CÚRATE Trips, based on a true story
CÚRATE Trips brings to you peerless access to explore Spain, Portugal and Morocco through some of the world’s most acclaimed food and wine experiences curated by Katie Button and Felix Meana from CÚRATE Tapas Bar in partnership with the food and wine travel experts Valeska Idarraga and Fernando Paredes from Paladar y Tomar to get to the very essence of the real Mediterranean culture.
CÚRATE Trips uncover first-hand the real destinations, living some of the most fascinating experiences accessible to a very few. Get priceless insider access, connections, and a tantalizing insight into the culinary essence of every country.
CÚRATE TRIPS 2021
CÚRATE TRIPS 2022
The Experts

KATIE BUTTON
Chef Katie Button was born in the South, raised in the North, and educated in Europe. Four-time James Beard Award nominee and cookbook author, Katie Button is the co-Founder and CEO of Katie Button Restaurants in Asheville, North Carolina, including the beloved Cúrate Bar de Tapas, Cúrate Spanish Wine Club, and La Bodega by Cúrate. A Southern chef with a scientific mind, Button honed her craft in the kitchens of some of the world’s best chefs, most notably Ferran Adrià and José Andrés, before venturing out to open her own restaurant with husband Felix Meana and her family. Katie Button was featured as one of Food & Wine’s 2015 Best New Chefs. Cúrate was named as one of the “40 Most Important Restaurants of the Past 40 Years” by Food & Wine and one of the “Most Important Restaurants of the Decade” by Esquire.

FÉLIX MEANA
Originally from Roses, a small town on the Costa Brava in Catalunya, Spain, Felix Meana jumped in to the deep end of the hospitality industry at 19 and finally worked as front of the house service manager for five years at Ferran Adrià’s world famous restaurant, elBulli. Then he moved to Washington DC with José Andrés at ThinkFoodGroup (it was here where he met Katie Button), and he worked as Director of Service and helped with developing and opening new restaurants, including The Bazaar by José Andrés in SLS Hotels across Beverly Hills, CA, Las Vegas, South Beach, Miami, and Puerto Rico. Co-partner at CÚRATE, Felix’s close relationships with Spain, coupled with a sense of adventure and desire to share that with others, has helped him build a unique travel experience through Cúrate Trips.

VALESKA IDARRAGA
Valeska inherited a taste for gastronomic culture from her French father and a talent for cooking from her Basque grandmother, a good reputed chef in that times. After studying Economics and Journalism in her native Barcelona, she went to Switzerland to pursue hotel management studies and she worked at some of the most prestigious hotels. Valeska speaks five languages. She is a Certified Sherry Wine Cellar Advance Expert, WSET 2 certified and WSET 3 candidate. Valeska is co-founder at Paladar y Tomar, she is marketing director and manages client relationships and operations at CÚRATE Trips.

FERNANDO PAREDES
Fernando Paredes is the CEO, financial director, and wine responsible of Paladar y Tomar. The Barcelona native was well into a career in economics when he discovered his true callings—travel, food, and wine. He entered the tourism industry as General Manager of a bespoke travel group, earned a degree in Food Event Design from the European Design Institute, became a Certified Sherry Wine Cellar Advance Expert and passed WSET 2 (Wine & Spirits Education Trust) with distinction. He is now a WSET level 3 candidate. Fernando’s journeys, and passion for food, have taken him to all corners of the world and now besides his many responsibilities he personally leads every tour at CÚRATE Trips.
NEED MORE INFORMATION OR EXTRA DETAILS?
DESTINATIONS
Spain & Portugal & Morocco
While in Asheville CÚRATE brings to you daily the Spanish flavors, these journeys represent the exaltation of the Mediterranean basin, one of the regions with the most memorable food and cheerful lifestyle. At the core of these adventures are the tenets of authenticity, exclusivity and personal enrichment brought all together by a team of passionate experts.
We invite you to soak up the local culture through food and wine, and learn how the heritage, handed down through the food on each plate, signified what every specific region, from North to South, from East to West, has become today.
Katie Button and Félix Meana, with the inestimable support of the local travel company Paladar y Tomar, take you to their secret gems in these spectacular 10-day distinctive journeys collection.
One of the most desired cities of the Med, Barcelona adds to its perennial pleasures – a dazzling architecture, an admirable setting and a kaleidoscopic cultural scene – a rich and internationally admired cuisine. CÚRATE has deep connections with Barcelona and we want to share some with you.
CÚRATE invites you to explore this bustling and beguiling capital whose gastronomic scene is the envy of many! Its singular bar and restaurant culture has made from Madrid one of the most engaging, eclectic and exciting places to eat in Europe. From first-rate tapas, experimental fine dining and serious seafood, to the most rooted dishes which can still be savored at century-old establishments. A hearty fried squid sandwich will awaken your taste buds!
A city with heightened emotion – or duende – vibrant and seductive, Sevilla’s palm-filled gardens and rich Mudéjar-style palaces are full of secrets. And its foodie scene is inevitably associated with the word “tapa”; those small portions, mostly paired with a beer or a glass of wine whose intention is to be shared in conviviality. So lets’t practice the healthy habit of “tapear” at its best.
Roses, at a mere two hours north of Barcelona, has been at the heart of the world culinary rebellion with Ferràn Adrià being arguably the greatest culinary revolutionary of our time. Not to mention the fact that Félix is originally from Roses and Katie did one of her most crucial internships at elBulli. Join us to uncover the best kept secrets!
Burgos evokes medieval knights and princesses, and its Cathedral – declared World Heritage – stands out over the forest of Gothic church towers. Culinary speaking the local traditional “lechazo” or suckling lamb - this is something of an institution – coexists harmoniously with a new group of talented chefs and a dynamic dining scene we are ready to soak up.
On the banks of the Guadalete river, El Puerto de Santa María is known as The City of 100 Palaces. This seaside town is an elegant place of faded grandeur now being revived. The fishing port with its strategic situation next to salt marshes and infinite beaches set a glourious past and today makes a fascinating point of departure to explore the astonishing region of Cadiz: home of some of the best world wines, natural passage of the best blue fin tuna and cradle of flamenco.
You might have never heard of Bierzo, but word is getting around and if you get the opportunity to taste a good one, which is unusually captivativating, you can't help but remember it. Some call it “The Spanish Burgandy” and The Best World Winemaker has built up his success precisely here. Will you miss it?
Salamanca’s cathedrals and churches rise up suddenly on the other side of the Tormes River, The old city remains much as it was in the 18th century and nothing seems to alter the rhythm of this ancient ville. The city’s pride is the University of Salamanca founded in 1218, it is said to be the third oldest university in Europe after Oxford and Bologna. Very close some of the best jamón ibérico is being cured under the appellation of “Guijuelo”.
The big industrial city in northern Spain, has undergone a dramatic transformation over the last 15 years. So dramatic that Bilbao is challenging the supremacy of San Sebastián, the noble and prestigious seaside resort to the East. It’s no accident that Bilbao has perhaps the most active Slow Food chapter in the country, nor that its talented – and too often undervalued - chefs dip into their larder to honour their food legacy. There is much more than the Guggenheim in Bilbao.
Known as “Donostia” in the local Basque language, San Sebastian is a coastal gem. Nestled between the mountains and the sea it is not by chance it’s nicknamed "La Concha" (the shell) -- the city half encircles a stunningly beautiful turquoise bay – that used to be a magnet for the wealthy and the aristocracy. Besides being considered the world’s capital for food, the city has a deep rooted history and singular culture to share.
La Rioja turns out what most people have in mind when they think of Spanish wines. The region produces wine since ancient Roman times. It’s no accident that when phylloxera hit Bordeaux in the late 19th century, French winemakers chose Rioja as a location to make wines for the French market. Not only will you have a chance to access remarkable wineries but also you will try astonishing new style wines that express a sense of place.
The other Basque Country. St.-Jean-de-Luz reflects the French Basque culture. A bustling fishing port, St.-Jean-de-Luz also became a popular tourist spot in the 19th century. Cozy and high-spirited the charming city is a manageable walking town with memorable beaches and a prodigious village market. Nothing to say about the local cheese affineur whose passion does not need translation.
Lisbon is a city were rooted traditions and modernity live together. And you'll soon feel Lisboetas love their food; no self-respecting local would even consider hitting the town before first sitting down to dinner.
Soothing and sublime, rich and relaxed, and best enjoyed at a leisurely pace, aptly describes both Porto's cuisine and its eponymous wine. Steeped in tradition and made with care, Porto's cuisine combines the old with the new, marries vintage preparations with modern touches and adjoins tastes of the past with nods to the present.
The Douro Valley; the world’s first officially designated wine region, has drawn people for not only its port but also its postcard-pretty landscapes—steep terraced vineyards carved into mountains along the Douro River and whitewashed wine estates atop granite bluffs. The Douro Valley is member of the club of vineyard regions on the UNESCO world heritage list.
Gastronomy is all about quality in the Alentejo. Rustic fare, prepared in a way that allows the ingredients to shine unencumbered, dominates the region. Slow-cooked black Ibérico pork shoulder, "bacalhau com espinafres" (salt cod with spinach), "sopa de beldroegas" (purslane soup with chorizo) and "ensopado de Borrego" (lamb stew with Tellicherry peppercorns) are a few dishes you can classify as must-try during your visit. Wine and olive oil make the rest.
You were truly instrumental in making our trip fantastic. Truthfully, I wish I were still there.
Many thanks and looking forward to something we can plan together again in the future. Abrazos,
Your restaurant choices were all very good as well.
As for the sherry and bodega visits, those were even more impressive. We had such a terrific time and the experiences were very personalized.
Thank you so much for arranging special tastings for us. It was absolutely incredible.
Everyone we met were so kind and welcoming. We are Sherry wine fans for life!!
We signed up and took a chance, and were rewarded greatly. The happy group is a testament to not only your planning and professionalism, but your kindness as well.
Hands down, best tour trip ever 🙂
So grateful for the opportunity to get to know all of you!
The trip was amazing in all aspects. We were really impressed with everything. The hotel choices were wonderful, the locations were perfect, the guides were terrific and very knowledgeable. Your restaurant choices were all very good as well.
As for the sherry and bodega visits, those were even more impressive. We had such a terrific time and the experiences were very personalized. Thank you so much for arranging special tastings for us. It was absolutely incredible. Everyone we met were so kind and welcoming. We are Sherry wine fans for life!!
I was so impressed with everything you arranged and your promptness and professionalism. Dillon had a wonderful time and was very complimentary.
Thank you for everything.
With gratitude, Star
Thank you so much for this helpful list! Gary and I are still talking about what a great time we had on the trip to Spain and how much we enjoyed meeting you, Fernando and Felix. You did an amazing job and we so appreciated seeing Spain's beautiful cities, historical treasures and of course the wonderful food, wine and people!
Gary and I wanted to thank you again for your continued care and concern as we spent three additional days in Madrid with the Millars. You and Fernando were so nice to make sure all went well and to see us off when we finally had to depart.
We are wishing you all the best and a wonderful holiday season ahead,
(...)
We had a winderful time particularly thanks to your superb arrangements. We will return! Arrivederci Marco
All the private excursions that she arranged were excellent. At some point during every tour our guide received a message from our agent checking in on how everything was going. We felt very well taken care of during our honeymoon and very thankful for all the assistance Valeska provided in making this dream vacation come true.
Gallery












