The Catalan economy has always been externally oriented, despite often being subject to autarquic Spanish economic policies, some of which still survive, such as the blockade on Barcelona and Tarragona Harbours’ railway connections. However, none of this has deterred Catalan entrepreneurs, who are becoming an increasingly common sight in all corners of the world. The following is a text by one of these entrepreneurs, labouring to bring traditional Catalan food to the British market, and clearly succeeding at that.
Quimet, Catalan Food and Drink, started as a market stall (called Quimet Canyal Cellar) that sold a small range of Catalan food and wine at the Real Food Market in London’s Southbank.
We are now getting ready to launch a new UK online shop and, in parallel, we will be selling to British shops and restaurants.
We are proud to come from a rich culture and tradition of food and wine. A land that holds what Colman Andrews described as “Europe’s Last Great Culinary Secret”. He wrote this in 1988 and yet, in 2013, Catalan cuisine, despite the international recognition of some of its stars like Ferran Adrià of El Bulli and the Roca brothers of El Celler de Can Roca, has remained relatively unknown to the rest of the world. The culinary fireworks by Adrià and the Roca brothers have built on a very distinctive food tradition, and on the availability of ingredients of extraordinary quality.
And since the Ancient Greeks and Romans arrived in Catalonia, it has been a land of wine. There are 11 protected wine appellations,and an extra one for Cava (sparkling wine). In the last few decades Catalan wine-makers have moved away from mass-production of bulk wines and the quality and variety of Catalan wines available is increasingly recognised internationally.
We can’t wait to ensure that good Catalan food and drinks are more easily available in the UK, and to help let people know about our rich gastronomic heritage.
And we are starting very soon! On the 21st of April, from 12 to 4, in the context of a Catalan celebration of St George’s at London’s Borough Market, we will be launching Quimet. England and Catalonia share a patron saint, Saint George’s Day being a very important occasion. We will have a special stall for the day selling Catalan wines, cava, ratafia, beans from el Bages, anchovies from L’Escala, allioli, romesco, fuet… and even Bover snails in tomato sauce!
Links:
@quimet
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