Who would have believed in February that in April we would be in the midst of the greatest tragedy in modern history? We have seen many changes!

Every year since 2015 Bailliages worldwide have organized events to celebrate World Chaîne Day. This very special day in our association in which we are united around a table celebrating friendship and our love for gastronomy in its many variations: signature cuisine, traditional cuisine, haute cuisine. The important thing is to be together toasting the good we have in our lives.

Celebratory gatherings in Spain being not possible we launched two initiatives instead: one national and one local (in Barcelona).

Initiative in Barcelona
Chef Jordi Esteve, from Ristorante Nectari (Michelin Star since 2012) has recently joined the Chaîne in Spain. We take this opportunity to warmly welcome him to the Confrérie.

Despite the lockdown, Jordi continues to work in his restaurant’s kitchen. Together with other Chaîne members, 30 meals are prepared daily to deliver to three hospitals in Barcelona for medical personnel. Jordi also provides a take-out service.

Chaîne members involved in this initiative are:
- Jordi Esteve, chef of the Nectari restaurant
- Jonnathan Courtney, Platinum Catering Chef
- Frank Thomas Merten, distributor of Cavas Jaume Giró i Giró
- Jani Paasikoski, Finnish chef based in Barcelona

To celebrate World Chaîne Day, Jordi prepared a special menu that was offered to Chaîne members in Barcelona to celebrate in the comfort of their home.

The menu was available on April 23, 25 and in the morning of the 26th. For a perfect pairing Cava Jaume Giró could be ordered via Frank Thomas Merten. Cavas Jaume Giró i Giró was also delivering home orders.

National initiative
World Chaîne Day 2020 has given us the opportunity to connect online using technology to maintain the spirit of camaraderie and create connections between members worldwide. Festive images of associates from around the world have trended on social networks.

In Spain an online conversation took place on April 25 at 7.30 pm with the theme "What are you going to drink on World Chaîne Day?"

With our glass of wine, we talked about the spiritual and the human. Many points of view were shared about how this coronavirus situation will affect us going forward. We concluded that we will return to our lives albeit having reinvented not only ourselves but possibly also what we do.

Thank you to all members in Spain who supported this initiative. Thank you to those who tried to connect and encountered technical issues. We will repeat this meeting and help you with the joining process.

World Chaîne Day 2020 was unique, out of necessity, but we must not lose our enthusiasm for meeting up and for continuing to enjoy life.

Take good care of yourselves please … and your families too. We will toast again.

Vive la Chaîne!

“Without friendship, the world is a desert”

Rosa Roman
Bailli Délégué Spain