Archive for the ‘Olive Oil’ Category

Top Australian Spanish Chef Showcases Spanish Cuisine In Shanghai

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

MoVida’s Frank Camorra takes part in New Gastronomy Fiesta Program at Shanghai Expo

It’s no secret Australia claims Spanish born Frank Camorra as not only one of our own but also as one of the best chefs in the country, but those in Shanghai visiting the Shanghai Expo were able to see Camorra in action and understand why Australians holds Camorra in such high regard.

In Shanghai from 28 June – 4 July, Camorra paired with Josechu Corella of Bal d’Onsera, as part of the New Gastronomy Fiesta Program.

The pair created a menu inspired by the 1980’s countercultural movement known as Movida, also the name of Camorra’s restaurant. Offering a tribute to film director Pedro Almodovar with a seafood cocktail with bean gazpacho, named ‘‘Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown’’, the pair also showcased a dish Camorra fans will know well; his anchovy with smoked tomato sorbet.

This won’t be the last of Camorra’s international appearances this year as Frank will be sharing his passion for Spain when he hosts a gastronomic tour of Spain in October this year. Just ten guests will experience the journey of a lifetime as Camorra brings his most recent cookbook, MoVida Rustica to life. He will show guests behind the scenes of Spanish produce markets, introduce them to producers of Spain’s finest ingredients and restaurants, and show guests how to prepare some of his signature dishes.

For those who aren’t able to take the tour, you can still sample some of Spain’s most famous produce, olives and oil, at Sydney’s Good Food & Wine Show. Hosted from 16-18 July 2010 at the Sydney Exhibition and Convention Centre, Darling Harbour, guests at the event can visit the Olives & Olive Oil from Spain stand to sample a delicious variety of Spanish olives and oil.

The latest Oiltourism

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

Over the past few years, culinary tourism has become a trendy option when going on holidays, and not only for gastronomy experts and professionals. A great example of this are all the wine routes that are considered an absolute must visit in some regions, becoming even tourist destinations themselves. 

There’s plenty out there about wine and food, I thought it could be cool to give something new a try, it’s different, original, and fast becoming the thing to do… Oiltourism!!!! I’ve been checking it out and it is actually quite interesting…

In Spain, the largest producer of olive oil, there are plenty of olive oil routes, places to visit and go for olive oil tasting, with the added bonus that you can find them in a variety of regions all over Spain such as: Jaen, Córdoba, Seville, Toledo, Aragon, Catalonia, or Mallorca Island.

Oiltourism usually involves staying at traditional accommodation, visiting olive fields, going in an Almazara (the olive oil making mill) and going for tastings. It’s interesting too because it doesn’t only centre on the process involved with making extra virgin olive oil, Oiltourism also explores antique techniques and tools, day trips, cooking classes, and other activities.

Furthermore, the regions in Spain where olive oil routes are located usually have an abundant offer of ethnographic museums, stunning artistic and historical heritage spots…

















You can find some interesting information about that in the following website: http://www.spain.info/reportajes/aceites_con_denominacion_de_origen_la_calidad_garantizada.html?l=en , so next time you visit Spain, make sure you take the opportunity to enjoy this fascinating combination of olive landscapes, culture, gastronomy and entertainment!

More MoVida for Melbournians

Friday, November 27th, 2009

This week, I’m really glad to write about the recent and exciting new opening in Melbourne …the MoVida Aqui !!
For those of you who haven’t heard yet about MoVida, it’s been the most popular Spanish restaurant in Melbourne so far. In fact, and quoting the Australian Gourmet Traveller review, it is the best Spanish restaurant in the country! That’s why this new opening is such good news!

MOvida

This bar de tapas is owned by the acclaimed chef Frank Camorra. After an inspiring trip to his homeland, Spain, Frank decided to open a restaurant back in Australia. MoVida’s name comes from the art and film movement that grew in Spain during the 80s, and his aim was to capture all that innovation and invigorating energy and bring it to his dishes.

I couldn’t wait to check the menu so I looked it online, and definitely it looks quite fun and creative.
Some of the samples included Marinated Green Olives with Citrus, Garlic and Thyme and Chorizo baked in a Fino and Olive Oil to Oysters served with Manzanilla and Watermelon dressing.

Movida2

MoVida Aqui is even larger than the two original restaurants, MoVida and MoVida Next Door. And now we can also enjoy The MoVida Terrace, which I’m sure, will become one of the best and trendiest places this summer for a get-together with friends.
Don’t miss out!

Matt Preston tests the Top five

Friday, November 13th, 2009

I’m sure you’ve heard about Matt Preston, one of our most international gastro critics. He is , and now he has become even more popular and controversial now that he is one of the main judges on TV’s Master Chef Australia.

A few weeks ago Preston decided to find out for himself whether the top five restaurants in the world were really worth the money. When I read about it, I was really amazed to find out that three of the top five restaurants in the world were Spanish!

El Bulli has been voted the best restaurant in the world four years in a row and despite Preston’s skepticism when it comes to elite chefs, he said that Ferran Adria, el Bulli’s chef could be “a sort of Mozart of the kitchen”. I think maybe he was really impressed with the food.

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He also had wonderful things to say about the other two Spanish restaurants El Celler de Can Roca and Mugaritz. It’s wonderful to see them right alongside the famous Noma and the Fat Duck.

I was really curious about the food he tried. As a teaser and just to awaken your appetite, amongst the 39 snack-sized dishes he tried at el Bulli he had one that has “tall sheets of gossamer-thin pineapple wafer studded with black olive” and at Celler’s he had “five gel-like splotches of green olive, fennel, orange, bergamot and pine-nut purée” I’m sure they were as exciting and delicious as they sound.

We can all dream about having such creative dishes that use innovative ingredients and methods of preparation, but I am wondering, out of all the Spanish restaurants here in Australia, which one is your favorite?

el_bulli

International Food Festival

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

Have you noticed the food invasion in Sydney’s streets this month? October food month brings a lot of activities to us food lovers, and I have been thoroughly enjoying every second of it. Last week I was in Hyde Park and I saw a delicious version of the Spanish flag’s red and yellow stripes. It was really awesome that they used two Spanish emblems for it, the chorizo for the red stripes and the Spanish tortilla for the middle yellow stripe. For this famous Spanish dish you only need eggs, potato and Spanish olive oil, and it’s a star of every party.
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Also making a splash during food month was Spanish chef Sergi Arola. A disciple of Ferran Adria, this chef now has a two Michelin star restaurant in Madrid. He started his professional life in a very different environment – he was a rock star. I guess he must always have wanted to visit Australia because his band was called the Kangaroos. During his stay in Sydney, Arola took part in various activities, such as his two talks he imparted during the World segment of the World Chef Showcase MCed by Matt Preston and his master class at the Bently with chef Brent Savage. This very cool chef is the new face of Spanish gastronomy and it was great to see him participate in the October Good Food month.

sergi arola

All the different tastes and dishes that were on display this month, made me wonder if I could choose one Spanish dish as my favourite. If I had to do it, I would choose Gambas al Ajillo (Garlic Prawns) or a delicious tapa of marinated Spanish olives with a glass nice Spanish wine.

What about you?