Els Casals

Els Casals | The Happiness of Sharing a Family Dinner For Oriol, happiness begins around a family table. Holding a magnificent homemade sausage, he introduces tonight’s simple dinner: pumpkin soup, pan con tomate, tortilla, and charcuterie. Nothing elaborate, just wonderful ingredients placed in the center for everyone to share. Because, as Oriol believes, cooking finds its true purpose in bringing people together.

Crema de Carbassa | Traditional Catalan Pumpkin Soup A beautiful beginning to our simple family dinner. Oriol serves a wonderfully smooth, golden pumpkin soup, topped with crunchy pieces of toasted bread. Nothing elaborate, just the natural sweetness of autumn pumpkin transformed into something deeply comforting. For Oriol, this is what a family might enjoy on an ordinary evening. I love how even the humblest dishes at Els Casals celebrate the pleasure of eating well together.

Truita de Patates | Traditional Spanish Potato Omelette A beautiful golden potato tortilla, served whole in the center of our family table. One of Spain’s most beloved everyday dishes, made from humble ingredients transformed through careful cooking. For Oriol, tortilla belongs alongside pan con tomate and sausage as the foundation of a proper family dinner. Nothing fancy, nothing unnecessary. Just the comforting pleasure of sharing familiar food with people you love.

Amanida de l'Hort | Fresh Garden Salad with Tomatoes and Olives A beautiful, colorful salad brings freshness to our family-style dinner. Tender mixed lettuces, sweet cherry tomatoes, finely sliced red onion, and plump green and purple olives come together in a generous bowl. Simple, vibrant, and made for sharing. I love how a salad like this needs nothing elaborate. Just beautiful vegetables, good ingredients, and the pleasure of passing another dish around the family table.

Botifarra de Cal Rovira | Traditional Catalan Grilled Pork Sausage A magnificent spiral of golden, beautifully browned botifarra, the traditional Catalan pork sausage and an essential part of family cooking. Made with the Rovira family’s own pork, its simplicity allows the quality of the meat and gentle seasoning to shine. Served generously for everyone to share, it completes Oriol’s perfect family dinner alongside tortilla and pan con tomate. Pure Catalan comfort food, prepared with love.

Pa Torrat amb Botifarra Negra | Toasted Bread with Catalan Blood Sausage Another wonderful expression of Catalonia’s traditional pork charcuterie. Generous pieces of rich, dark sausage rest on golden toasted bread, finished with olive oil and a few flakes of sea salt. The contrast between the crunchy bread and soft, intensely savory sausage is irresistible. At Els Casals, even the simplest combination celebrates the Rovira family’s extraordinary tradition of working with pork.

The Beauty of a Simple Family Dinner After the magnificent family-style lunch we enjoyed earlier today, you might think there was little room for another meal. But at Els Casals, dinner was never meant to be another elaborate gastronomic experience. Oriol had something much more personal in mind. What would he prepare for his own family on an ordinary Sunday evening? A comforting bowl of pumpkin soup. A beautiful potato tortilla. A fresh salad. The family's wonderful sausages. Good bread, olive oil, and everything placed in the middle of the table. Nothing more was needed. What I love about Oriol is that he understands something many chefs forget. Extraordinary cooking is not always about creating extraordinary dishes. Sometimes it is about knowing when to keep things simple. And, above all, understanding that food reaches its true potential when it is shared. That was the most meaningful part of his explanation tonight. Sharing is essential to cooking because it brings people together and creates happiness. Those words stayed with me. After all these years of traveling, eating, and building friendships around the world, I couldn't agree more. My dear brother Oriol, thank you for showing us once again that the greatest luxury isn't always found in elaborate preparations or rare ingredients. Sometimes it is simply sitting around a table with people you love, passing the food, sharing stories, laughing, and feeling completely at home. And there is nowhere I feel more at home than Els Casals. Dudi

KRSMA Estates Sauvignon Blanc 2024 | Hampi Hills, India

An unexpected discovery at our table: a Sauvignon Blanc from India’s Hampi Hills, in Karnataka. KRSMA Estates, founded by Krishna Prasad and Uma Chigurupati, is among the pioneers of serious Indian winemaking. The region’s warm, dry climate and distinctive rocky landscape create an unusual setting for this aromatic grape. A fascinating reminder that excellent wines can come from places we rarely associate with viticulture. I love discovering bottles that challenge our expectations, and this one certainly does.

KRSMA Estates Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 | Hampi Hills, India

Another fascinating wine from Krishna Prasad and Uma Chigurupati’s pioneering estate in Karnataka, India. Grown in the rocky, warm landscape of Hampi Hills, this Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the 2018 vintage, offering the potential for concentrated dark fruit, spice and firm structure. A wonderful opportunity to explore how a familiar international grape expresses itself in an unexpected wine region.

Arnoux-Lachaux Vosne-Romanée 2020 | Burgundy, France

An exceptional Pinot Noir from one of Burgundy’s most admired domaines, guided by the talented Charles Lachaux. Produced in Vosne-Romanée, in the heart of the Côte de Nuits, the 2020 vintage combines ripe red and dark fruit, delicate spice, vibrant freshness and beautifully refined tannins. A wonderful expression of Burgundian elegance, and a particularly special bottle to share around Oriol’s family table.