At a gastro-literary gathering in Alicante organized by Vectalia, the event unfolds around a powerful novel that examines female privacy and mirrors the lived reality of many modern women who feel confined by lives they did not choose. The discussion follows the meal, with the author engaging in a chat with a journalist. (citation: Vectalia)
The Book
Gabriela is a woman who loves her husband, a partner who cherishes her and asks for intimacy only once a month. Out of affection, Gabriela agrees, even as she longs for something more. Each morning, she wakes to a different desire, a stranger she cannot quite explain or name, a tension that threads through her days and shapes her choices.
Gabriela is a journalist, and alongside her colleagues Silvia and Cósima, she has built a strong, trusted circle. Like Gabriela, they hold onto small, carefully guarded secrets from their partners, secrets that bind their friendship just as they test the boundaries of their marriages.
Themed Menu and Wine
The evening’s menu was crafted by the Maestral kitchen team to echo the book’s themes. Guests begin with a pan de pagès brushed with olive oil and brushed with tomàquet. Following that, Cosima’s dishes take the stage: bright vegetable plates with quinoa, spaghetti featuring buckwheat and millet meatballs, and a fragrant, citrusy fish thieboudienne paired with hibiscus and rice.
The main course offers a hearty beef tenderloin layered with idiazabal cheese and truffles, served alongside creamy potatoes. For dessert, guests savor lemon bread crowned with poppy seeds and a scoop of nougat ice cream.
The wine pairing for the night is La Femme Cesilia Rosé La Reserve, produced by Casa Sicilia 1707 Winery, chosen to complement the book’s mood and themes. The appointment is set for Friday, February 10, at 20:30 in the main restaurant, with a bottle of Cesilia wine offered as a gift and a price tag of 40 Euros per person. (citation: Vectalia)