About

Papa Serra – Culinary Adventures in Barcelona is a brand new business that provides tours of Barcelona’s best markets, cooking classes in the heart of Barcelona, and other Culinary Adventures in the mountains, beaches and streets of Spain.

The chef, Joel Serra Bevin grew up in New Zealand and Australia where he founded Australia’s first hidden restaurant and appeared on Masterchef, his food being described as “fashionable Spain” and “the modern tapas that Spain is crying out for.” He returned to Catalonia in 2009 to follow in the footsteps of his great grandfather, Papa Serra, whose legendary allioli, ajo blanco and leche merengada formed the basis of his first food memories.

Calling Barcelona home, Joel runs Culinary Adventures in Barcelona, where he combines history, culture, food and wine, ensuring those that attend leave with a memorable experience, and also with sense of having met Papa Serra, a true Catalan legend.

You are invited to engage all your senses as you tour Barcelona’s best food markets including the world-renowned La Boqueria and haggle with the Catalan stallholders for the freshest seasonal vegetables from the fields of Andalucia, the creamiest Spanish cheeses, seafood direct from the Mediterranean, Spain’s best Jamón ibérico, oranges from Sevilla and almonds from the hills of Catalonia.

You are then led to a secret cooking space, located next to La Boqueria, where the chef teaches you how to transform these ingredients into traditional and modern Spanish tapas - inspired by Papa Serra. The chef makes a point of avoiding the Spanish clichés that fill the tourist traps of Barcelona – “You won’t find scripted paella or greasy patatas bravas here – just modern, fresh and simply delicious food from the world’s most amazing cuisine.”

And finally, the chef ensures you enjoy the fruits of your hard work over Cava – Spain’s answer to champagne, a selection of Spanish wines including Tempranillo, Garancha, Syrah and Mazuelo, and Catalan Vichy – the world’s best mineral water.

Come on a Culinary Adventure in Barcelona and see why Papa Serra called this place home.