Arcadia Spain

The field trip arranged for the course Gastronomy and Culture in Spain consisted of a visit to Alicia Foundation, which owes its name to the acronym made up of two Catalan words: Alimentació (Food) and Ciència (Science). Alicia is inscribed within a wider singular cultural, recreational project known as Món Sant Benet, which features a medieval monastery amidst natural surroundings in the wine producing area D.O. Plà de Bages.

This private non for profit foundation was born in 2003 with the objective to carry out scientific and gastronomic research, where reputed chefs and leading scientists work hand in hand to generate knowledge. Innovation, technology, science, history and gastronomy are thus applied to various areas such as the catering and foodservice industries, health and nutrition to respond to dietary problems derived from illnesses and disorders or culinary heritage to preserve, add value and disseminate food-related traditions which are deeply rooted in the Catalonian culture and territory.

Arcadia students were given the opportunity to learn first-hand about all this at Alicia Foundation premises through a number of activities; firstly an entertaining workshop taught us how the different senses intervene in our appreciation of food; then head chef Jaume Biarnés kindly guided us around the kitchen and the kitchen lab, lectured us on Alicia’s main projects and raised our awareness about the importance of food education since early childhood. This was followed by a three-course meal at the Fonda restaurant opposite Alicia where students tasted Catalonian cuisine made with local seasonal products, choosing from a menu card with 16 dishes both traditional and innovative.

The field trip ended with a guided visit to the Romanesque monastery of Saint Benet, where we learnt about the history of the monastery and we had the chance to see the wine cellar, which dates from the 14^th century.

All this was complemented with an optional visit to the Mon Saint Benet shop, a showcase for a wide range of typical Catalonian food products-  many of which are certified with PDO and GPI quality labels- such as cheese, nuts, honey, cold meats, legumes, mushrooms, oils, locally sourced garden vegetables, and wines from D.O. Pla de Bages.