Tasting Spain

‘It is the poetic strength and simplicity of [van den Brink’s] writing that seduces the reader’
Guardian

Whether it is in Madrid’s cafés or in Barcelona’s fish markets, tasting and smelling are the key occupations of van den Brink’s culinary journey through Spain. You will see the shop windows in Madrid displaying the famous Serrano ham or typical Spanish sweet cakes. You will taste crispy pig’s ears and rich chickpea soups. You will smell the strong coffee and tortilla of al fresco breakfasts. With historical background alongside memories and associations, van den Brink gives a personal yet lively description of Spain, its culture and traditions, both in the city and the countryside. With a focus on enjoying various traditional Spanish dishes in both exquisite restaurants and more commonplace settings, Tasting Spain will leave you wanting to try van den Brink’s recipes for yourself.

HANS MAARTEN VAN DEN BRINK was born in 1956 and lived in Spain as foreign correspondent for the newspaper NRC Handelsblad. He attained international fame with the short story Over het water (1998, ‘On The Water’) which was translated in many languages and for which he received several literary prizes including the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize.