Rick Stein's Spain [DVD]

This has a similar format to Rick Stein's trip in France. It is part travelogue, part local culinary specialities ( lots of fish and seafood) and also part cooking demonstration. The programmes cover a wide geographical spread - starting with Galicia in the North West and then travelling first East to the Basque country then to Navarre then Catalonia before turning South. Informative and entertaining.

Quite superb. Typically Stein - he states the good things and emphasises the things to really go for. He involves the local people and provides a travelogue with some receipts thrown in. The first episode from Vigo to Bilbao in the Basque country has inspired me to drive from west to east along the line of mountains - the first part of the watershed of Europe. The climate, landscape, people, customs and food as well as history are all included.

Well, though there is a wealth of Flash FLA at the beginning of the DVD, I found it just as interesting as the TV series, but better in a way. There are several items in each episode that I wanted to repeat and copy down how Rick actually 'knocks up' his recipes. As for that customer who says it's not what they expected. Just what did they expect? I expected the DVDs to be the same as the TV series and they are.

This Spanish odyssey lives up to his usual high standard. This time he is traveling around in a camper van and often cooks on the spot. What is so good about Rick is that he shows you all the steps involved in a dish and never leaves anything unsaid. He also takes time to interview farmers, food producers, and fellow chefs along the route, and often visits local markets. Why oh why have we given up so many of our fresh produce markets here in the UK?. I have copied many of his recipes and done them step by step (with heavy use of the Pause button on the dvd player!) then sat down to delicious authentic meals cooked a la Rick. Another feature of Rick's dvd adventures is that they are also fascinating travelogues. It's almost worth watching them for that alone, as I do on Sunday mornings. This is another great addition to the Rick Stein collection (and I recommend the book as well). Can't fault this, hence the 5 stars. Well done Rick, keep them coming.

As always, this series was a melange of history, culture, geography, literature, and, oh, of course, some cooking! Rick Stein is a relaxed easy going person who appreciates the hard work of all the many people involved in the art of good cooking. He and Campy travelled to so many varied places and met the locals, sampling with delight all the meals, and my only regret was that the series seemed shorter than his others. I am still savouring the ham and fino.

I really like these Rick Stein cullinary travel DVD's: he comes across as someone really interested in the country, the culture as well as the cuisine, presenting regional cooking that most people prepare and cook themselves, or enjoy in down to earth, local rather than fine-dining, restaurants, bars and cafes. Spanish cooking does not have much of a reputation on the world's culinary scene, but perhaps it should have - the dishes presented in this series are varied, earthy in large part and occasionally quite hearty. Rick Stein has done what others are now emulating - a good example, "The two Greedy Italians'" exploring what is essentially cucina povera that has become, nowadays, specialist and increasingly expensive - Iberico ham, for instance, but originally belonged to the culture of an agrarian people. He has kept the food in the regions relatively basic, rooted in the culture rather than in expensive kitchens and he has done it, to my mind, with genuine empathy for the country - muy simpatico! The dishes he presents are good without being outstanding, but they fit the scene that he has created perfectly.

Rick Stein's Spain is part three of his European odyssey (after France and the Med). He brings his boyish enthusiasm to a trip around Spain in a friend's camper van (which actually adds little to the show). Starting in the north at Bilbao he drives through regions often not visited by documentary crews, always looking for the food eaten by locals and being delighted by the obvious enthusiasm of European people for their local foods. Sometimes I wish that he wouldn't be so defensive - like Keith Floyd before him, referring endlessly to the "salt police" and admiring the ability to smoke in Spanish restaurants, but his obvious love and respect for food and those who cook it shines through. A good DVD transfer but no extras on the disk. A good buy.

It is just as good as I remember it on tv. We now live in Spain near the house he cooked in so loved it all the more for that. He was the right host for this show as he has an earthy approach to the country which is what is needed to really get to see these dishes cooked. It is hard to imagine some of the more egotistical tv chefs feeling comfortable or being accepted in these kitchens. All together worth watching

Rick at his best, and Spain looks so good from a camper van LOL!

I am such a huge fan of Rick Stein. He has a endearing but truthful manner and has so much passion about what he is experiencing, it simply cant help but draw you into his world. A great coverage of Spain and its diverse people, regions and food. Rick does cooking docos like no-one else can - everyone can enjoy this even if you arent a cook.

classic rick very good.