Better than Bardem
Foodie holiday: Superstar Spanish chefs descend on Houston for Central Market'sPassport to Spain
- Don't have the funds to visit Spain and seek out Javier Bardem like ScarlettJohansson in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"?
- Just hit up Central Market's Passport to Spain.
Yes, we'd all prefer to be strolling Las Ramblas with some manchego, a bottle of Rioja and Penélope Cruz/Javier Bardem right now.
But if a trip to the kingdom of Castile is a few too many Euros, head instead to Central Market, where the store is offering a multi-sensory Pasaporte España for two weeks from Wednesday through May 24.
The Passport to Spain kicks off in style on Wednesday evening with a "Celebrate Spain" party with cava, Spanish dishes, flamenco, Spanish guitar and paella made by Ramon Martinez, head chef at José Andrés' Jaleo in Washington D.C. (How do you know it's good? Well, Spaniard Andrés just won the James Beard Award for Outstanding Chef.)
Best of all, part of the $10 cover goes to support Casa España of Houston.
Spanish-themed classes and tastings will take place throughout the two weeks, with big-name Spanish chefs and winemakers making appearances. It's probably too late to nab a spot tasting Spanish seafood with Barcelona-born chefs Daniel Olivella and Quim Marqués on Friday (there's already a wait list), but there are still a few spots left for "An Evening with Paco Roncero" on May 22.
Madrid's Roncero is a chef, cookbook author and food television personality. Or on May 19 guests can learn "The Three Pliiars: Technique, Product & Feeling" with Ramon Freixa, whose three restaurants in Barcelona and Madrid have two Michelin stars between them.
Representing Spain's well-known wine industry are Marquez de Riscal's Javier Ibañez, who'll discuss and sample Rioja on Thursday; Miguel Torres Jr.,, who will offer his family's award-winning reserves — they were named European Winery of the Year in 2006 by Wine Spectator — on Saturday; and Michel Parellada, owner of Caves Naveran, who will take guests on a tour of bubbly Spanish cavas that are only available at Central Market.
There are also regular guides and tastings of Spanish specialties like sangria, flan, Spanish cheese, cava, jamón, sherry and pan amb tomaquet in quick 20-minute sessions throughout the two weeks (click here for the full schedule).
To explore the world of Spain beyond food, Central Market is screening The Running of the Bulls in 3D on May 17 in the store, and sponsoring a presentation of Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona at Studio Movie Grill on May 18. On weekend afternoons there will be patio parties with paella and Spanish-influenced sounds, plus flamenco dancers and guitar Saturdays and Sunday at 4 p.m. in the Chef's Corner.
If that's not enough Spain for you, you might have to throw caution into the wind and head off to your own Auberge Espagnole. But at least you'll know how to make pan amb tomaquet when you get there.