Alta cocina, through the back door
My little world of food photography has been given a huge boost. Indeed, I actually cannot believe my luck. As one of my favorite food bloggers said not so long ago, you leap and the net will appear.
Recently I was asked to submit my portfolio to a company that hosts a number of gastronomy events in Spain. They were very pleased, and called to ask if I would like to photograph an evening with one of the food Gods of Spain, from San Sebastian in the Basque country.
Juan Mari Arzak
So, last week my husband and I hopped on the AVE from Madrid to Zaragoza . We found ourselves magically transported to a 16th Century palacio while an entire culinary army seemingly spun ingredients into gold. Such attention to detail and creativity. Their commander, culinary innovator and chief alchemist, Juan Mari Arzak.
El antiguo casino mercantil de Zaragoza
A few selections from Arzak’s cosina de autor (please bear with the translation…)
Entrante – manzana kefir y zumo de foie con caldo de txipirón cambiante
(1st course – apple kefir with juice of foie in a changing broth)
Pescado – lubina con infusion de escaramujo y ceniza de puerros
(Fish – lubina with an infusion of wild rose, ashes of leeks)
Carne – Taco de vacuno mayor con salsa de cereals
(Meat – not sure how to translate it’s deliciousness to you…organic beef from San Sebastian with a sauce of grains)
Postre – Hamburguesa de chocolate con pinceladas de oro, pompas de piña
(Dessert – hamburgers of chocolate ganache, brushed with gold, morsels of pineapple)
Entrante
Entrante
2nd course
Chocolate y oro, chocolate and gold. Really, what could be better?
At the end of the night, Arzak asked if we were hungry. Ummmm…¡SI! He motioned for a plate to be put together for us. We devoured (standing up in the kitchen stacked with dirty dishes) the most succulent plate of gastronomic delights. Our taste buds were treated to magic food…in fact, laced with edible gold.
I looked at my husband, completely exhausted, and glazed over through a sphere of tempranillo…where will we eat next, I wonder? Alta cocina…through the backdoor.
Pinchos de bronze y postre molecular, bronze pinchos and molecular dessert
El camarero...the waiter...but it sounds better in Spanish!
Arzak and me
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Dear Katherine – Beautiful story telling woven with exquisite foods and exquisite sights – what more can a gastronome as for! I am hooked!
Will absolutely be back for my walks through paradise with you.
Ciao, Devaki @ weavethousandflavors
Wow, seriously impressed, my darling.
my, my, my. what an absolute honour to have been in the company of Arzak. and youve taken such gorgeous photos.
AWESOME!!! What a coup. They’re fantastic pictures. It must have been DELICOUS!
Oh Katharine, what a delight! It’s lovely to see this magic taking place in a part of the world I absolutely love! I’m completely hooked on your story-telling and will pass you on to my most deserving fellow gourmands.
Loving your latest blog! You go!
Kath – this is so exciting for you! Thanks for taking me along on your adventure.