El Celler Can Roca.

Its pretty much the end of my trip now, Ive eaten in some great establishments, all with there own personal touches that make each one differ from eachother.  Some memorable dishes, and yes some not so.
El Celler Can Roca was my last 'big' experience in Spain. I headed out to Girona after a day in Barcelona, having pounded the streets of La Rambla in the morning, breakfast in La Boqueria and the on a bus up to Girona for Dinner at El Celler de Can Roca at night.

Girona is a beautiful city, Im often envious of the people that live so close to great restaurants such as this.  For sure I wish I did. But in coming to Spain I took my chance and got a table. The 3 brothers Joan, Jordi and Joseph make up such a Talented family, they have built such a beautiful restaurant and I was about to experience what all there hard work accumulates too.

Arriving at the restaurant you walk through there little courtyard where you can look into the restaurant like a giant goldfish bowl, on the other side you can just see the chefs scurrying around getting ready for the service, I was sat promptly and as normal now went for the Tasting menu with matching wines.


13 courses of heaven followed along with 7 snacks to begin the meal, a very cool way of serving caramelised olives start the meal, hanging on a tree, i loved it. so original.
Followed quickly by Anchovy bone crisps, Black Sesame tuiles,  Razor clam Macaroni, trade mark Foie Gras nougat and a tomato and tuna Salad. All great, preparing my taste buds for an awesome meal.
I wont go through every dish, but give you a brief outline. enjoy

The first course was a Cherry soup, with a cherry sorbet and ginger Ice cream centre I think, served with smoked eel . Fantastic, nice and tart, not sweet, The sorbet really refreshing your plate , the eel was nice and meaty.

A 'double' spherification of Herring 'omelette' with a caviar, taking on the mock form of an omelette infact being a liquid centre of pure joy, great flavours, a massive success

Charcoal grilled Sole with Green Olive, Pine nuts, Fennel, Bergamot and Orange, looks simple but the flavours are so refined. faultless

Catalan Cod Pot au Feu.

This Course made the change from savoury to sweet, was one of my favourites written as Charcoal grilled eggplant confit, the smoke coming from the plate gave a great aroma while you ate the dish heightening the flavours, another great savoury come sweet from Jordi Roca. Superb

This is one of Jordi Rocas dishes, he is famous for matching desserts to fragrances, this was an adaptation of Terre by Hermes, a Chocolate Cream with Orange, Jasmine milk, Patchouli Ice Cream Distilate sand and grapefruit cake. You also get a small paper cone with the perfume on to smell after you eat to make a comparison. It was very good.

Petit Fours,Praline, Vanilla, Saffron, Rose and one called Gerd(not to sure about this one)

As you can see I started struggling with the amount of wine a little bit, but the matches were fantastic, luckily i managed to get them written down, otherwise it would have all been lost from memory

I was lucky enough to be given a tour of the kitchen and restaurant, meeting the Chef Joan Roca, Pastry Chef Jordi Roca and Joseph Roca who looks after the front, they really go out of there way to say hello to everyone and put themselves out there, I love the openness that they show.

I dont know about anyone else but I hope this guy will be handing the Roca brothers the third star that is so deserved, they have a fantastic restaurant, a great team of professionals on the floor, knowledge, skill and creativity in abundance. I love the place, and time will tell, I will be so surprised if they don't get it this year.

Labels: El celler can roca

Comments

[Trig]

I couldnt agree more. When I ate at El Celler last December I thought it was the best meal and service Id ever experienced. Now the move of premises is well behind them they must surely get their third star soon.

[Brian Campbell]

The place is fantastic, awesome restaurant and Jordi has a great pastry kitchen, really good people and deserve the third for sure.

[MGR]

Same experience here. Our meal was sort of a letdown at The French Laundry last 2009 after we experienced a meal at Celler de Can Roca the previous year. Can Roca literally blew away FL in terms of food and service. I hear they recieved the 3rd star this year 2010...long overdue and deservingly so.

[Christina]

Sounds amazing! I am planning to go in November. Did you go back to Barcelona after dinner? How did you travel back? It appears that the last buses and trains leave rather early.

Thanks!