Cooking the Catch of the Day is Hotel Arts Barcelona's newest initiative, and an incredibly innovative one at that.
Always on the cutting edge of creativity, Barcelona's classiest hotel now features a never-been-done-before tour to the city's fish market, followed by an exclusive, private dinner in the hotel's beautiful Arola restaurant, with Executive Chef Antonio Saez.
Eat up the catch of the day — Photo courtesy of Hotel Arts Barcelona
For a lucky handful of people a year, Hotel Arts is offering a wonderful new experience to delve into what goes on behind the scenes both in the market and in the kitchen. Accompanied the entire time by Saez, those on the tour will take a trip to the port and meet the fishermen as they're coming back from a day at sea.
They'll hear their stories and learn about this century's-old, family-run business and how it's evolved over the years. Clients will be able to see the day's catches being offloaded from the ships, and then they'll join the bidding in the auction area, a space that has been off limits to the general public until now.
Together with Saez, they'll decide on what to buy for the evening meal.
Chefs in Arola restaurant — Photo courtesy of Hotel Arts Barcelona
After the auction, clients are taken back to the hotel, where they're greeted with a mouth-watering cocktail. Courtesy and creation of Arola's esteemed bartender Diego Baud, this is one of the best cocktails in the city, if not the country.
Ask for Di Leandro, Baud's personal creation, which he pairs with a delicious amuse-bouche.
While enjoying the cocktail, Saez is deciding on the menu for the evening, based on what was purchased at the auction. He'll then explain his decisions course by course, alongside the sommelier, who pairs each dish with a mix of fresh Spanish as well as international wines.
The evening is concluded with a private dinner and wine pairing, inside Arola's industrial kitchen.
Barcelona's fishing port — Photo courtesy of Hotel Arts Barcelona
This is a unique and never-been-offered-before experience by Hotel Arts or any other hotel in the city. It's a wonderful way to see a side of Barcelona you probably never considered exploring, with one of the country's top chefs.
The food is not only exquisitely designed but it's tasty, fresh and creative.
Events take place every couple of months or so, with upcoming dates in September and December 2015. Spaces are limited, with only five people per group, and the price comes to 150 Euros, which includes transport, designer cocktails, the fish auction and wine pairing with an unforgettable dinner.
Private dining room in Arola's kitchen — Photo courtesy of Hotel Arts Barcelona
