THE WEEKEND If you are seeking a truly world-class culinary experience, you can do no better than spend a long weekend in and around Girona in the Catalonia autonomous community of Spain. The city’s restaurants have 18 Michelin stars between them, and at the other end of the budget spectrum there are fantastic markets and a rich tapas scene bursting with Catalan delicacies such as Arròs Negre (cuttlefish in squid ink) and Calçots (spring onions grilled over an open fire and dipped in Romesco sauce). The Mediterranean and its seafood riches are only half an hour’s drive away, and looking out at the sea is one of Spain’s finest heritage hotels: Hostal de la Gavina .
TAKE A TOUR Gina Guillen of Girona Food Tours has a phenomenal knowledge of Girona’s history, as well as its gastronomic delights. On a half-day walking and tasting tour (€79 per person) she will introduce you to the favourite snacks of many of the city’s ancestors, from the Iberians she describes as “Spanish Vikings”, to the Sephardic Jews who were a vital part of the city’s mediaeval community. The edible highlights of Gina’s tour include Xuixo, a local puff pastry filled with something akin to crème brûlée, said to have been invented by a circus performer in Girona in the 16th century; cold meats – including an unexpectedly sweet candied sausage cooked with with sugar, cinnamon, and lemon – at Mercat del Lleo, otherwise known as the Lion’s Market; and the best Cava and Jamon Ib.
