Marta Fernández Guadaño just wrote a few months ago, “Reinventores” (Conecta/2012). Her first book on gastronomic management  offering an analysis on the process of transformation of Spanish cuisine from a gastroeconomy point of view. Marta began her journey studying Business Management, but her career has always been dedicated to business journalism, environmental and, in recent years, gastronomic journalism. From April 1st 2011, she works as a freelance journalist in various media specializing in gastronomy and dedicated to what she likes best: writing. On July the 30^th of 2011, she launched the web portal Gastroeconomy.

It’s not the first visit London. What is the reason for this last trip?

Some friends were going on holidays there for a few days in August and they asked me if I wanted to join them some of the days because one of their goals was to see several restaurants. So I decided to join and planned an agenda of several places to visit, including The Fat Duck (in Bray, less than an hour from London), Viajante, Lima London or Pollen Street Social. It is my fifth time inLondon.

The Fat Duck, a great gastronomic experience

The Fat Duck has been the most important gastronomic event of the trip to London. An amazing experience, I think only comparable to elBulli. Surprise, creativity, magic, great products, fun and a spectacular service very interactive and close to the customer. You learn a lot of stuff sitting there eating for nearly six hours. It is a luxury to visit Heston Blumethal’s restaurant, that one year was named world’s number one restaurant, ahead of el Bulli, but it’s a luxury well worth.

The best of British cuisine

I think we should distinguish between British cuisine and the cuisine offered in the UK, especially in London. First, the traditional British food can be found in many pubs or in more contemporary places as Diner by Heston Blumenthal (Mandarin Oriental Hotel). Moreover, London offers  a wide range of cuisine, diverse and fun. You never cease to discover new venues; it is a very interesting city from a gastronomic point of view where you can find all kinds of business formulas in different formats and also modern reissues of British cuisine. That’s why the best thing is the plurality and eclecticism of London.

Londontips

I think one should visit Pollen Street Social for being a modern proposal with competitive prices; make a route around Soho to discover new trends;  have an Afternoon Tea in one of the spaces of Fortnum & Mason; pay a visit so some Food Hall from a department store to see the organic products consumption trends and, of course, a  visit to the interesting   Borough Market, a hundred percent gastronomic market.

TrendyLondon

I think the trend are ‘casual’ venues (with bare tables, for example), with affordable deals for less than about 40-50 pounds, often with the option to eat at the bar, open non stop, sometimes without a reservation option and the combination of a menu (sometimes changing almost daily) with set-meals with dishes inspired by haute cuisine, but at good rates.

And, of course, Spanish cuisine is very fashionable: there are many “tapas” restaurants created by Spaniards which are full, and I am positive that there are business opportunities for some Spanish chefs to open there more or less informal venues as a second label from the parent company in Spain, with the “tapas” or other formats as the main offer.

The Caesar Hotel

I was looking for hotels in London, I wanted something special, not very big, centrally located and reasonably priced. After much searching, I remembered that Derby had a hotel there and it was a good choice. It has a perfect location to get around the city center, it’s nice, very welcoming and with a very friendly service (most of it also speaks Spanish). I was very comfortable.

One must always go back to London because there are always many things left to see and discover. Marta Fernández Guadaño

Ricky Cardús with Arguiñano

This 24 year old Catalan rider started in the motor racing world at the age of 14, he is a close friend of Jorge Lorenzo and nephew of the 250cc World Championship runner-up Carlos Cardús. We spoke with him about the practice, his day to day life on the track and beyond.

Ricky, his nickname among his friends, is a tenacious rider, daring, a real fighter and a boy in love with motor bikes, friendly and full of enthusiasm ready to achieve a dream. He practices a lot with an established routine throughout the year which intensifies during the season. From 3 to 4 hours of push ups, crunches, weights … and running  around the mountains of Barcelona. He rides his motorbike 1 or 2 days a week , follows a healthy diet, typical of great athletes, and disconnects from routine playing golf “It’s a very common practice among athletes that helps exercising concentration and having fun.”

He confesses that behind what we strictly see on the track there is a whole world. Life in the paddock is like living in a circus, in the kind sense of the word. A family of over 2,000 people between mechanics, team leaders, journalists, media channels, riders, trucks, marquees, restaurants … Three days in each circuit, for several months, in which the team becomes your family and the family becomes your team.

He recognizes that free race Sundays are very relaxed days and spent on leisure. He takes the chance of going out and having a great time with friends.

Regarding the Silverstone circuit he emphasizes his excitement to participate for the first time.

What’s never missing in his suitcase: his iPod

Derby Hotels wishes him the best of lucks on the 17th of June!

And if you are thinking of going to London to see this high speed show, the Caesar Hotel offers you a special plan so you enjoy your stay like never before. View Details

Derby Hotels Collection nace en Barcelona en 1968 con la puesta en marcha del hotel Derby, todo un icono en la ciudad de Barcelona.

Desde entonces, y bajo la dirección de Jordi Clos, empresario catalán profundamente vinculado al sector turístico de Barcelona, la colección se ha ido ampliando con establecimientos en Barcelona, Madrid, Londres y París. ¿Que por qué hablamos de colección? Porqué cada uno de nuestros hoteles es único, diferente a cualquier otro, una pequeña pieza de arte dentro de nuestra colección

Apostando por la calidad, el servicio y la diferenciación se han ido incorporando el resto de hoteles: Gran Derby en 1983, Astoria en 1987, Balmes en 1989, Claris en 1992, Villa Real en 1996, Urban y Caesar en 2004, Granados 83 en 2006, Banke y Balmes Residence en 2009, República y Bagués en 2010 y Arai, previsto para el 2012.

Un proyecto que sigue adelante con las nuevas generaciones de la familia Clos, en las que continúa la pasión por el arte, el diseño y la buena hostelería.

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