Price: $23.07

December 06, 2009.

If You Enjoy the TV Show, You Want This Book.

Rating: 5
My husband and I have really loved watching the TV show and we hope to go to Spain sometime soon. While watching the show I felt like I should be taking notes on the great places they visited, But having this but is much better! I am looking forward to trying some of the recipes soon they look delicious.

December 22, 2008.

Go For A Wonderful Ride!.

Rating: 5
Spain, A Culinary Road Trip by Mario Batali (with Gwyneth Paltrow) is, quite simply, a wonderful book. I received it as a gift and immediately plunged in, seeking out those Spanish culinary delights that I've come to love during my annual treks. Much to my delight, I encountered numerous items that I normally wouldn't try. However, given the interesting descriptions, I've decided the next time I'm in Spain I'll be expanding my palate.

The book itself may seem like your typical coffee table tome. Don't be fooled. Sure, the book contains many photographs but they are handsomely integrated with the recipes and text. Batali and Paltrow put the food into cultural context, one of the things I appreciate most about this book. Furthermore, the photos show a bunch of people having a great time. The enthusiasm and love for the people and food of Spain literally leaps off the page. You'll meet ordinary people as well as famous chefs courtesy of this duo.

Of course, I'm an easy sell in this department. During my many trips to Spain, I've come to love the culture. Still, I've seen my share of travel, history, and cooking books. This one is among the best. In some ways it brings to life portions of H.V. Morton's A Stranger in Spain. If you are even remotely interested in the subject, don't hesitate to plunk down your cash. You will not be disappointed.

December 22, 2008.

Food Porn.

Rating: 5
OK, I admit it. I have a fetish for food porn - those luscious, mouth watering, steaming, salivating photographs that should be a part of every cookbook. OTRA certainly qualifies as a card-carrying member of that club but in this case the reader is fortunate. It is not just the food but the land itself and, of course, the gorgeous Claudia and Gwyneth that provides pleasure. In case you haven't guesses, this is a stunning book.

It's not mandatory that one first see the video but it certainly helps, especially putting events, travels and food in context. Some complained that this is not a "cook book" per se and they are right - it is a book about food and the culture of food. I had feared that the show would devolve into a tiresome journey through fancy, incredibly expensive restaurants with sparkling silverware and candles. Instead, they scour the countryside and the sea, absorb the local culture and cook in open natural areas like vinyards and beaches and backyards.

Mario has transferred some of these culinary delights to CASA MONO, his homage to the Spanish tapa. Every dish was serious yet playful in its ingredients, preparation and simplicity. The JAMON was great as was the infamous MONO sundae. Yes, this is a coffee table book but it is also a great help when preparing a small, informal dinner party. My grade - A

December 01, 2008.

Loved it!.

Rating: 5
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.

December 29, 2008.

Celebrity Spanish Travelogue.

Rating: 3
"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...