If you are in Barcelona we propose a guided visit to the Santa Caterina food market with a tutored olive oil tasting at a specialized shop, plus a delicious lunch to follow, highlighting the uses of olive oil in cooking.

The colorful and lively Santa Caterina market is one of the oldest in the city and was recently renovated by the famous architect Enric Miralles. It is located near the Cathedral, in the delightful Gothic quarter, which you’ll find is a perfect place for gastronomical adventure…

Your tour of the market will help you discover the best of Mediterranean foods; fresh vegetables and fruits, fish, meats, cheese, bread… a foodie’s dream-come-true, with a myriad of colors and scents in the hustle and bustle of local life, that are sure to awaken your senses!

You’ll visit a unique little shop that is specialized in olive oil, offering an impressive selection of this and other products from Spain’s most distinguished PDO’s (Protected Designation of Origin). With the help of your host and olive oil expert, you’ll taste different varieties of extra virgin olive oils in a relaxed and laid-back atmosphere. Each olive variety has a characteristic aroma that can be assessed through proper tasting. You’ll find it’s quite similar to the world of wines, and you’ll be amazed to discover the enormous range of flavors and applications for one of Spain’s star products, often referred to as liquid gold.

After the visit and tasting session, enjoy a mouth-watering lunch in a nearby restaurant. As you may know, the best chefs in the world are using olive oil to frying, baking, sautéing, poaching, making sauces, garnishes, even dessert! We’ve put together a specially designed menu to help you perceive the varied tastes of olive oil, when used with different cooking methods. The meal is, of course, accompanied by fine Spanish wine.

A small journey into the secrets of Spanish extra virgin olive oils!