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Excerpts
from our guest book
Catacurian is a beautiful place, upholding a fine tradition.
The food was lovely, the restaurants we visited superb. I enjoyed
the wines and of course the people.
Maria Tierno
Manhassett, NY
My favorite part of this experience has been
meeting and getting to know Alicia and Noelle. I thoroughly
enjoyed the cooking and the restaurants. The last night was
an exquisite experience I will not soon forget-a walk under
the millions of stars.
Fondly,
Dee Perrelli
 Alicia
and Noelle made my 40th birthday experience an incredible and
memorable one.
My culinary vacation started as a birthday surprise from my
husband. It turned out to be a lot more than that. Not only
am I taking back a million pictures to share with friends and
family, but I've learned a whole new way to cook and have fun
while doing it. To top it all, I've learned invaluable lessons
about the wines and olive oils from El Priorat and visited amazing
places that I didn't even know existed. Alicia was a wonderful
tour guide and excellent chef. She taught me a lot about the
tastes and techniques of Catalan cuisine and about the sights
and stories behind the wonderful people of the area. Noelle
was the perfect compliment to Catacurian. With her pleasant
and easy going attitude, she was an absolute pleasure to be
around with. Even Neus went out of her way to make sure that
my room was perfect. The accommodations are 5-star, but at the
same time warm and cozy. I felt welcome from day one. I highly
recommend Catacurian and look forward to repeating the experience
with my husband. I wish Alicia and Jonathan a very prosperous
future with Catacurian. Their hard work didn't go unnoticed
with every detail and I'm sure their education will pay off
two-fold.
Visca El Priorat!
Maria Davis
Coral Springs, Fl
Alicia, Noelle (y Jonathan In Absentia) +Boss+Neus,
What you have given me is a gift, not just an education. An
education involves taking classes and writing notes, a gift
is something sacred - a piece of yoursaelves that you have generously
shared with me, someone who was a stranger to you a week ago.
Of course, I appreciate all the wonderful and practical knowledge
you have given me, but even more special is the way that you
have opened your home, your hearts and your memories, sharing
them with me. This has been a very special week for me, one
that I shall never forget.
Visca el Priorat!
De vuestra hermana Gallega,
Sofia Perez
 Dear
Alicia and Jonathan and Noelle,
You are creating a Catalan experience that goes beyond culinary
vacations. You have exposed us to a food, a land, a people,
a culture that is exceptional. Thank you for the experience,
thank you for the friendship. We hope to return and continue
on this wonderful journey. We wish you both the best of luck
so that more people can experience this and your dream can be
fulfilled.
Harry and Mary Precheur,
Naples, Fl
 Alicia
and Noelle. Many thanks for a brilliant course, tours, food,
wine, knowledge, hospitality, fun, well everything. Look forward
to making it back asap. Please don't change a thing. Anyone
who has done the course and read these words will understand
how lucky they are. Hope to see you in Australia some time.
Simon Oss
Rye, VIC, Australia
To future Catacurian chefs:
This experience has been one in which I have learned more than
I could have ever imagined. It was a delight to work with such
passionate women. They have been inspirations for me. My short
time here has been absolutely wonderful.
Sincerely,
Rachel Evans (Dallas, Tx)
To all who have come to visit and learn:
Alicia and Noelle will provide you with an experiance beyond
your expectations. This is a great team! Our family will always
remember with the warmest of thoughts this great visit to Catacurian.
We saw sights we didn't think we'd see, we tasted wines we didn't
know existed, we ate and prepared food that had the freshest
ingredients with the most impressive flavors. Most of all...our
Arizona family had a spectacular time. You will not be sorry
you came here.
Sandy and Rich Nikolaev
Kim Nikolaev-Bolinger and Tom Bollinger
Becky and Cort Nikolaev
Scottsdale, Az
Estimadas Alicia and Noelle,
When I first looked for El masroig on the map, I couldn't find
it. Now I will always have El Masroig(Priorat, Montsant) in
my heart. How wonderful an experience, the foods, the wines,
and soul of you and of Catalunya. I hope to come again and of
course you are welcome in Chicago (Glenview)
anytime. Con muchos abrazos y cariño,
Laurel Soler
USA
 "Alicia
and Jonathan, all I can say is that we have had the most romantic
vacation ever with you at Catacurian. The hospitality, the insight
into Catalan cooking, the gorgeous food (especially that unbelievable
rabbit paella.), the views from the bedroom over the countryside,
those beds (hard to get out of in the morning), the fabulous
wine tasting, the walks in the mountains picking fresh rosemary
for dinner, the visit to the monastery at
Scala Dei, lunch at that trendy restaurant in Falset, the pretty
villages like Porrera, and above all the cozy evenings at Catacurian
just chatting
and sipping wine.... We left the Priorat so relaxed, so recharged.
You have something really special there in Mas Roig, and such
a unique heritage of your family villa and cellar. We wish you
much, much success and plan to tell all of our friends about
you. Too bad we didn't know about you when we planned our honeymoon!
Hasta la proxima!"
- Desmond and Gen McCarthy, Dublin, Ireland (or Madrid, Spain,
no se que prefieres)
Wow! Wow! Ex-cell-ent!!!
Noelle and Alicia (& Jonathan from Fla.) made us feel at
home and a part of such a memorable and enjoyable experience.
We learned so much and gained a love for the beautiful mountains
& valleys of Spain. The Catalan tradition we learned from
Alicia will be passed on to our friends and family. Alicia's
vibrant food (and personality) really rubbed off on us. What
a fabulous first anniversary we celebrated here! Jonathan and
Alicia's attention to detail is obvious....a high quality vacation
for sure! They will be welcome in our home at any time too!
Lisa & Eric Strom
Stamford, Connecticut, USA
"Expect the unexpected" at Catacurian!"
We will always treasure the experience. Thanks Alicia, Jonathan,
Jason and Neus. We love you."
Carme de Cuba & Ken Grier
Sunny Isles, Fl.
" Good food...good wine...good hosts=great
times. 
Thanks to all the Catacurian crew for an unforgettable Christmas
/New Year (2003-2004) experience. It was far...far beyond our
expectations. Perfect blend of touring...cooking...eating...
leisure time for these fantastic 10 days. Many thanks for sharing
this time with us."
Larry Barthold & Carol Fleming
Bow, WA
" Alicia, Noelle, and all of the Catacurian team. I had
no idea what Catacurian would really be like, but my experience
these past few days has totally exceeded all of my expectations.
Thanks for everything and congratulations on your fabulous ideas
and kitchen!"
Sarah Andrews
Barcelona, Spain
"Thank you Alicia, Noelle, and everyone
who is making Catacurian such a fantastic experience. The food,
wine, and excursions taught me much about El Priorat and Catalonia.
I can't wait to share my pictures and recipes with family and
friends. Thank you all. I will carry a little of the Priorat
with me for the rest of my life. It is a special place and I
will cherish my memories of my time here. Thanks again."
Cheryl Heaney
Santa Rosa, CA
"Alicia and Jonathan, given our natures
we have given a lot of thought to what we can complain about:
The food? Certainly not! It was amazing and authentic. Great
ingredients and professional preparations.
The wine? No! The wines of this region are exquisite, and with
your enlightened guidance they tasted all the better.
The classes? Absolutely not! We learned so much from Alicia
and had a great fun doing it. We aspire to have a fraction of
her talent.
The tours? No! They were fun and educational. We have been thoroughly
seduced by the region.
The company? No! Your warm hospitality and generous spirits
made for a week of stimulating conversations and good humor.
So it seems we can only complain that we gained a pound or two
(or three) and that it all went by too quickly! When can we
come back?
We wish you all the very best with Catacurian and thank you
for enriching our lives with a touch of "El Priorat"".
David Frere and Zita Cobb
"Those darned Canadians"
Ottawa, Canada, but mainly
S/V Bakeapple
 "Alicia
y Jonathan, mañana estaremos lejos de ustedes, pero siempre
ustedes estarán con nosotros"
(Alicia and Jonathan, tomorrow we will be far from you, but
you will always be with us)
Mario and Noriko Mori
Tokyo, Japan
 "Jonathan
and Alicia have succeeded in providing the best culinary vacations
imaginable! Their warm and gracious hospitality, well-rounded
itinerary and inviting accommodations serve as, and are, the
best promotion for El Priorat that any chamber of commerce could
ask for. We will encourage many more to follow our footsteps
to El Masroig and plan to return in the not too distant future.
Muy bueno!"
Paul and Ellen Seymour
Palmyra, PA
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