Spain...A Culinary Road Trip

The gorgeous Spanish coutryside as visioned in "Spain" (the series) is amazing. I look (dream?!) @ the book and remember each episode, in detail.
Enough said...just enjoy.

"Spain-A Culinary Road Trip" would be best described as "Jamon,Jamon (Ham,Ham)" like the Pedro Almodovar movie. There are plenty of hams on this journey--between Italian divo Mario Batali and actress/mother/wife of Coldplay's front man Gwyneth Paltrow. "Spain" is more of a scrapbook than a cookbook. There are plenty of gorgeous sights--from the Costa Brava and Gibraltar to Frank Gehry's modernist Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. It is a feast for the eyes. As medieval pilgrims journeyed to Santiago de Compostela,so does the quartet- Paltrow,Batali,as well as New York Times food writer Mark Bittman and Spanish actress Claudia Bassols-make a pilgrimage through Spain.

"A Culinary Road Trip" does have some recipes. It's classified according to region. There's Valencia Paella,as well as Paltrow's own take on clams (isn't she a spokeswoman for PETA? Aren't she&Chris Martin vegans? Nevermind) They get to see the Alhambra,go to Toledo,Madrid, and Barcelona. Their journey to the Basque region is somewhat disappointing--considering its uniqueness in Europe.

"Spain" is a feast for the eyes,but not so much for the kitchen. It's a standard celebrity coffee table book. Not all who wander are lost...

It is just another cookbook with recipes you can find in other spanish cookbooks unlike other Mario Batali's books.

I purchased the books after seeing the series on TV - the book truly reflects the series. I first purchased one for myself but once I had read some of the recipes and saw the beautiful pictures - I decided to purchase another for a Christmas Gift.

Thoroughly enjoyable, informative and inspiring - reading this colorful book together with watching the series I feel I am with old friends driving throughout Spain looking for new culinary adventures. Just like in the old college days. Will feel lost when the show ends! At least I have this culinary souvenir which I will treasure! Can't wait for the DVD to come out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!