Airdate: Rick Stein’s Spain

Chef Rick Stein returns with a new four part series Rick Stein’s Spain on ABC1 undertaking a journey through Spain laced with history, literature and, of course, food.

Rick has been visiting Spain since he was a young boy. In the past, French and Italian cooking have been seen to have more finesse, but thanks to a handful of dedicated Spanish chefs and a growing enthusiasm for its rugged flavours, that has all begun to change. According to Rick, no one cooks fish with more respect or grills meat better. Now, he travels the length and breadth of the country in an old campervan, going off the beaten track to discover the authentic soul (‘duende’) of Spanish cooking.

In episode one, Rick’s journey begins in Galicia – famous for pilgrims, rain, fog, fresh seafood, empanadas (little fishy pies similar to pasties) and more rain.  He eats ‘tortillas de patata’ in the King of Spain’s favourite restaurant and meets up with a couple of cool dudes who run a little restaurant in the old market of Santiago de Compostela. In neighbouring Asturias, he enjoys a cider festival at Gijon; samples the famous ‘fabada’ – a hearty bean stew with sausage, belly pork and black pudding; and explores the making of Cabrales cheese in secret caves. Finally, in this episode, Rick enters the Basque Country, where they like nothing better than to cook great fish dishes, drink local wine and sing.

8:30pm Tuesday September 18 ABC1.