When Spanish woman Teresa Calvo set out to treat her family to a taste of homemade paella in her new Dublin home, difficulties sourcing the ingredients she wanted led to the establishment of a new retail venture focused on the produce and flavours of her native land.
“When I was entertaining for other people and wanted to cook paella and other Spanish dishes I simply could not get the ingredients here,” says Calvo, adding that initially her parents helped her get around the problem by sending care packages filled with her favourite foods from home. Then it dawned on the enterprising Cordobo native that she wasn’t alone in trying to source authentic Spanish produce in Dublin.
“Spain is the most popular holiday destination for Irish people, so the Irish are very familiar with Spanish food, and there is also an extensive Spanish community here. There was definitely a gap in the market.”
In 2020, Calvo opened A Taste of Spain with Irish husband James on Capel Street, and the initiative proved so popular that they launched a second store on Camden Street last year. In addition to stocking the traditional kinds of food typically found in Spanish supermarkets, both shops carry a nice selection of speciality meats, cheese and wines.
She tells us that their range of offerings are proving to be a big hit with the Spanish community in Ireland, many of whom drop in regularly to buy the foods they had growing up, as well as amongst Irish tourists seeking to recapture a taste of the flavours enjoyed during various sojourns in Spain. All their products are also available online for nationwide delivery.
Their latest initiative is La Taberna 60, a new casual dining spot offering a lovely selection of authentic Spanish tapas, freshly made on site by a Spanish chef. Located upstairs in their Camden Street store, customers can enjoy delicious servings of traditional Spanish classics such as Patatas Bravas, Gazpacho, Pisto, Empanada, Croquettes and Spanish Omelette.
Olé!
Thursday – Sunday, 5pm – 9.30pm.
