SAVOURING ESPAÑA

The 36th Salón Gourmets, one of the most prestigious food and beverage fairs in Europe, took place in Madrid earlier this year. SIMRRAN GILL walks the halls to experience the best of the world’s culinary offerings.

- SIMRRAN GILL

I LOVE QUIZZES. The anticipation of a question and the adrenaline rush to solve it in seconds draw me to the process time and again. But the quiz that I am presented with now is unlike any other I have taken before. There are no questions and no rush to answer, and definitely, no scorecard. Yet, I am fully invested in sniffing the many bottles of olive oil to identify the various notes. Apart from the two citrusy ones, I get everything right. I'm at the 36th edition of Salón Gourmets in Madrid, along with journalists from Sao Paolo, Finland, Colombia, Germany, and Oslo. We have come together to celebrate the diversity of Spain's culinary offerings, and in the process, educate ourselves.

A celebration of fine foods and beverages, Salón Gourmets celebrated its 36th edition in April this year with a larger-than-ever-before affair. There were over 2,000 exhibitors showcasing more than 55,000 products and more than 1,00,000 visitors participating in over 1,200 activities at an exhibition spread over an area equivalent to 10 soccer fields.

My day began long before my mini adventure at the olive oil stall, with an assortment of muffins and coffee. While my curious friends opted for a South Indian roast, I chose the classic Colombian coffee. As time went on, there were finer indulgences awaiting us, for instance, wines with varying levels of acidity and flavour profiles. The sommeliers showcased their best collections; got candid about the magical journey of their wines, from grape to the golden liquid in the bottle; and most importantly, demonstrated the accurate way to fully enjoy the wine.