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In 2026, ranked #7 in the Top 30 Gastronomy Blogs (and Websites for Gastronomists & Gastronomes by Feedspot. (Ranked in the top 50 since 2019). "The Best Gastronomy blogs selected from thousands of Food blogs, Culture blogs and Food Science. We’ve carefully selected these websites because they are actively working to educate, inspire, and empower their readers with . . . high-quality information.

More than 3,640,000 views since inception, 123,000+ views in August 2026.



Ranked #7. Gerry Dawes's Spain: An Insider's Guide to Spanish Food, Wine, Culture and Travel gerrydawesspain.com

"My good friend Gerry Dawes, the unbridled Spanish food and wine enthusiast cum expert whose writing, photography, and countless crisscrossings of the peninsula have done the most to introduce Americans—and especially American food professionals—to my country's culinary life. . .” - - Chef-restaurateur-humanitarian José Andrés, Nobel Peace Prize Nominee and Oscar Presenter 2019; Chef-partner of Mercado Little Spain at Hudson Yards, New York 2019

Showing posts with label Elena Arzak. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elena Arzak. Show all posts

1/05/2026

Sunset in a Glass: Adventures of a Food & Wine Road Warrior in Spain: Master Florida Chef Norman Van Aken, Godfather of Fusión Cuisine, Who Wrote: "One of the most knowledgeable people I’ve ever known on the gastronomy of Spain, Gerry Dawes."

 
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“No one knows the world of food and drink of Spain like Gerry Dawes!” Having Gerry guide you around Spain as my wife Janet and I have done is one of the greatest ways imaginable to take in what is white-hot or classic regarding all things gastronomia. Treat yourself and those you love to the real insider's tour and read Sunset in a Glass!"--Norman Van Aken, Chef, Restaurateur and author of Norman Van Aken’s Florida Kitchen and No Experience Necessary, the Culinary Odyssey of Chef Norman Van Aken. (From the quotes for Sunset in a Glass: Adventures of a Food & Wine Road Warrior in Spain (Volumes I, II, III & IV; publication of the first two volumes in Fall 2021.)
 
Jose Andrés shows Norman Van Aken how he fries at egg in Juan Suárez's kitchen, after a doay at Madrid Fusión 2006.  Photo by Gerry Dawes
©2006.
 

Madrid Jan 12-15-06 Chef Norman Van Aken, Juan
Suárez, Janet Van Aken, Chef José Andrés, Chef Mark Miller, culinary historian and scientist, author Harold McGee and Esmeralda Capel at the home of Juan and Esmeralda, when Juan showed all of them how to properly fry an egg Spanish style in Spanish Extra Virgen Olive Oil.  Photo by Gerry Dawes©2006.
 

Chef Norman Van Aken normanvanaken on Instagram "Happy #tbt! Here we were in Madrid for @MadridFusion2006. We had been invited to a small but memorable gathering at a private home. Along with us were Chef Jose Andrés @chefjoseandres, Chef Mark Miller and among others Harold McGee @mcgee.onfood.onsmells. (Juan Suárez and Esmeralda Capel, one of the directors of Madrid Fusion, were our hosts).  Photo by one of the most knowledgeable people I’ve ever known on the #gastronomy of Spain, Gerry Dawes."
 
In 2006, the Bar at Casa Rafa Marisquería legend began to kick into high gear, when the likes of Charlie Trotter, Norman Van Aken, Tetsuya Wakuda and Don Alfonso Iaccarino were all at Madrid Fusión.  That year, I arranged to meet them all–three of the chefs with their significant others with them, along with star Spanish food journalist, Juanma Bellver–at the Bar at Rafa for some stellar shellfish tapas, a bit of bubbly and some conversation. 
 
  Gerry Dawes, Tetsuya Wakuda, Rochelle Smith, Livia Iaccarino, Janet Van Aken, Charlie Trotter and Norman Van Aken at Rafa.  Photo by Don Alfonso Iaccarino.
 
 
 
 Chefs Charlie Trotter and Norman Van Aken at Casa Rafa Marisquería in Madrid during a evening break from Madrid Fusión 2006.  Note Norman´s reflection in the mirror as he looks at his "brother" Charlie.  Photo by Gerry Dawes©2006.
 
 
Chef Norman Van Aken contemplates a whole rodaballo (turbot) at Kaia restaurant in Getaria, Spain on another outing with me in 2005.  
Photo by Gerry Dawes©2005.
 
Chef Elena Arzak, Restaurante Arzak, San Sebastián with Chef Norman Van Aken on another adventure with me in 2005. 
Photo by Gerry Dawes©2005.
 
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Sunset in a Glass: Adventures of a Food & Wine Road Warrior in Spain (Volumes I, II, III & IV; publication of the first two volumes in Fall 2021. 
 
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 Constructive comments are welcome and encouraged.
 
If you enjoy these blog posts, please consider a contribution to help me continue the work of gathering all this great information and these photographs for Gerry Dawes's Insider's Guide to Spanish Food, Wine, Culture and Travel. Contributions of $5 and up will be greatly appreciated. Contributions of $100 or more will be acknowledged on the blog. Please click on this secure link to Paypal to make your contribution.
 
Text and photographs copyright by Gerry Dawes©2021.  Using photographs without crediting Gerry Dawes©2021 on Facebook.  Publication without my written permission is not authorized.
 
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  Shall deeds of Caesar or Napoleon ring
More true than Don Quixote's vapouring?
Hath winged Pegasus more nobly trod
Than Rocinante stumbling up to God?
 
Poem by Archer M. Huntington inscribed under the Don Quixote on his horse Rocinante bas-relief sculpture by his wife, Anna Vaughn Hyatt Huntington,
in the courtyard of the Hispanic Society of America’s incredible museum at 613 W. 155th Street, New York City.
 __________________________________________________________________________________
 Gastronomy Blogs

In 2019, again ranked in the Top 50 Gastronomy Blogs and Websites for Gastronomists & Gastronomes in 2019 by Feedspot. (Last Updated Oct 23, 2019) 

"The Best Gastronomy blogs selected from thousands of Food blogs, Culture blogs and Food Science blogs in our index using search and social metrics. We’ve carefully selected these websites because they are actively working to educate, inspire, and empower their readers with frequent updates and high-quality information."  

36. Gerry Dawes's Spain: An Insider's Guide to Spanish Food, Wine, Culture and Travel


 
About Gerry Dawes

My good friend Gerry Dawes, the unbridled Spanish food and wine enthusiast cum expert whose writing, photography, and countless crisscrossings of the peninsula have done the most to introduce Americans—and especially American food professionals—to my country's culinary life." -- Chef-restaurateur-humanitarian José Andrés, Nobel Peace Prize Nominee and Oscar Presenter 2019


Gerry Dawes is the Producer and Program Host of Gerry Dawes & Friends, a weekly radio progam on Pawling Public Radio in Pawling, New York (streaming live and archived at www.pawlingpublicradio.org and at www.beatofthevalley.com.)

Dawes was awarded Spain's prestigious Premio Nacional de Gastronomía (National Gastronomy Award) in 2003. He writes and speaks frequently on Spanish wine and gastronomy and leads gastronomy, wine and cultural tours to Spain. He was a finalist for the 2001 James Beard Foundation's Journalism Award for Best Magazine Writing on Wine, won The Cava Institute's First Prize for Journalism for his article on cava in 2004, was awarded the CineGourLand “Cinéfilos y Gourmets” (Cinephiles & Gourmets) prize in 2009 in Getxo (Vizcaya) and received the 2009 Association of Food Journalists Second Prize for Best Food Feature in a Magazine for his Food Arts article, a retrospective piece about Catalan star chef, Ferran Adrià. 


". . .That we were the first to introduce American readers to Ferran Adrià in 1997 and have ever since continued to bring you a blow-by-blow narrative of Spain's riveting ferment is chiefly due to our Spanish correspondent, Gerry "Mr. Spain" Dawes, the messianic wine and food journalist raised in Southern Illinois and possessor of a self-accumulated doctorate in the Spanish table. Gerry once again brings us up to the very minute. . ." - - Michael & Ariane Batterberry, Editor-in-Chief/Publisher and Founding Editor/Publisher, Food Arts, October 2009. 
 
Pilot for a reality television series on wine, gastronomy, culture and travel in Spain.
 

1/29/2019

Reale Seguros Madrid Fusión 2019 Day Two, Tuesday, Jan. 29 Star Chefs Albert Adrià, Dabiz Muñoz and Andoni Aduriz and VIDEO of The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Robot Chef Pepa (known elsewhere as Pepper); Elena Arzak, Xabi Gutiérrez


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(Note:  All text, photographs and videos, except when otherwise indicated, are by Gerry Dawes©2019.)


Pepa The Robot Chef II
from Gerry Dawes on Vimeo.
  
Albert Adrià, "Will an intelligent robot get along well with a Thermomix?"

Reale Seguros Madrid Fusión 2019 star chefs Albert Adrià (Tickets), Dabiz Muñoz (DiverXo) and Andoni Aduriz (Mugaritz) on stage with the robot "chef" Pepa, also known as Pepper, an AI (Artificial Intelligence) social humanoid robot created by Softbank Robotics.  

Reale Seguros Madrid Fusión 2019 star chefs Albert Adrià, Dabiz Muñoz and Andoni Aduriz on stage. 

#AlbertAdria  #Diverxo  #AndoniAduriz  #Mugaritz


Elena Arzak


More of today's star chefs were Arzak's three-star chef Elena Arzak and Arzak Research Chef Xabi Gutiérrez. 

#MadridFusion #RealeSeguros #ElenaArzak #XabiGutierrez


Backstage with Pepa (otherwise known as "Pepper"), the Artificial Intelligence  Robot Chef, made her appearance on stage with Reale Seguros Madrid Fusión 2019 Directors José Carlos Capel and Lourdes Plana on January 29, 2019, when Pepa was presented to star chefs Albert Adrià, Dabiz Muñoz and Andoni Aduriz. #RealeSegurosMadridFusion19
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 Gastronomy Blogs

About Gerry Dawes

My good friend Gerry Dawes, the unbridled Spanish food and wine enthusiast cum expert whose writing, photography, and countless crisscrossings of the peninsula have done the most to introduce Americans—and especially American food professionals—to my country's culinary life." -- Chef-restaurateur-humanitarian José Andrés, Nobel Peace Prize Nominee and Oscar Presenter 2019

 Gerry Dawes is the Producer and Program Host of Gerry Dawes & Friends, a weekly radio progam on WPWL 103.7 FM Pawling Public Radio in Pawling, New York.

 Dawes was awarded Spain's prestigious Premio Nacional de Gastronomía (National Gastronomy Award) in 2003. He writes and speaks frequently on Spanish wine and gastronomy and leads gastronomy, wine and cultural tours to Spain. He was a finalist for the 2001 James Beard Foundation's Journalism Award for Best Magazine Writing on Wine, won The Cava Institute's First Prize for Journalism for his article on cava in 2004, was awarded the CineGourLand “Cinéfilos y Gourmets” (Cinephiles & Gourmets) prize in 2009 in Getxo (Vizcaya) and received the 2009 Association of Food Journalists Second Prize for Best Food Feature in a Magazine for his Food Arts article, a retrospective piece about Catalan star chef, Ferran Adrià. 

In December, 2009, Dawes was awarded the Food Arts Silver Spoon Award in a profile written by José Andrés

". . .That we were the first to introduce American readers to Ferran Adrià in 1997 and have ever since continued to bring you a blow-by-blow narrative of Spain's riveting ferment is chiefly due to our Spanish correspondent, Gerry "Mr. Spain" Dawes, the messianic wine and food journalist raised in Southern Illinois and possessor of a self-accumulated doctorate in the Spanish table. Gerry once again brings us up to the very minute. . ." - - Michael & Ariane Batterberry, Editor-in-Chief/Publisher and Founding Editor/Publisher, Food Arts, October 2009. 
 
Pilot for a reality television series on wine, gastronomy, culture and travel in Spain.
 

2/20/2017

Asisa Madrid Fusión 2017: More Photos of the 15th Anniversary Edition, January 23-25, 2017


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Myriam López, GrupoGourmets-Salón de Gourmets, with legendary chef Juan Mari Arzak (Arzak) at Asisa Madrid Fusión 2017.  Photo by Gerry Dawes©2017 #amf17

 Long-time friend Fernando Gurucharri, President of the Union de Catadores Españoles (Union of Spanish Winetasters), at the tasting of 11 historic vintages going back more than 30 years of D. O. Ribera del Duero wines at Asisa Madrid Fusión 2017 on Jan. 24, 2017.   Photo by Gerry Dawes©2017.


Galician Chef Pepe Solla of Casa Solla, Poio (Pontevedra), Galicia demonstrated lampreia eel cooking at a demonstration at Asisa Madrid Fusión 2017, Jan 25, 2017.  There is a cult-like devotion among some groups, mostly men, who make piligrimages to spot on the Miño River, the border between Spain and Portugal, when the eel are available around this time of year.

 Chef Juan Cruz (Saborea España) and Matilde Asián González, Secretaria de Estado de Turismo at Saborea España, Asisa Madrid Fusión 2017, Palacio de Congresos, Madrid.  Photo by Gerry Dawes©2017 #amf17

 Chef Elena Arzak (Arzak) and Albert Raurich (Dos Pebrots, Barcelona) at Asisa Madrid Fusión 2017.  Photo by Gerry Dawes©2017 #amf17 


Gerry Dawes and long-time friend, champion cortador de jamones (professional hand-slicer of Ibérico hams) Florencio Sanchidrián at Asisa Madrid Fusión 2017, Palacio de Congresos, Madrid.

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About Gerry Dawes

 Gerry Dawes was awarded Spain's prestigious Premio Nacional de Gastronomía (National Gastronomy Award) in 2003. He writes and speaks frequently on Spanish wine and gastronomy and leads gastronomy, wine and cultural tours to Spain. He was a finalist for the 2001 James Beard Foundation's Journalism Award for Best Magazine Writing on Wine, won The Cava Institute's First Prize for Journalism for his article on cava in 2004, was awarded the CineGourLand “Cinéfilos y Gourmets” (Cinephiles & Gourmets) prize in 2009 in Getxo (Vizcaya) and received the 2009 Association of Food Journalists Second Prize for Best Food Feature in a Magazine for his Food Arts article, a retrospective piece about Catalan star chef, Ferran Adrià. 

In December, 2009, Dawes was awarded the Food Arts Silver Spoon Award in a profile written by José Andrés

". . .That we were the first to introduce American readers to Ferran Adrià in 1997 and have ever since continued to bring you a blow-by-blow narrative of Spain's riveting ferment is chiefly due to our Spanish correspondent, Gerry "Mr. Spain" Dawes, the messianic wine and food journalist raised in Southern Illinois and possessor of a self-accumulated doctorate in the Spanish table. Gerry once again brings us up to the very minute. . ." - - Michael & Ariane Batterberry, Editor-in-Chief/Publisher and Founding Editor/Publisher, Food Arts, October 2009. 
 
Pilot for a reality television series on wine, gastronomy, culture and travel in Spain.
 

1/03/2011

MADRID FUSIÓN 2011 January 25, 26 & 27, 2011 Headliners: Ferran Adrià, Juan Mari Arzak, Joan Roca, rising Catalan star Jordi Cruz, Mexican chefs Bricio Domínguez and Martha Ortiz, Peruvian star Gastón Acurio, Chefs from Singapore and Flanders, Along with Carlo Cracco and Slow Food's Carlo Petrini from Italy.


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 Ferran Adrià in a pensive moment at Madrid Fusión 2009. 
Photograph by Gerry Dawes©2009
 

The 9th annual Madrid Fusión International Gastronomy Summit will take place in Madrid on January 25, 26 & 27.  Headlining the conference, as he has every year since its inception in 2003, will be Ferran Adrià, who will give his annual estado de Ferranismo (state of Ferranismo) address on opening day, this one entitled El Nuevo Bulli.

Chicago's Grant Achatz at Madrid Fusión 2009. 
Photograph by Gerry Dawes©2009.

This time Ferran will  elaborate further on the permanent closing of elBulli, "the world's best restaurant," on July 31, something he has done frequently for the past year since announcing the restaurant's closing at Madrid Fusión 2010 in a bombastic press conference that produced an explosion of articles about Ferran that could be described as the espuma (foam) that frothed around the gastronomic world--in record time.  Presumably, Ferran will enlighten this year's audience about his more definitive plans for the elBulli foundation (read Ferranismo think tank), when it opens in 2014 on the site of elBulli restaurant on Cala Montjoi, the legendary hard-to-get-to cove near Roses (Girona).   And certainly, we should hear more about the January opening in Barcelona Tickets, the flagship of undoubtedly will be become a string of tapas-and-cocktail bars that Ferran and his brother, Albert, have in the works.

Other highlights planned for Madrid Fusión 2010 include appearances by star Spanish Basque chefs Juan Mari Arzak, Elena Arzak, Martín Berasategui, Pedro Subijana, Andoni Aduriz and Eneko Atxa; Catalan stars Joan Roca and his brother Jordi, Carme Ruscalleda, Ramón Freixa and Jordi Cruz, a superb young chef who recently moved from the wonderful off-the-beaten-path provincial restaurant L'Angle (located next to Fundación Alicia near Manresa) to take over at Barcelona's tony Restaurante Abac.   Stars from other parts of Spain such as Quique DaCosta (Alicante), Mari Carmen Vélez (Alicante), Dani García (Andalucía) and Angel León (Andalucía).  Madrid chefs will include Paco Roncero (La Terraza),  Sergi Arola (Arola Gastro) and Ricardo Sanz (Kabuki  Wellington).   

The region of Galicia will be represented by transplanted Italian  chef Flavio Morganti (Galileo, Ourense) and Beatriz Sotelo (La Estación, A Coruña) plus Iago Pazos y Marcos Cerqueiro, two young rising stars who run an exceptional  tapas restaurant, Abastos 2.0, in the Santiago de Compostela market.  On the sweet side, super stars include the great pasteleros-chocolateros Christían Escribà, Oriol Balaguer, Jordi Butrón, Paco Torreblanca and Jacob Torreblanca.

Mexico and South America chefs invited include Mexico's Bricio Domínguez and Martha Ortiz, with Peruvian star Gastón Acurio.  Italy will be represented by the great Carlo Cracco and Carlo Petrini of Slow Food.

Each year, Madrid Fusión has a sub-theme representing the cuisines of a single country--Mexico, Perú, Japan.  This year Singapore will be represented with chefs Matthew Bax (Trippling Club), former Restaurant Daniel (New York) and elBulli stagier Kevin Cherkas (Blu) and French-trained (Ducasse and Gagnaire) rising star Andre Chiang (Restaurant Andre) and Flanders will feature presentations from chefs Bernard Lahousse (Sense for Taste, Bruges, Belgium), Dave De Belder (De Godevaart, Antwerp) and Gert de Mangeleer (Restaurant Hertong Jan, Bruges).  

The first version of Madrid Fusión in 2003 was a huge success and launched a plethora of international food conferences and spawned numerous imitators in Spain itself.  Each year it seems something of note that resounds throughout the culinary world occurs here.  

Nobu & Ferran, Madrid Fusión 2004. 
Photograph by Gerry Dawes©2004. Contact gerrydawes@aol.com.

Among the most memorable were the appearance of France's nouvelle cuisine super stars  and Nobu Matsuhisa in 2004, the appearance of Thomas Keller and awards to several great American culinary stars in 2006 (see photo below), Santi Santamaría's spectacularly scandalous declarations deriding Spanish cocina de vangaurdia practitioners in 2007--"The only truth that counts is the product   comes from the earth, passes from our stoves to the diner's mouth, and is then defecated."--and Ferran Adria's bomba announcement last year that he was closing elBulli.


The late Michael Batterberry, publisher-editor of Food Arts magazine, speaking at Madrid Fusión 2006
with a stage full of American and Spanish culinary stars as Mayor of Madrid Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón and Ferran Adrià applaud, with Juan Mari Arzak between them.  Photograph by Gerry Dawes©2010. Contact gerrydawes@aol.com.
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