On November 27, we held our traditional Christmas dinner in Barcelona. It included an Induction Ceremony to welcome the new members of the local Bailliage.

The restaurant chosen for the occasion was “7 Portes”, a Barcelona classic known for its traditional Catalan cuisine and carefully preserved historic atmosphere.

Located on Passeig d’Isabel II, near the port, the restaurant has been operating since 1836, making it one of the oldest and most iconic establishments in the city. Its interior maintains a classic and elegant style, associated for decades with Barcelona’s intellectual and cultural figures, with a dining room that “smells” more of history than of trends.

It was one of those evenings in which time adjusts itself to the pace of conversation. The moment the doors opened, the murmur of voices, laughter and the clinking of glasses immediately created a warm backdrop, as if the city itself had decided to whisper through the windows. Beneath the Chaîne emblems, the white-clothed tables seemed to await more than just a dinner: they awaited an encounter.

There were long embraces of reunion, sincere handshakes and introductions that turned into confidences within minutes. The atmosphere blended the solemnity of tradition with a nearly playful lightness: people spoke of recipes, travels, memorable wines and of those small kitchen disasters that, over time, become essential anecdotes.

Midway through the evening, the tables were no longer rigid but islands of complicity. Chairs were moved around and bites of someone else’s dish were shared “because you really have to try this.” The Chaîne served as an elegant umbrella, but beneath it flourished something simple and powerful: good people enjoying together what they love most, without haste and without masks.

By the time dessert arrived, the room was a bit more disordered, ties loosened, ribbons slightly askew, voices deeper with wine and happiness. Outside, the night continued its course; inside, time had passed between one toast and the next.

As they said goodbye, many promised recipes, visits and future gatherings; others simply looked at each other with the silent certainty of having shared something worth keeping. And as the lights dimmed and the final aroma of coffee faded, the feeling remained that this evening had been more than just a dinner, it was a small celebration of the best that the table can offer when presided over by friendship, a passion for gastronomy and the spirit of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs.

Many thanks to José Félix Bentz and Frank Thomas Merten for the organization and to our Bailli Délégué, Rosa Román, who officiated the Induction Ceremony in her capacity as a Member of the Conseil Magistral. Rosa is always attentive to every detail. At this event, she generously gifted us a bottle of Jaume Giró i Giró Brut Nature Cava.

Vive la Chaîne!

Abel González
Chancelier