Situated in Olot, I had heard about Les Cols and had met Fina the chef a few
weeks back. Les Cols, which turns 25 this year, is a restaurant with two Michelin
stars located in the family
farm where Fina Puigdevall was born. She has many awards for her catalan cuisine; the restaurant has been featured among the most beautiful restaurants in the world in some prestigious books and magazines. Her radical commitment for local ingredients and sustainable cuisine can be tasted
in the fine dining restaurant and an open and modern reserved for celebrations.
Puigdevall defines her cuisine as "sober but essential; austere and humble
intuitive, intimate and authentic." It is a KM 0 cuisine, which means the menu varies upon the season, using what is available nearby and in her own
garden.
The restaurant is known, in addition to its kitchen, for
its innovative decoration, redesigned in 2003 and designed by RCR Arquitectes with the aim of: "Les Cols Gives happiness." A beautiful interior, elegant and gold contrasting with the rustic exterior. I loved the mélange and the ambiance.
An interesting note to add is that the chef of the restaurant Les Cols, will move her philosophy of the 0 km to the Emporda and will be again
cooking products such as fish or shellfish after 12 years. She will be the
consultant chef at the Mas Torrent and Spa hotel. Fina seems quite excited to be
able to use different products as she will be nearby the Mediterranean.
Coming back to Les Cols, we had an interesting meal, the
décor inside is sublime and the outside is heavenly. There are 2 tasting menus, of which one of them is 95% vegetarian for 85€. You can appreciate the
authentic taste of the ingredients used, they are not hiding or made up.
Being Indian I am used to a more spicy cuisine with radical
flavors, so I found it a bit bland.
Les Cols also offers a 15€ lunch menu every Thursdays with a 1st and main dish, served in their cool outdoor tent.
Next to the restaurant you have Les Cols Pavellons, which isn't part of the restaurant: you can stay there, it has 5 pavilions in a zen decor, with glass floors and walls. Easach of them offer a heated onse, private bathroom and a futon mat. Great if you want to be surrounded by nature, close to the Garrotxa Volcanic Nature reserve and then have a michelin experience. Perfect for a special weekend.
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| The Gold hall! |
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| Welcome drink in the garden! |
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| Spaghetti in hot broth! |
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| Veg Blinis! |
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| Admire the beautiful entourage and setting! |
We started with the appetiser : Fingerfood!
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| Asparagus in charcoal tempura served with romesco sauce! |
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| Santa Pau white beans. |
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| Artichoke in a mandarin cream! Yummy! |
From the henhouse to your plate!
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| Fresh egg ! |
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| Pumkin textures with black olive oil! |
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| Sweet onion form the nearby Crostat volcano with Farró cheese. |
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| Les cols! small cabbages and potatoes! |
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| Chards. ( I don't like chards...) |
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| Delicious grilled hydroponic lettuce ! |
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| This is how a hydroponic lettuce grows: clean in water! |
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| Rich catalan cheese platter served with homemade vegetables jam! |
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| Carrot cake with bitter orange and yoghurt! An interesting flavour. |
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| Loved these pears served with endives in a vanilla cinnamon light cream. |
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| Loquat in vermouth, orange and thyme served with a corn cream! |
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| Tea time! |
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| Dark and rich chocolate bar and delicious coca bread from L'hostalet d'en bas. |
The Great tent outside, for great events! With its own kitchen.
Meeting and chatting with the chef Fina!
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Walking with Fina in the beautiful garden!
Caminante, son tus huellas
el camino y nada más;
Caminante, no hay camino,
se hace camino al andar.
-Antonio Machado-
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