Big City Food Biographies: A Taste of Barcelona: The History of Catalan Cooking and Eating

- Blurb -

Widely associated with molecular gastronomy and lavish food markets, Barcelona has become a must-visit destination for foodies and chefs around the world, especially after the spectacular rise of chef Ferran Adria of the famed elBulli. Barcelona is a city that attracts millions of visitors in search of art and culinary experiences while cookery apprentices from every nation arrive looking to perfect their skills and expand their gastronomic horizon. The city offers an unparalleled combination of restaurants, chefs, restauranteurs, media and local government initiatives to help those who arrive seeking an extraordinary culinary experience. But how has the city established itself as a global culinary referent while becoming synonymous with cutting-edge gastronomy?A Taste of Barcelona: A History of Catalan Cooking and Eating narrates Barcelona's urban and culinary development from the Middle Ages to the present, tracing the origins and the growth of the culinary prestige of this part of the region of Catalonia. A "cosmopolitan" center since the 1700s, Barcelona's port and the good connections to neighboring areas meant that the city was always well-supplied and had the privilege of encountering novel products throughout its history, while preserving a strong culinary tradition. Next to literature, painting, music and architecture, cooking became another important activity that strengthened and champion Catalan identity in the region. Past, present and future visitors of the city will find a fascinating history of the unforgettable culinary traits of one of the most popular cities of Spain.