World renowned chefs, the Roca brothers, have opened a new restaurant in the Catalonian city of Girona, home of their acclaimed El Celler de Can Roca.
The brothers Roca - Joan, Josep and Jordi - have enlisted the expertise of Elisabet Nolla as head chef for their new venture, called Normal, which offers a “direct, spontaneous cuisine” that celebrates the seasonal produce of the surrounding lands and the treasured cooking techniques and recipes passed down through generations in the region.
On a nondescript corner in Girona, the Roca brothers' new restaurant welcomes guests to an establishment with understated interiors of natural materials and subtle design with an emphasis on sustainability and warmth by Andreu Carulla.
“A very normal proposal, from a direct, spontaneous cuisine. It reminds us where we come from and it intends to reinforce the intuitive gesture of the live fire kitchen, the slow cooking casserole, the smells of a kitchen coming from afar. At Normal, we want to dress for pause, joy, succulence, flavor. Sharing the legacy of three generations with a wonderful team that represents us. With a cuisine that is Land, mother, female, matriarchal, a generational witness from Grandma Angeleta and Montserrat to the new generations with our head chef, Elisabet Nolla. We begin this new stage at a moment that is transcendent for society. After the healthcare, social, existential and values crisis, to comfort souls and rediscover happiness. Cooking is a catalyst for emotions, a tasty party that creates lasting bonds.” - Joan, Josep and Jordi Roca
Normal is a more relaxed, nourishing, traditional offering from the Roca brothers. One that exalts tradition in a contemporary way to provide comfort and sustenance to a society in recovery from a challenging time. “If in El Celler de Can Roca we offer goldsmithing, at Normal we offer handicrafts”, state the brothers.