The Roca brothers are a clear example of the importance of taking our roots into account. Joan, Jordi and Josep They started in the kitchens of his mother's restaurant, Dog Rock, in Girona. Today they run the Celler de Can Roca -also in the Catalan province-, a gastronomic temple that has three Michelin stars and that in 2015 was considered the best restaurant in the world. In the end, as they have said many times, their success is closely linked to their Girona roots. That is why in 2020 they decided to go one step further in their projects. Cocoa House It is the result of combining a high-level gastronomic experience with the idea of discovering Girona for the people who come to taste its creations.
Casa Cacao: a dream materialized
In addition to taking care of the sweetest creations of the Celler, Jordi Roca has his own ice cream parlor -rocambolesc- and now he is embarking on a very new project that he has developed together with Anna payet, wife of his brother Joan. Cocoa House It is not just any chocolate shop. What makes this place special is not only the exquisite chocolate product. It is also that it is a Boutique hotel -Rated by Payet-. That's right: the two members of the family have started a business in which, in addition to being able to try the most select chocolates, you can stay and learn more about the city of Girona. "We do not intend anything other than our guests, whether or not they are a client of El Celler, they sit like at home”, They said for La Vanguardia.
The boutique hotel of Casa Cacao
The hotel, which is located in a building classified as historic interest in Plaça Catalunya in Gerona, consists of a total of 15 rooms. These rooms are meticulously designed to create “a exceptional space to rest and feel at home ”, according to the hotel's website. The bathroom countertops are made with natural stone from Gerona, and the glasses from recycled wine bottles by El Celler de Can Roca.
And as the icing on the cake for the Roca family's hotel debut, the terrace. From it there is not only one panoramic view city Gerona, but also in it you can enjoy a tasting breakfast made by Joan Roca -with local and seasonal products-.
The workshop and the chocolate shop
The passion of Jordi Roca, the youngest of the three brothers, for pastry, led him to become one of the most respected and recognized pastry chefs worldwide. His creations at the family restaurant are unique, but he wanted to go one step further. “The idea of the project was born when one day in the restaurant we set ourselves a challenge with my brothers: Can we make chocolate at home?”, Said the cook for La Vanguardia. They did the test and, indeed, "it was good."
Who knows if by chance or by destiny, but at the time of the experiment he had just rejoined the team Damian Allsop, who had been a mentor to Jordi previously. “The specialization in chocolate that he developed after his first time with us led him to work with chocolate,” recalled Allsop. And that is how a project of these dimensions was born from a simple question.
They also sought to bring the art of chocolate closer to people. That is why chocolate making machines are in sight for people who pass by on the street. Because that's another: they elaborate the chocolate right from the start. And that's where the challenge was: never, neither he nor his mentor, had done it. That is why Jordi traveled to Peru to learn as much as possible about it cocoa from its origin to offer products of the highest possible quality. In this way, the cocoa reaches the workshop in sacks, and themselves they select grain by grain those who will use later. "The important thing is the origin, not the percentage of cocoa," he said to El País.
Casa Cacao Products
From hot or cold drinks to elaborations in the form of chocolate bar o chocolates; that's the offer of Cocoa House -and that can be found too online-. All made with cocoa beans from countries such as Peru, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic or Bolivia.
The makers of this creation have decided to expand internationally. So much so that an establishment such as the one in Gerona will open in Hong Kong (China). They are, as they say, excited and hoping that this destination will be the first in a long list to bring their creations to the whole world. Of course, always taking into account the estate.
