05/06/2021
9 years ago, when on a trip to Barcelona, I had dinner, with friends, at a very popular club by the city beach.
I had ordered a plate of Spanish ham with my Cava and got distracted from the great company and scenery from the explosion of just the perfect flavours of nuttiness and zing, while sampling this amazing product.
My friends husband who was the top bartender and mixologist at the club told me without hesitation:
âI will make sure you get to meet the chef as well as the source of where he gets his products.â
Fast forward, I have a meeting and sampling set up two days later at a shop in the city that strictly sold the products of this producer.
On arrival in my beach dress, as I didnât pack for business, I meet this well over 70 year old man and the store owner, looking quite unimpressed and almost disappointed.
They wanted to wrap up the meeting standing up, I insisted we sit down as I had things to tell them, and I was there for a sampling of all their products.
Once they heard I had asked for a 7 kg piece of Patta Negra getting deboned so I can take it back to MontrĂ©al with me (yup, in my luggage) they figured, letâs at least give her some time simply for her purchase.
Little did they know I was about to ask them not only to import their products but also for exclusivity in Canada.
He got himself a good chuckle (the regional sales manager) and said: âWe donât do business this wayâ.
I told him, well thatâs because you havenât dealt with Paolo and I yet.
Thatâs where our saga with the absolute best house of Spanish âhamâ there is began.
Señorio dà Montanera.