Gran Hotel Mas d'en Bruno in Catalonia, Spain has launched a Medieval menu inspired by an ancient cookbook, featuring dishes such as 'conger eel three ways'. Olivia Palamountain reports

Gran Hotel Mas d’en Bruno, a luxury boutique hotel in Spain's Catalonia wine region, has unveiled a medieval-inspired menu filled with dishes from a 700-year-old cookbook.

The heritage 'Sent Soví Menu' has been designed to mark the region's recognition as World Region of Gastronomy in 2025, and will be served at Vinum, the hotel's main restaurant.

Dishes featured in the menu have been inspired by the seminal Llibre de Sent Soví, a cookbook dating from 1324. The manuscript represents one of the earliest known cookbooks written in Catalan, with only two original handwritten copies preserved.The team has faithfully reinterpreted the ingredients and preparation methods found in the original manuscript using contemporary gastronomic techniques, showcased in dishes including conger eels prepared three ways and grilled and stuffed partridge with poultry broth.

Diners receive a richly illustrated guide providing historical context to enhance their understanding of the medieval culinary experience.Chef Josep Queralt, who created the menu, said reinterpreting the ancient cookbook had proved challenging due to the limitations of medieval cooking. "They did not have covers or cooking utensils were much more limited, relying exclusively on fire and large saucepans," he explains.

"We have tried to contextualise the gastronomic proposal as much as possible, adapted to the evolution of our times and imagination of the flavours of the era."Gran Hotel Mas d'en Bruno opened in May 2023 as the first five-star Grand Luxe hotel in Priorat, located in the heart of Spain's Catalonia wine region. The boutique property features 24 spacious suites with double-sided fireplaces and vineyard views, surrounded by sprawling vineyards in an area known for producing some of Spain's finest wines.

The hotel's location in Priorat provides access to acclaimed wineries and represents part of a growing luxury hospitality offering in Spain's wine regions.