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[title]From April 4th to 13th, you have the opportunity to taste the best of Spain at over 70 restaurants in Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata, Mendoza, Córdoba, and Rosario. Yes, as part of the Tapeando festival, which we cover in this article. And we suggest you take advantage, because, as chef Julieta Caruso told us, "Spain is synonymous with great gastronomy."
And if anyone knows Spanish cuisine, it’s Julieta. Originally from Bariloche, she traveled to Spain to train in cooking and ended up staying for ten years, exploring its culinary diversity, enjoying, and traveling from north to south. From Alicante to the Basque Country, passing through Mallorca and Galicia, each place left her with a reason to return. Here’s her journey.
Alicante, Ronda, and Dénia: The Gateway
When Julieta first arrived in Spain at 20, she settled in Alicante to do internships in restaurants and a pastry shop. “I have a lot of affection for Alicante. It’s warm, the food is good…” Later, she spent some time in Ronda, in Andalusia. “Going to the supermarket was exciting because everything was new to me. It was like discovering another world through its ingredients and flavors.”
“In Andalusia, it was like discovering another world through its ingredients and flavors”
She later lived in Dénia, in Alicante but near the sea: a small city famous for its harbor, beaches, and an 11th-century castle on top of a hill. There, Julieta encountered products she had never worked with before. “A lot of rice, paella. The nougat, huge almonds, the good tomatoes. That’s where I educated my palate,” she tells us.
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It was during this time that she experienced her first Fallas. What are they? A traditional Valencia festival that attracts thousands of tourists every year, where enormous satirical figures made of cardboard and wood are created. During Fallas, there are parades, music, and fireworks, and the event ends with the "cremà," when the figures are burned in the street. A real blast.
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“The village festivals are amazing: they block the streets, make a giant paella, and everyone sits down to eat together at a huge table. Those traditions in Valencia are unique,” says Julieta.
“The village festivals are impressive, and the Fallas in Valencia are unique”
San Sebastián and a Dream Come True
While working in Denia, Julieta heard that at Mugaritz, a restaurant near San Sebastián led by Andoni Luis Aduriz, with two Michelin stars, they went to the market every day. “That was a dream for me! Without much hope of getting a response, I applied for an internship… and a week later, they called me,” she says.
That’s how she ended up at Mugaritz: "There were 35 chefs from 15 nationalities. The first day they just made you watch the service, without touching anything. You didn’t understand anything; it was a kitchen completely different from what I knew. We worked from 10 in the morning to 1 in the morning. But the learning was immense,” she recalls.
The best part of the experience? “That’s where I understood what the product is. I always tell the story that when I arrived in the Basque Country, I’d read the menu and see ‘tomato salad.’ I thought, ‘How boring,’ because I thought it was the same tomato I knew. But of course, when you try a seasonal tomato salad, harvested at the right time, you say, ‘Ah, I see now.’ You can eat that just with garlic and oil, and that’s it,” she explains.
"At Mugaritz, I understood what the product is"
"In San Sebastián, you don’t need to cook or spend a lot of money to eat well. You eat a sandwich on the street, a pintxo in a bar, a dish in a beach shack, and everything is amazing. Our fridge was always empty!” she laughs.
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In addition to the cuisine, San Sebastián has an impressive cultural offering: it is known for events like the International Film Festival and Jazzaldia, which fill the city with art and creativity. The best part? It’s a city full of magic, with architecture blending classical and modern styles, and a unique location that combines stunning beaches with mountains.
Julieta ended up staying at Mugaritz for eight years, two of them as head chef. "At Mugaritz, I didn’t just learn how to cook: it educated me in the way of thinking, in the way of doing things, in the way of interacting with colleagues.”
Mallorca and a Great Summer
Remember that, in the beginning, Julieta was doing internships, and internships aren’t paid. So, after the first eight months in the Basque Country, she found only 50 euros in her account and decided it was time to look for a job. Luckily, a friend connected her with the owner of a restaurant in Mallorca, where they were looking for someone for the season. "He lent me his house and paid for my ticket. That’s the thing with gastronomy: we support each other; there’s always someone who lends a hand.”
Mallorca gave her a summer she would never forget. Every summer, the island fills with tourists and locals seeking vibrant nightlife, incredible landscapes, and, of course, great food. Mallorca has the charm of small towns like Valldemossa and Deià, perfect for getting lost on purpose in their cobblestone streets, hidden coves with crystal-clear waters, and perfect beaches like Es Trenc and Cala Mondragó.
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Traveling Through Spain, an Easy Pleasure
Living in Spain allowed Julieta to explore it at her own pace. “The distances are short. On vacation, in my car, I traveled the Cantabrian coast, stopping here and there: in Santander, in Galicia. It’s easy to get around because the distances are really short, and the train also makes it simple: it’s a short ride and you’re there.”
"It’s easy to get around Spain because the distances are so short, and the train also makes it simple"
“I think, after spending time in different regions of Spain, that the best thing about the country is that everything is so different. You’re in Andalusia, and it’s one world; Galicia is another world; the Basque Country is yet another. The people of Alicante have a different way of conversing, a different way of having fun compared to the Andalusians, for example. You go to Andalusia, and you say: ‘These people live for parties! Everything is a party! Everything is happiness!’” she recalls.
"You go to Andalusia, and you say: ‘These people live for parties! Everything is a party! Everything is happiness!’"
And she concludes: "I’m super grateful because in every place I’ve been, I’ve always been welcomed with open arms." If there’s one thing Spain has, it’s good energy.
Feeling inspired to travel to Spain? You just need to be ready to enjoy, eat well, and discover new places. Because no matter how many times you go, there’s always something incredible left to discover.