Spain, A Culinary Road Trip by Mario Batali with Gwyneth Paltrow

I recently checked this book from the library and enjoyed it quite a bit, though for me it wasn't extensive enough with recipes and food technique to warrant a purchase.  Mario Batali, along with food writer buddy Mark Bittman, and foodie actresses Gwyneth Paltrow and Claudia Bassols travel throughout Spain in various phases to sample regional foods, cook, and otherwise enjoy the country.

Batali and Bittman provide expertise and enthusiasm to the book, and Paltrow and Bassols add star power, which can be annoying in the text but also place well deserved attention to the food wonders of Spain (how relevant can Paltrow be when she refuses to eat pork, the national meat of Spain?). 

Having spent 6 weeks in Spain as a 19 year old, mainly in the Basque Country but also riding the trains throughout, I was taken back to many towns I'd visited.  Unfortunately, at the time I couldn't afford any of the food meccas mentioned in the book such as El Bulli and Arzak, but the book has only increased my interest in returning to see the sights and indulge in one of my favorite cuisines!

If you enjoy cooking real Spanish dishes, and already have some knowledge there, then you won't find much here that you won't already be familiar with.  Look up books by Penelope Casas or Pepita Aris for more depth.  However, it's worth checking out at the library and let Batali take you along on a enjoyable read!