Discover THEME Southern Europe | Spain For Foodies SPECIAL | SPAIN FOR FOODIES
Spain for foodies From tapas bars in London’s hippest enclaves to Michelin-starred Spanish chefs topping the World’s Best Restaurant lists, Spanish food has become the flavour of the moment over recent years. Once something of a poor and unloved stayat-home sister to its chic cordon bleu neighbour in France, it is now enjoying a well-deserved place on the international stage.
T
he star of the Spanish food show is undoubtedly the quality of the produce and it is that very quality which characterises the regionally rich and varied cuisine of Spain.
For those with more modest budgets but equally keen appetites, the many bars and restaurants offer a dizzyingly high standard of fare to locals – and lucky visitors, with exacting gourmet demands.
San Sebastian is the destination of choice for serious foodies who, armed with pocket guides and insider tips, can enjoy a Basque city that boasts more Michelin stars per capita than virtually anywhere else in the world.
The city’s coastal location on the Bay of Biscay guarantees a steady supply of sparklingly fresh seafood and the dozens of bars offering pintxos (the local variant on the ubiquitous tapas) vie with each other to
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Palacio de Cibeles, Madrid. Photo: César Lucas Abreu © Madrid Destino
produce the most creative and imaginative morsels. Moving over to Spain’s easterly Mediterranean coast, Barcelona and the Costa Brava: just to its north, is the other corner of Spain with a phenomenally high concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants and exceptional cooking. The Costa Brava was, after all, home to Ferran Adrià’s legendary El Bulli and is still home to El Celler de Can Roca – repeatedly voted the top restaurant in the world. Meanwhile, although Madrid’s old town may not be as Instagram-friendly as San Sebastian, Barcelona or indeed the Costa