Café Gala Cookbook Features Over 200 Pages of Recipes Inspired by Salvador Dalí’s Homeland
The Dalí Museum announces the launch of “The Dalí Museum Café Gala Cookbook,” a 200-page celebration of Spanish-inspired cuisine and artistry. Curated by Café Gala’s celebrated Chef Chuck Bandel in collaboration with Museum Director Hank Hine, this culinary treasure invites readers into the unique world of the Museum’s beloved Café Gala. Named in honor of Salvador Dalí’s wife and muse, Gala, Café Gala enhances the cultural experience at The Dalí through a fusion of Spanish cuisine and Dalí’s works. Now, fans of Dalí and food enthusiasts alike can experience 55 meticulously crafted recipes, capturing the essence of Catalan and Spanish flavors at home.
Designed with the same attention to transformation that Dalí brought to his art, the cookbook is a sensorial experience. Chef Bandel’s culinary expertise shines with recipes ranging from classic tapas and hearty soups to savory meats and exquisite desserts. Through his own photography and watercolor illustrations, Bandel brings to life the textures, flavors and cultural landscapes that inspire his cuisine, beautifully complemented by select works by Dalí himself.
“Cooking is, in itself, a process of transformation,” notes Hank Hine, Dalí Museum Director, in the cookbook’s introduction, emphasizing the creative intersections between the culinary arts and Dalí’s boundary-pushing artistic vision. “Just as Salvador Dalí saw the world as fluid and ever-changing, cooking transforms raw elements into something entirely new, inviting the same sense of wonder and metamorphosis we find in art.”
Each recipe carries the story of its origins, intertwined with Dalí’s imaginative world and Catalonia’s gastronomic traditions. As a master of detail, Chef Bandel’s inspirations include insights from Catalonia’s renowned chefs, such as Ferran Adrià as well as those from his training experiences (stages) with culinary legends like Paco Pérez, Martín Berasategui and Jaume Subirós, who helped shape the Café’s offerings.
To honor the cookbook’s launch, The Dalí Museum will host an exclusive event series titled “Regions of Spain,” celebrating the country’s rich culinary traditions. The festivities kick off on Dec. 11 with a tapas tasting, sangria flights and live Spanish guitar in the Museum’s dynamic Café Gala setting. Chef Bandel will be on hand to sign copies of the cookbook, making this a festive tribute to Spain’s diverse regional flavors and culinary artistry. The event series continues in 2025, highlighting different regions of Spain—from the Basque Country to Andalusia—culminating with a tribute to Dalí’s homeland, Catalonia.
“The Dalí Museum Café Gala Cookbook,” is available for purchase at The Dalí Museum Store and online for $39.95, offering readers the chance to bring home a piece of Café Gala’s legacy. To learn more about the inaugural “Regions of Spain” culinary event, please visit TheDali.org.
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About The Dalí Museum
The Dalí Museum, located in downtown St. Petersburg, Fla., is home to a preeminent collection of the artist’s works, with over 2,400 works representing every period and medium of Salvador Dalí’s creative life. The Dalí is recognized internationally by the Michelin Guide with its highest three-star rating; has been named one of seven museums globally that showcase the future by CNN Travel; and was named one of the 10 most interesting museums in the world by Architectural Digest. The Dalí Museum’s acclaimed digital experiences have received numerous national and international awards for creative innovation. The Museum is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to preserve Dalí’s legacy for generations to come and serve as an active resource in the cultural life of the community and the world at large. Open daily at One Dalí Boulevard, St. Petersburg, Fla. 33701, The Dalí welcomes all as unique individuals and is committed to making its collection, exhibitions, building and programs accessible. For more information, visit TheDali.org or download the Bloomberg Connects app for The Dalí Museum’s free mobile guide.
About Café Gala
Named in honor of Salvador Dalí’s beloved wife, Gala, Café Gala offers a menu inspired by the flavors and traditions of Spain. Café Gala’s light fare introduces visitors to Spanish food and culture, enhancing the Museum experience with authentic tapas, soups, pastries and the Café’s signature Cava Rosado. Designed as a culinary tribute to Dalí’s life and homeland, Café Gala operates during Museum hours, offering a taste of Spanish heritage to all visitors.
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