Israel Romero / Sunday, May 19, 2024 / Categories: Blog Spanish gourmet products: missing from our best restaurants Spanish Gourmet Products This is a very strong statement, but unfortunately I find myself confirming it more and more when I see how difficult it is for many of our gourmet products to convince top restaurants that a partnership with them would be unbeatable. Purchasing Managers, Gourmet Experts? Strength in Unity Spanish Gourmet Products: Absent from Our Best Restaurants I’m aware this is not an article that’s easy to write or easy for all parties to accept equally. But I’ll try to qualify my statements as much as possible so that no one feels more attacked than others. The first thing I want to say is that our gastronomic restaurants — those that bet on the quality of their dishes — must distinguish between fresh and natural ingredients, where they do indeed opt for the best. However, when we talk about complementary products that Spanish gourmet brands can provide, that’s where we find lights and shadows — in some cases more shadows than lights. And we ask ourselves, why? Restaurateurs often justify this with price, but that too is highly debatable. Purchasing Managers, Gourmet Experts? You know me: in business I base trust and professional development on people and their values. So when the role of the Purchasing Manager is the one who must decide which products can have a place in a gastronomic restaurant and which cannot, that raises certain doubts for me. Because if that person isn’t someone from the kitchen who fully understands product quality, then we have a problem. The argument on which they will base decisions about one product or another will be almost exclusively economic. If that person bases their decisions on money alone, part of the restaurant’s and chef’s brand value can be called into question or diminished, because the criterion does not come from the kitchen. And I’m sorry — I can’t hold back here — if we sell the highest quality of our gastronomy, we shouldn’t leave such decisions to lay hands. From a gastronomic point of view, and not an economic one, should such a consequential decision be made this way? For God’s sake, no… it shouldn’t. I’ve come across true “product gurus” among Purchasing Managers. In other words, they’ll say, I want Chupadedos olives, Tres Leches cheeses, Biodynamic EVOO… just names and pseudo-marketing trends attached to gastronomic products, but they won’t say, I want these Chupadedos olives that have been recognized for their flavor and production, or the international awards of that cheese, or the Extra Virgin Olive Oil brand X that produces an exquisite product and is being revered around the world. I hope that after this article some Purchasing Managers will come after me and reclaim their position and their commitment to selecting the best of the best. I hope to find people who share my views. [caption id="attachment_29172" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Spanish Gourmet Products: absent from our best restaurants[/caption] Strength in Unity What I’m saying does not come from a moment of sudden insight or from trying to pick a fight with this group. I’ve seen it in Italy and France — where else? — that the rapport between producers and restaurateurs is very strong, and that contributes equally to their gains. First of all, the menus are so different… They talk about Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) or Denomination of Origin (D.O.), and, of course, about brands when they contribute ingredients to those dishes. That adds much more value to the entire gastronomic experience, which diners are willing to pay for, because they are informed about what they are about to enjoy. And so that damned obstacle of price as an insurmountable barrier dissolves like a sugar cube in coffee. This is a reflection simply to make restaurateurs think about the great responsibility you have, so that those who take risks to make the best EVOOs, vinegars, cheeses, cured meats, Iberian products, preserves, sweets, appetizers, nuts… have the chance to showcase their creations where they will find no better allies and ambassadors. Time will tell whether I’m right. Mediterranean canned tuna, all in red... Wild! Find people, don't just search for them, to achieve success. Print 3 Rate this article: No rating Please login or register to post comments.