Carles Gaig

Carles Gaig’s culinary creations bear the signature of a creative imagination, where the timeless relationship between wine and food is expressed in sensations. He is one of the best-known names in Barcelona's food scene.

FT: How did your restaurant get its start? Can you tell us a little bit about its history?

CG: I was basically born among pots and pans in the Horta neighborhood of Barcelona. My family has worked in the restaurant business since 1869 when they opened the Taberna d'en Gaig, which I took over in the 1970s. In 1989, I decided to combine tradition and innovation and opened the Gaig Restaurant.

In 2004, we decided to move into the Barcelona city center, the Eixample district, and bring our fusion of avant-garde and market cuisine to the Hotel Cram. 2004 was a good year, because the Acadèmia Catalana de Gastronomia (Catalan Academy of Gastronomy) named us Restaurant of the Year.

In 2008, we opened La Fonda Gaig on Carrer Còrsega in Barcelona, where we revived a lot of traditional Catalan recipes, and in 2010 we landed at the Barcelona airport with Porta Gaig. In 2013, we brought Gaig and La Fonda Gaig together to create the Gaig Restaurant, where our beginnings in the Horta neighborhood are still palpable. That same year, I received a lifetime achievement award from the Academia Catalana de Gastronomía.

In 2019, we announced our move to the Torre del Remei in Bolvir.

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Award-winning and internationally renowned, Carles Gaig draws on Catalan culinary tradition to create innovative, contemporary dishes. This gastronomic identity has gradually taken hold as the Gaig Restaurant has reinvented itself over time, from its origins in Horta to the city center.

FT: What does your clientele expect from the wine list? Can you tell us about your relationship with Familia Torres wines?

CG: Wine and food pairing is an essential element of dining, which we reflect in a very extensive list of still and sparkling wines. Our guests like to ask us for advice and are happy to follow our recommendations. Paying attention to the perfect wine selection makes it possible to take full advantage of its ability to harmonize with textures and flavors, and produce sensations. In a pairing, we have to keep in mind that certain elements like the texture or flavor of the food can react in different ways. We want every visit to our restaurant to be an identity-driven experience for the senses.

Familia Torres is one of the sector's historic wineries. We appreciate its unwavering commitment to exceptional wines—our allies in creating new sensations on the palate. We also value how the winery works with the grapes and takes care of the environment.

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An appreciation for culture and a deep respect for the product and his guests. We share those same values and join forces to provide a wide range of wines that reinforce the identity of each dish.

Gaig’s culinary creations and our wines: a symbiotic relationship that strengthens our commitment to producing quality wines that pair well with great food.