo, lo inaudited, lo demás, no nos interesa " ... ( 1994 )

*** We look for the new and undone, otherwise, it does not interest us ...

www.hbenazuza.com  ( In English and Spanish )

Happy Holidays once again,

Margcata 

Dear Gone Fishing, Dan,

Of course, I would enjoy providing some Barcelona insights for your friend.

Here is a short list off top of my head, however, I would like to give you some insider venues too that are not owned and operated by well known Chefs or Adriá disciples ... However, where Adriá chowdowns too ... as they are exemplary. 

Albert Adriá:  Tickets Gastro Bar and 41 Stand Up Gastro & Cocktail Bar

Quimet:  This is lovely with quite an imaginative take on local products of Catalonia

Carlés Abellán:  Comerc 24 ( read my cookbook review on his inventive Tapas )

*** Check to see if Fermí Puig ( grew up in Maryland - Wash D.C. and speaks excellent English ) has opened his new Gastro Bar at the Majestic Hotel ... Truly cool dude ...

I know I had written a restaurant feature on Barcelona, and if I am not mistaken, it was headed by Nico, who asked for Restaurant Recs in Spain ...

Pleased to hear your compliments on my Spanish Pages ... 

The oldest English language magazine, ( 1958 ) which caters to expats is the magazine I write & edit for, I am the Food, Wine and Travel Editor.

Unfortunately, my features covered do include foreign trips, however, there are no publications other than the one I write for.

However, I have freelanced time to time for :

BARCELONA METROPOLITAN MONTHLY ( upscale dining section ) : I published a feature and interview on both Carme Ruscadella and Joan Roca.

COSTA BRAVA RESIDENT  ( Girona and Costa Brava magazine for expats with upscale dining guide ) :  I had published a feature on Joan Roca´s move into his new restaurant quarters in December 2009. 

BARCELONA CONNECT ( monuments and sightseeing focus ) : I published a few sightseeing focused articles on Girona and Barcelona monumentally ...

I have a few blogs of my own too ...

www.internationaltravel.ws ( Jarandilla de La Vera and Plasencia Extremadura and Chefs Ángel León - Cádiz, Joaquin Felipe - Madrid and Quique Dacosta - Dénia, Alicante ) ...

Let me go through my records on Barcelona. Furthermore, there is a lovely Caterer and Baker, Petals and Coco who has travelled frequently to Barcelona. I am sure she has quite a few recommendations too ...

Ferrán Adriá loves Restaurant Shanghai, an Asian venue that he highly recommends and the Chef prepares Chinese, Japanese and Thai, if I am not mistaken. He also recommends a fab Italian, that I went to ... However, I have not been to Barcelona in a year and a half. 

I am not home at moment, so I shall be back to you with some restaurants that you requested ... Back street, cool vibe and fab food --- of course !

Some authentic Romesco and Suquet ... Both of these sauces are Catalan and distinct:  Romesco is a tomato based sauce made from pounded hazelnuts, garlic, chili pepper, and bread crumbs which is quite popular with fish or shellfish, and Suquet is a traditional fish with potatoes, garlic, onion and olive oil --- a stew ...  

Off top, forget that great Italian restaurant we went to -- Via Veneto I believe is name of restaurant --- let me check and I shall write tonight or tomorrow. It is tucked into this stunning small manor house --- lovely place ... It is either the residential street or name of place.

I am sure your friend knows the Market in Bari Goti ... this is cool too for a lunch ...

HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

Margcata.   

2nd Reply - Wednesday 17.30 Hours

Barcelona:

1) Pinotxo ( Pin o Cho ) located in the Barí Gotí Central Market and is called Mercado La Boquería is where Adriá and Arzak chowdown, amongst other well known chefs. There is a Menu del Día, a Laboral Lunch that is affordable and typical of this region focusing on homemade stews and hearty winter fare.

2) The Big Fish: this is a fish monger´s shop with a sit down venue and small lunching corner ... Amigó 39 ( 93. 200 8393 ) ... The selections for lunch are the fresh catches of the day only ... There is a creativity to it all ... The fresh catch sashimi, the fresh catch kebabs on skewers etcetra ... Always different ...

3) Tapac 24:  Located at Carlés Abellán´s venue Comerc 24, this is a Tapas Bar of the vanguard ... Lovely even if a bit pricey, well worth the taste explosion.

4) Restaurant 7 Ports ( 7 Ports ):  P. Isabel II - Number 14, is one of the oldest seafood and rice restaurants in Spain ... It has been opened since 1836. The Paellas are superb. The Catalan version also uses " fi du á " which are the tiny slim fideo noodles stacked with shellfish and seafood. Traditional restaurant. Big portions and traditional staff in black suits with white shirts. My daughter and I have been there on numerous occasions and this is a pig out.

5) Dopo - this is a Pizzería with a tasting Carte ... Loreto 26 ...

6) Quimet Quimet:  best deal and well worth it if you wish to have a vanguard verses classical Catalan or foreign lunch.

7) Tintoreria Dontell : A tintoreria is a dry cleaner, and thus, it is located just behind one. See website:  www.tintoreriadontell.com

8) Mutis: this is the latest Chef´s haunt ...

9) Cal Pep:  tiny tapas of seafood ... in the El Born, sort of a cross between Greenwich Village and Soho type " barrio " ( nieghborhood ).

Pl. Les Olles 8 - one can sip and chow down at the Bar ... 93. 310. 7961.

10) Cinc Sentits:  Canadian Catalan Family owned gastro with Chef Jordi Artal at helm.

11)  Casa Lucio at Viladomat 59:  This is Spanish tapas haven, in the hood of Ensanche. The ambiance, cavern style tucked into the history of Spain.

12) French:  La Maison du Languedoc Roussillon

Lunch runs between 20 and 40 Euros ... Chef Jean Francoise´s Foie and his Entrêcóte are well worth it. Book:  93. 301. 0498

13) Ottimo: For lovers of Italian, the fettuccini with ceps and truffle oil, well, I have been there everytime I have taken the High Speed Train, the AVE to Barcelona. 93. 217. 1310

Enric Granados 85.

14) SECOND HAND ENGLISH BOOKS:  this is a true find.

Montseny 17

www.hibernianbooks.com

15) COOKING CLASSES: Coquus which is CHEF in Latin is a fab place to learn something interesting ... Courses at weekends run between 40 and 100 Euros ...

www.coquus.es

*** NOW that Spain is focusing on the indispensible language of English, there could be courses in our native tongue.

16)  www.elsnapolitans.com Els Napolitans Pizzeria ( above average superior pizza )  

Hope this has assisted.

If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to drop me a message.

Happy Holidays.

Dear Dan,

Firstly, if I can be of help to somebody, I always try to do so. To move on, let me take a moment to wish you a wonderful 2012 ahead, with the best of health, fulfillment and prosperity.

Where are you from ?  Illinois ... Chicago ?  Cool city ... I love " Ba Ba Ree Ba Spanish Tapas Bar " by Northside ... Lovely spot ... Fun venue.  

I am planning a trip abroad to the USA in 2012 ... Have my mom in Manhattan and some dear friends in Miami Beach and Saint Augustine on northeast coast on or near Ormond Beach. Then, I hope to get over to San Fran as I had lived there for 5 years, and it is one of my favourite cities in the states. I would like to visit some wineries in Sonoma and Napa or perhaps Oregon too ... A drive up coast ...

And of course write about it too.

Does your friend ever stop in Madrid ? This is the city for Iberian acorn fed ham and tapas ...

All my best to you and yours, Happy Holidays.

Margcata

Pleased to hear that you enjoy my blogs on Spain ... and that ur friend is appreciative of the Barcelona dining and lunching venue suggestions.

I had been in Chicago, Illinois, Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota in 1993 prior to my relocation to Europe ... Loved the dining scene ... I had eaten at: Ba Ba Ree Ba in Chicago which was a Spanish Tapas Bar where many Spanish Consulate employees were bouncing the bars on the North Side of the River ... Would u know if  it is still open ? I had also gone to Café Iberia ... I had a wonderful time ... Loved Chicago ... Had eaten in a fabulous Italian Restaurant too --- Also, the museums are extraordinairely impressive. Loved the cruise on Lake Michigan ... Lovely city ... I had celebrated my birthday in Greek Town and we had Mezze in 3 different restaurants ... One of them was called Pegasus.

Minneapolis and St. Paul, also had been quite appealing gastronomically. I have friends in both Chicago and St. Paul ...

Well, when you do travel to Madrid, please do let me know and we can get together for a Madrileño style Tapeo ...

I am leaving for Valletta, Malta in a short while and we have to get to airport ...

Happy New Year,

Margcata.  

@ Gone Fishing, Dan,

I just rec´d your note. If you had posted Ba ba Ree Ba - Chicago was still open and kicking --- I missed ur message ... Thanks for the good news. It was fab back in 1993 ... The Tapas were wonderful.

Yes, you and your lady would have a great time in general in the Mediterranean ... I love Italia very much and many provinces of Spain are very worthwhile too. Both are gastronomic meccas as well as:  Greece and the Aegean Islands and France amongst many other countries. Each land has their story and their positives and their negatives as u know ... Just like in the USA, there are fab restaurants and dive dumps ... this is a world wide dilemma. One   has to do their research ...

To a whole new year,

Margcata.