Food TV: Spain...On The Road Again

For months, we've been looking forward to the premier of "Spain...On the Road Again," a PBS series that follows Mario Batali, Gwyneth Paltrow, Mark Bittman and Claudia Bassols as they eat their way through the country. It premieres as early as today on local stations nationwide.

The recipes up on the show's web site already have us drooling.

The premiere episode, "Tilting Windmills in Castilla la Mancha," features Madrid's fish market, churros and hot chocolate, a Manchego cheesemaking lesson and a birthday celebration featuring bird sushi.

We're planning to prepare a few dishes from the show's web site to eat while watching the first episode, with a glass or two of Spanish wine, of course. Here are a few that peaked our interest:

Beet and Walnut Puree
Fabada – Dried fava beans prepared with ham hock, slab bacon, chorizo and blood sausage
Tortilla Española
Empanada – A pan-baked version of the familiar fried pocket pastry

We can't wait to see the foursome in action, and we'll be checking in for updates from Batali and other cast members on the show's blog. There's already talk of a second season in Italy.

(Images: Spain...On The Road Again)

Comments (12)

Does it not strike anyone else as very odd that "Vegan" Gweneth would be eating this food????
Certainly she will be struggling with this cuisine, or has given up her macrobiotic lifestyle.....

Gwyneth isn't vegan at all - her husband is vegetarian. That's all.

What exactly qualifies her to be on this show?

"What exactly qualifies her to be on this show?"

Gwyneth and Mario are very good friends, and she loves Spanish food. That's good enough for me. I wasn't aware that one had to be a culinary expert to eat.

I sense some resistance to Paltrow in the comments. Agreed that one doesn't need to be a culinary expert to be on the show. But she is one of those celebrities that bug.

In Phoenix, it's showing at 11 p.m. on the night of the 25th or midnight on the night of Oct. 5. Looks like most of the showings are in the middle of the night.

I also don't have any problem with Paltrow in this role. She went to high school in Spain and is fluent in its language and customs. She also donates a lot to food banks, so I don't find her so disagreeable on a personal front, either.

I'll definitely check it out. I think many people just think she's sort of a pill. She comes off as one in her interviews. So I can't say Im looking forward to her being in the show. But I'll have an open mind since I am fascinated with Spain.

Love Gwyneth. Love Spain. Can't WAIT to see this!

I like when they have someone who is a little knowledgeable in food but not an expert, so I have no objection to Paltrow. Besides, one look at Claudia Bassols and it was suddenly Gwyneth Who?

Gwynneth Paltrow followed a macrobiotic diet for years -- until she had kids... not exactly promising for tastebuds...
Okay, I loathe Gwynneth -- she has been overexposed, and I am tired of her -- I don't think she's talented, intelligent, engaged in worthy causes, cute, or appealing in anyway.

Please don't ruin a good show by subjecting us to Gwynneth as a celebrity "ratings draw".

mschatelaine - What was she like when you met her?

Case in point: She was just on entertainment tonight talking about how she had to go to a physical trainer to lose the 8, countem, 8 lbs she gained in Spain. Now, I can understand wanting to shed some unwanted pounds, and I understand the industry she was in, and I understand what ET is, but after an experience such as being on that show, *THAT'S* what you choose to go on TV and talk about? That's what I mean about coming off as a pill and that is what mschatelaine undoubtedly means too.