Skip to content

Top Navigation

Food & Wine Food & Wine
  • Recipes & Cooking
  • Drinks
  • Travel
  • Holidays & Events
  • News
  • F&W Classic
  • Video
  • Kitchen & Home
  • F&W Pro

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Wine Club
  • Podcast
  • Food & Wine Books this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Food & Wine

Food & Wine Food & Wine
  • Explore

    Explore

    • F&W Cooks

      F&W Cooks

      Food and Wine presents a new network of food pros delivering the most cookable recipes and delicious ideas online. Read More
    • Our 22 Best Crock Pot and Slow-Cooker Recipes

      Our 22 Best Crock Pot and Slow-Cooker Recipes

      Looking to amp up your beef stew but unsure where to start? A slow cooker can can take your comfort food to the next level. Read More
    • 50 Affordable Wines You Can Always Trust

      50 Affordable Wines You Can Always Trust

      We’ve assembled a list of 50 of the world’s most reliable, inexpensive wines – bottles that offer amazing quality for their price year in and year out. Read More
  • Recipes & Cooking

    Recipes & Cooking

    See All Recipes & Cooking
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Comfort Food Recipes
    • Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Vegetable Recipes
    • Pasta & Noodle Recipes
    • Chefs
    • Meat & Poultry Recipes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Appetizer Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Fruit Recipes
    • Seafood Recipes
    • Special Diets
    • Cooking Techniques
    • Steal This Trick
  • Drinks

    Drinks

    See All Drinks
    • Wine
    • Cocktails & Spirits
    • Coffee Drinks & Recipes
    • Juices
    • Beer & Brews
    • Champagne & Sparkling Wine
    • Tea Recipes & Ideas
  • Travel

    Travel

    See All Travel
    • Wine Regions
    • Restaurants
  • Holidays & Events

    Holidays & Events

    See All Holidays & Events
    • Valentine's Day
    • Halloween
    • Passover
    • Hanukkah
    • Christmas
    • Gifts
    • Super Bowl
    • Easter
    • Thanksgiving
    • New Year's Eve
    • Holiday Entertaining
  • News
  • F&W Classic
  • Video
  • Kitchen & Home
  • F&W Pro

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Wine Club
  • Podcast
  • Food & Wine Books this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

LIVE
  1. HomeChevron Right
  2. TravelChevron Right
  3. Chef Dispatches: Spain

Chef Dispatches: Spain

By Food & Wine
Updated June 15, 2016
Skip gallery slides
Save FB Tweet
Spain Dream Trip: Strawberries at Tickets
Credit: Photo courtesy Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette
Before opening the New York outpost of their cult Boston tapas joint, Toro, celebrated chefs Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette toured Barcelona and San Sebastián on a food-and-drink-filled recon mission. Here, they share personal highlights with F&W.
Start Slideshow

1 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Outside Etxebarri; Atxondo

Spain Dream Trip: Outside Etxebarri
Credit: Photo courtesy Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette

Jamie: “This was our first meal in Spain and one of the places I was most excited about. We dropped off our luggage at the hotel in San Sebastián, jumped right back into the car and headed for Etxebarri. We got there a bit early so we got a bottle of Sketch and took in the view.”

1 of 20

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Bottle of Sketch at Etxebarri

Spain Dream Trip: Bottle of Sketch at Etxebarri
Credit: Photo courtesy Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette

Ken: “We carry Sketch wines at Toro in Boston, but there’s just something different about drinking it in Spain. Vintner Raúl Pérez makes a version that’s aged underwater, but they didn’t have that one on the menu.”

  • Spanish Wine Country Travel Guide

2 of 20

3 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Gooseneck Barnacles at Etxebarri

Spain Dream Trip: Gooseneck Barnacles at Etxebarri
Credit: Photo courtesy Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette

Ken: “Percebes weren’t on the tasting menu that we ordered, but we had to get some. These were cooked so perfectly over grills—Etxebarri makes all its own charcoal from different woods and it has this crazy-elaborate way of grilling everything. The percebes here were different from any others I’ve ever had. Usually, they’re pretty briny but these were just so fresh and almost sweet. We sometimes serve them in Boston as a special but knew they had to be on the menu in New York, so we spent a ton of time trying to source good ones.”

3 of 20

Advertisement

4 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Steak at Etxebarri

Spain Dream Trip: Steak at Etxebarri
Credit: Photo courtesy Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette

Jamie: “Toward the end of the meal we were all wicked full, and they bring out this giant dinosaur steak. It was so good but I could only take a few bites so we made Ken eat pretty much the whole thing. It was so simple but had the perfect char and was cooked really rare. It was so good it inspired us to do one like it for the new restaurant, so we’re gonna have a dry-aged bone-in strip a la plancha for two.”

  • Spain Travel Tips: Eating at Etxebarri

4 of 20

5 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Smoked Ice Cream Sandwich at Etxebarri

Spain Dream Trip: Smoked Ice Cream Sandwich at Etxebarri
Credit: Photo courtesy Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette

Ken: “They cook everything over grills at Etxebarri, it’s amazing. I read about their smoked caviar, which I wished was on the menu when we were there. But this smoked ice cream sandwich was like nothing else I’ve ever had. The smoke was really delicate and not overpowering, and in between that waffle cookie it was the best end to a lunch.”

  • Victor Arguinzoniz: The Grilling Genius of Spain

5 of 20

6 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Pig at La Cuchara de san Telmo; San Sebastián

Spain Dream Trip: Pig at La Cuchara de san Telmo; San Sebastián
Credit: Photo courtesy Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette

Jamie: “One of my friends told me to go here and order anything on the menu with pig. We got the pig’s head, feet, tail, then some foie gras thrown in there for good measure since our meal wasn’t rich enough. The pig’s feet were so sticky, gelatinous and insanely good. There was a layer of crispy, salty pig’s skin over everything that we ended up fighting over at the end.”

  • Amazing Pork Recipes

6 of 20

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Carabineros at Sebastián; San Sebastián

Spain Dream Trip: Carabineros at Sebastián; San Sebastián
Credit: Photo courtesy Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette

Jamie: “The seafood in San Sebastián is some of the best in the world. You could pretty much pick any restaurant by the water, order some fresh seafood and be guaranteed a good meal. We dropped in to this restaurant called Sebastián, right on the beach and ordered these carabineros (deep-sea crustaceans) and some kokotxas (hake chins). They were cooked so simply with some olive oil and lemon, that’s it. They don’t mess around. The best part was sucking the heads, the juice tasted like the ocean in the best way.”

7 of 20

8 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Kokotxas at Sebastián

Spain Dream Trip: Kokotxas at Sebastián
Credit: Photo courtesy Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette

Ken: “Every time I come to San Sebastián this is one of the things I’m most excited to eat. It’s so specific to this part of the world, and this was a crazy-good version of it. Kokotxas are hake chins delicately cooked in olive oil and the sauce was thickened to a perfect consistency. We dipped bread in the sauce at the end—I don’t think one drop was left on the plate when we were done.”

8 of 20

9 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Mushrooms at Ganbara; San Sebastián

Spain Dream Trip: Cèpes at Ganbara; San Sebastián
Credit: Photo courtesy Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette

Ken: “Ganbara is at the top of my list for best tapas in San Sebastián, and they have the most beautiful mushrooms lining the counter.”

  • Spanish Road Trip with Mario Batali and Gwyneth Paltrow

9 of 20

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Cèpes at Ganbara; San Sebastián

Spain Dream Trip: Cèpes at Ganbara; San Sebastián
Credit: Photo courtesy Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette

Ken: “We ordered them cooked a la plancha then topped with an egg yolk. So simple, but it doesn’t get better than that. We’re doing this same dish at the new restaurant, with the yolk on the spoon to break over the mushrooms.”

10 of 20

11 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Pinotxo at La Boqueria; Barcelona

Spain Dream Trip: Pinotxo at La Boqueria; Barcelona
Credit: Photo courtesy Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette

Jamie: “You have to really want to eat at Pinotxo to get a seat, it’s wicked crowded and they go fast. But it’s worth it. The tripe had these sticky pieces of pig’s feet that were a welcome surprise. Also, don’t skip the stewed chickpeas. I have no idea what they do to get theirs so perfect, but you just don’t get anything like that in the US.”

  • Barcelona Travel Guide: Chef José Andrés Eats All Day and Night

11 of 20

12 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Omm Hotel Rooftop; Barcelona

Spain Dream Trip: Omm Hotel Rooftop; Barcelona
Credit: Photo courtesy Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette

Ken: “There were probably only a couple of hours on the whole trip when we weren’t eating, and we spent them in Barcelona on the roof of the Omm Hotel. It overlooks one of the Gaudí buildings and is pretty much one of the sickest views in the city.”

12 of 20

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Start to Dinner at Pakta; Barcelona

Spain Dream Trip: Start to Dinner at Pakta; Barcelona
Credit: Photo courtesy Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette

Ken: “I was psyched to check out Albert Adrià’s new Peruvian tapas spot. We ordered some pisco sours and the first course was beautiful. One of the best bites was this sweet corn cream topped with caviar.”

  • Albert Adrià: The Legend Continues

13 of 20

14 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Gooseberry Tempura at Pakta

Spain Dream Trip: Gooseberry Tempura at Pakta
Credit: Photo courtesy Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette

Ken: “I loved the gooseberry tempura, so unique. They had that fresh pop and were a bit tart, and it came with a traditional tempura dipping sauce, which was actually unexpected. Also the way they were presented in ceramic on a bed of the husks was really smart.”

14 of 20

15 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Dry Martini Bar; Barcelona

Spain Dream Trip: Dry Martini Bar; Barcelona
Credit: Photo courtesy Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette

Jamie: “Dry Martini makes some of the best drinks in Barcelona and it’s where we would end up almost every night after dinner. These guys have been making martinis for years, it’s a real art, and they have a count for how many they’ve served. I think it was well over a million when we were there. They also make a killer Negroni.”

15 of 20

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Gin and Tonic; Barcelona

Spain Dream Trip: Gin and Tonic; Barcelona
Credit: Photo courtesy Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette

Ken: “The Spanish take their gin and tonics really seriously and the variety of tonics is amazing to see. You don’t get that at bars here that often, but the crazy thing is it’s so commonplace for them there. It really inspired us to do a gin and tonic menu at the new restaurant and we are going to be making our own tonic too.”

  • Barcelona's Best Hangover Cures

16 of 20

17 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Rice with Artichokes at Roca Moo at Omm Hotel; Barcelona

Spain Dream Trip: Rice with Artichokes at Roca Moo at Omm Hotel; Barcelona
Credit: Photo courtesy Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette

Ken: “Our hotel had the restaurant Roca Moo from the El Celler de Can Roca guys and we stopped in there for a quick snack one night on our way to dinner. They had some of the signature dishes from El Celler de Can Roca on the menu, so of course we had to order them as well as some other dishes. One of our favorites was this rice with artichokes served in a cast-iron pan. It was so rich and caramelized, crispy at the bottom.”

17 of 20

18 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Almonds and Watermelon at Tickets; Barcelona

Spain Dream Trip: Almonds and Watermelon at Tickets; Barcelona
Credit: Photo courtesy Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette

Ken: “We stopped by to see Albert Adrià in the kitchen at Tickets, and had an incredible dinner. It started with these young almonds that were presented like avocados. They were so sweet, so fresh. Then the watermelon salad with mint was really refreshing, especially since it was 85 degrees in the middle of summer in Barcelona.”

  • Barcelona Travel

18 of 20

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Nordic Toast at Tickets

Spain Dream Trip: Nordic Toast at Tickets
Credit: Photo courtesy Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette

Jamie: “This was one of my favorite dishes at Tickets. This veal tartare was dusted with a tart and tangy vinegar powder, and with the bright green dill, the richness of red color of the veal, it was so visually striking.”

19 of 20

20 of 20

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Strawberries at Tickets

Spain Dream Trip: Strawberries at Tickets
Credit: Photo courtesy Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette

Ken: “I love how playful this dish was. I know they weren’t frozen strawberries, but not sure quite what was in them! The menu read strawberries with three milks, but they just tasted like the brightest strawberries and cream.”

20 of 20

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Food & Wine

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 20 Outside Etxebarri; Atxondo
    2 of 20 Bottle of Sketch at Etxebarri
    3 of 20 Gooseneck Barnacles at Etxebarri
    4 of 20 Steak at Etxebarri
    5 of 20 Smoked Ice Cream Sandwich at Etxebarri
    6 of 20 Pig at La Cuchara de san Telmo; San Sebastián
    7 of 20 Carabineros at Sebastián; San Sebastián
    8 of 20 Kokotxas at Sebastián
    9 of 20 Mushrooms at Ganbara; San Sebastián
    10 of 20 Cèpes at Ganbara; San Sebastián
    11 of 20 Pinotxo at La Boqueria; Barcelona
    12 of 20 Omm Hotel Rooftop; Barcelona
    13 of 20 Start to Dinner at Pakta; Barcelona
    14 of 20 Gooseberry Tempura at Pakta
    15 of 20 Dry Martini Bar; Barcelona
    16 of 20 Gin and Tonic; Barcelona
    17 of 20 Rice with Artichokes at Roca Moo at Omm Hotel; Barcelona
    18 of 20 Almonds and Watermelon at Tickets; Barcelona
    19 of 20 Nordic Toast at Tickets
    20 of 20 Strawberries at Tickets

    Share options

    Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

    Login

    Food & Wine

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Books from Food & Wine
    • Contact Us
    • Media Kit
    • Content Licensing

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Other Meredith Sites

    Other Meredith Sites

    • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
    • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
    • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
    • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
    • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
    • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
    • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
    • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
    • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
    • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
    • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
    • Health this link opens in a new tab
    • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
    • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
    • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
    • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
    • More this link opens in a new tab
    • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
    • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
    • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
    • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
    • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
    • Parents this link opens in a new tab
    • People this link opens in a new tab
    • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
    • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
    • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
    • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
    • Shape this link opens in a new tab
    • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
    • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
    • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
    • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
    MeredithFood & Wine is part of the Meredith Corporation Allrecipes Food Group. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.foodandwine.com

    View image

    Chef Dispatches: Spain
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.