WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

Few days to go, and New Year 2012 will be here. With the advent of new year, a new era begins and with it comes new hopes and new possibilities. Every year teaches us some of life's most important lessons, and with that learning we put our step forward into the new year.

Antonio Mata S.L. Your Spanish Gourmet, wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year 2012.

What are the Designations of Origin for hams (jamón) in Spain?.

Spanish PROVINCES

The most demanding distinctive quality mark for food is the Designation of Origin (DO). Products protected under this formula are those whose quality and characteristics are due to their geographical environment with its natural and human aspects, and whose production, processing and manufacture are always carried out within the geographical area from which they take their name.

In Spain, Designations of Origin for our reputed hams are as follows:

• Jamón de Teruel, (Teruel): 
• Los Pedroches, (Huelva):
• Dehesa de Extremadura (Extremadura): 
• Guijuelo (Salamanca):
• Jamón de Huelva (Huelva): 

Teruel province location in Spain

Jamones Casa Mata S.L., our mother company, is located in Rubielos de Mora, (Teruel province). We feed our own pigs in our farms, we sacrifice them and we process and cure its hams, complying with all the standard regulations stated by the Jamón de Teruel Regulatory Council. 

To get further details about:

• Regulatory Council
• Processing Methods
• Pigs origin and breeds
• Total production 
• Exports
• Etc.

You are invited to have a look at the official information given by "FOODS FROM SPAIN"  website dedicated to our Jamón de Teruel, Designation of Origin. 

In our blog, you are welcome to follow this link to one of the posts we have written to describe our delicious Jamón de Teruel.

Jamon de Teruel

Jamón de Teruel is a Designation of Origin protected by the EU, that is the reason why our quality label reads "Jamón de Teruel DOP" in Spanish, or "Ham from Teruel PDO in English language.

 If you want to know more about a protected designation of origin we recommend you to read this post: What is a Protected Designation of Origin by the EU?

The world of cured hams from Spain is fascinating!, do not hesitate to contact us for any information you might require at clientes@antoniomata.com. We are specialized in Spanish hams: Jamón de Teruel, jamón ibérico, jamón serrano, etc. and we will be delighted to solve all of your doubts. Be welcome at any time!

Black truffle tasting menus at "Hotel Los Leones", Rubielos de Mora, Teruel, Spain.

Black truffle and the Rubielos de Mora Saint Mary´s Cathedral

Borage with clams, ham and black truffle

Teruel is the most famous Spanish province speaking about the "black diamond of the gastronomy":  black truffles (Tuber Melanosporum). Winter time is the perfect moment to come and enjoy the excellent and unique gastronomy with this delicacy.

The beautiful village Rubielos de Mora, (Spanish "citta slow") is one of the most reputed areas in Teruel when it comes to black truffles culture and gastronomy: http://www.rubielosdemora.es/

We kindly invite you to discover the " Hotel Los Leones" restaurant, to taste their special menus dedicated to the black truffle during its season: http://www.losleones.info/

Do you love Spanish gastronomy and Mediterranean diet?. Do not hesitate to visit our village and to taste and enjoy the original cook with ham and black truffle. You will never forget it!

In Antonio Mata, we are specialized in black truffles delicacies. For further information and of course if you want to buy truffles, you are welcome to visit our online shop.

Cod with orange, ham and chestnut crust. Gastronomy with Spanish Jamon de Teruel (Ham from Teruel P.D.O).

Ingredients

4 fillet(s) (medium) fish, Cod, Raw  

1 cup of chestnuts

4 slices of ham from Teruel P.D.O 

1 medium orange, finely grated (its juice & peel)  

1 teaspoon herb seasoning blend 

1 tablespoons of fresh parsley  

2 cloves of garlic

1 big onion

2 tablespoons white wine

2 tablespoons Olive oil

Black Pepper and salt to taste

Steps

Preheat oven to 380°F (180ºC)

Saute cloves to garlic and onion finely cut with olive oil , then whisk in the white wine and the cognac stirring for several minutes. Add seasonings to taste. Simmer for 20 minutes.

Simmer the chestnuts with salt for 15 to 25 minutes.

Put the garlic and onion into a bowl and add the parsley, the herb seasoning blend, the orange peel and its juice. Stir and season with salt, pepper and olive oil.

Spray a baking tray with olive oil and arrange the cod fillets on top. Then share the orange mixture between the cod, pressing it over the surface of each fillet, add the chestnuts and the Serrano ham. Transfer to the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes.

Serve the fish with the slice ham from Teruel (P.D.O) and chestnuts.


Our Ham

‘Jamón de Teruel’ is the registered trade mark used by the Regulatory Council of Ham from Teruel, the oldest Spanish cured ham P.D.O. by the EU. 

What is a EU Protected Designation of Origin?

European foodstuffs play an important role in the cultural identity of European citizens and regions. The EU approach includes a strict control system to ensure high quality the European food and drinks.

Designation of origin: is linked to the name of a region, a specific place or, in exceptional cases, a country, used to describe an agricultural product or a foodstuff:

-originating in that region, specific place or country, and

-the quality or characteristics of which are essentially or exclusively due to a particular geographical environment with its inherent natural and human factors, and

-the production, processing and preparation of which take place in the defined geographical area

"JAMON DE TERUEL" is the oldest cured ham´s Spanish Designation of Origin protected by the EU. 

P.D.O. Ham from Teruel EU quality label

Designation of origin vs. geographical indication:

The two types of geographical description are different:

• A PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) covers the term used to describe foodstuffs which are produced, processed and prepared in a given geographical area using recognised know-how (such as Jamón de Teruel). 
• A PGI indicates a link with the area in at least one of the stages of production, processing or preparation (such as Turrón de Alicante). 

The link with the geographical area is therefore stronger for PDOs.

Teruel province is considered one of the best Spanish areas to produce delicious cured pork hams because of its orography, climate, large traditions and know how. More than 2.000 people are working for companies related to pork industry in Teruel. 

For any further information about Teruel and "Jamón de Teruel" P.D.O. (Ham from Teruel P.D.O.) you can follow our page : http://jamonibericoserrano.blogspot.com/p/ham-from-teruel-pod.html

"Jamón de Teruel" P.O.D. Regulatory Council official website: www.jamondeteruel.com 

MADRID FUSION 2012, 10th Anniversary. International Gastronomy Summit.

Held under the theme “The Gates of the Future”, the next edition of Madrid Fusión will take place from the 24th to the 26th of January, 2012. In its tenth year, this world-class gastronomic symposium will, once again, deal with new techniques, trends, management and fusion in modern cuisine.

More than 100 prominent chefs from all around the world will participate at this event, and will focus on four thematic  sections: 

1. The Earth, our pantry
2. Trends

3. Techniques.

4. Low Cost management.

Among all of them, we should mention the following names: Heston Blumenthal, Michel Troisgros, Joel Robuchon, together with Magnus Ek, Magnus Nilsson, Seiji Yamamoto, Daniel Patterson, Niko Romito, Paolo Lopriore, Nuno Mendes, Masato Nishihara, Paco Morales, Dani García, Joan and Jordi Roca, Andoni Luis Aduriz, Ángel León…

The Spanish Ham has always enjoyed pride of place in this fair, and as usual it will be the main protagonist of many conferences tastings. 

We invite you to try this Ham and Eggs master recipe by The famous Spanish Chef José Andrés. 

Ham and Eggs by José Andrés. Fuente: Madrid Fusión

Further information about Madrid Fusión Fair 2012 can be found at www.madridfusion.net. 

Antonio Mata will be present, represented by Mr Villanueva, our Commercial Director. Do not hesitate to contact us for any information you might require about the event, tastings, etc.