Food & Wine Small Group Journeys

One of the most desired cities of the Med, Barcelona adds to its perennial pleasures – a dazzling architecture, an admirable setting and a kaleidoscopic cultural scene – a rich and internationally admired cuisine. CÚRATE has deep connections with Barcelona and we want to share some with you.

CÚRATE invites you to explore this bustling and beguiling capital whose gastronomic scene is the envy of many! Its singular bar and restaurant culture has made from Madrid one of the most engaging, eclectic and exciting places to eat in Europe. From first-rate tapas, experimental fine dining and serious seafood, to the most rooted dishes which can still be savored at century-old establishments. A hearty fried squid sandwich will awaken your taste buds!

A city with heightened emotion – or duende – vibrant and seductive, Sevilla’s palm-filled gardens and rich Mudéjar-style palaces are full of secrets. And its foodie scene is inevitably associated with the word “tapa”; those small portions, mostly paired with a beer or a glass of wine whose intention is to be shared in conviviality. So lets’t practice the healthy habit of “tapear” at its best.

Roses, at a mere two hours north of Barcelona, has been at the heart of the world culinary rebellion with Ferràn Adrià being arguably the greatest culinary revolutionary of our time. Not to mention the fact that Félix is originally from Roses and Katie did one of her most crucial internships at elBulli. Join us to uncover the best kept secrets!

Burgos evokes medieval knights and princesses, and its Cathedral – declared World Heritage – stands out over the forest of Gothic church towers. Culinary speaking the local traditional “lechazo” or suckling lamb - this is something of an institution – coexists harmoniously with a new group of talented chefs and a dynamic dining scene we are ready to soak up.

On the banks of the Guadalete river, El Puerto de Santa María is known as The City of 100 Palaces. This seaside town is an elegant place of faded grandeur now being revived. The fishing port with its strategic situation next to salt marshes and infinite beaches set a glourious past and today makes a fascinating point of departure to explore the astonishing region of Cadiz: home of some of the best world wines, natural passage of the best blue fin tuna and cradle of flamenco.

You might have never heard of Bierzo, but word is getting around and if you get the opportunity to taste a good one, which is unusually captivativating, you can't help but remember it. Some call it “The Spanish Burgandy” and The Best World Winemaker has built up his success precisely here. Will you miss it?

Salamanca’s cathedrals and churches rise up suddenly on the other side of the Tormes River, The old city remains much as it was in the 18th century and nothing seems to alter the rhythm of this ancient ville. The city’s pride is the University of Salamanca founded in 1218, it is said to be the third oldest university in Europe after Oxford and Bologna. Very close some of the best jamón ibérico is being cured under the appellation of “Guijuelo”.

The big industrial city in northern Spain, has undergone a dramatic transformation over the last 15 years. So dramatic that Bilbao is challenging the supremacy of San Sebastián, the noble and prestigious seaside resort to the East. It’s no accident that Bilbao has perhaps the most active Slow Food chapter in the country, nor that its talented – and too often undervalued - chefs dip into their larder to honour their food legacy. There is much more than the Guggenheim in Bilbao.

Known as “Donostia” in the local Basque language, San Sebastian is a coastal gem. Nestled between the mountains and the sea it is not by chance it’s nicknamed "La Concha" (the shell) -- the city half encircles a stunningly beautiful turquoise bay – that used to be a magnet for the wealthy and the aristocracy. Besides being considered the world’s capital for food, the city has a deep rooted history and singular culture to share.

La Rioja turns out what most people have in mind when they think of Spanish wines. The region produces wine since ancient Roman times. It’s no accident that when phylloxera hit Bordeaux in the late 19th century, French winemakers chose Rioja as a location to make wines for the French market. Not only will you have a chance to access remarkable wineries but also you will try astonishing new style wines that express a sense of place.

The other Basque Country. St.-Jean-de-Luz reflects the French Basque culture. A bustling fishing port, St.-Jean-de-Luz also became a popular tourist spot in the 19th century. Cozy and high-spirited the charming city is a manageable walking town with memorable beaches and a prodigious village market. Nothing to say about the local cheese affineur whose passion does not need translation.

Lisbon is a city were rooted traditions and modernity live together. And you'll soon feel Lisboetas love their food; no self-respecting local would even consider hitting the town before first sitting down to dinner.

Soothing and sublime, rich and relaxed, and best enjoyed at a leisurely pace, aptly describes both Porto's cuisine and its eponymous wine. Steeped in tradition and made with care, Porto's cuisine combines the old with the new, marries vintage preparations with modern touches and adjoins tastes of the past with nods to the present.

The Douro Valley; the world’s first officially designated wine region, has drawn people for not only its port but also its postcard-pretty landscapes—steep terraced vineyards carved into mountains along the Douro River and whitewashed wine estates atop granite bluffs. The Douro Valley is member of the club of vineyard regions on the UNESCO world heritage list.

Gastronomy is all about quality in the Alentejo. Rustic fare, prepared in a way that allows the ingredients to shine unencumbered, dominates the region. Slow-cooked black Ibérico pork shoulder, "bacalhau com espinafres" (salt cod with spinach), "sopa de beldroegas" (purslane soup with chorizo) and "ensopado de Borrego" (lamb stew with Tellicherry peppercorns) are a few dishes you can classify as must-try during your visit. Wine and olive oil make the rest.