Pitchers from the Casa Coral, Peach and Yellow collection
As good travelers, we stock up on decorative pieces, crafts, "souvenirs" and other treasures that capture our attention (and hearts) on each trip. And just as we launched fill the suitcase with souvenirs in each destination, there are others who do the same with ours. And it is that ours, vulgarly speaking, is cool. And a lot.
The Spanish culture it makes Americans' retinas glow as soon as they come into contact with it. See us lying on zinc bars taking a well shot cane or drinking chamomile in the venice , breaks the schemes of what it means to enjoy life. Like getting carried away by a glass of vermouth and a plate of anchovies fried in Barcelona silver ; pour a bottle of cider into Cimadevilla , in Gijon; stare at the tomatoes from Donostiarra Nestor or put yourself at the mercy of the foie toast Matterhorn , in Zaragoza... And now, when they face a well set table , of those that from the beginning flirt with a long after-dinner They surrender completely at our feet.
"We have never wanted to invent anything, but rescue the wonders that already exist to save them from oblivion", they explain Francesca and María, creators of Pomelo Casa –the firm that has made traditional fashion fashionable ceramics from Granada in the United States –, the reason why they decided to undertake this project.
His designs follow the rules of tradition, but allowing himself to modify shapes, colors and concepts in order to adapt them to the contemporary american table . "Since the beginning of Pomelo Casa, we were clear that our goal was spread our legacy outside of Spain, but always revising and adapting Mediterranean crafts to current times", they explain.
Francesca is an interior designer and her, before founding Pomelo Casa, she spent several years working in some of the most cutting-edge decoration firms in the sector such as Colefax and Fowler and Kathryn Ireland Interiors. María, for her part, is a wardrobe stylist for brands, artists and audiovisual projects. "Even today we continue to combine Grapefruit with other personal plans, because we don't know how to say no," she confesses to us with a laugh. "Even though it's getting harder and harder to fit other things into our big project," she tells us.
The name of the brand emerged after several comings and goings in which Spanish women, Mediterranean flowers and many fruits they came out. "In the end we chose Grapefruit because it sounded good to us in the mouth of an Anglo-Saxon, who are sometimes shy about naming what they cannot pronounce. We included the House tagline to give more clues, since our intention is to be one of the Mediterranean decoration brands of reference in the United States ", they say. Each of the pieces in their portfolio are made by hand, in Grenade , its place of origin for more than five centuries. "Their birth dates back to the Andalusian legacy and they are living history of multiculturalism that, at that time, was what was breathed in Spain and, specifically, Granada", they continue.
most of its collections have been conceived as temporary , some more summery while others are colder for a more winter table, but at the request of their clients, everything that has come out so far has stayed permanently. "We want to continue playing with colors and products, and we have a lot of new things planned for next year, like very special collaborations and several projects that we are looking forward to unveiling ", they add.
Maria and Francesca
Both have lived in Los Angeles for several years and, after analyzing the American public, hit the nail on the head of what they saw that interested them in the spanish tables . "They greatly appreciate handmade and traditional , and more if it comes from Europe. They value much more all our crafts , perhaps because in Spain we see it more, or perhaps because in it they read a history and a tradition that is missed in a country as new as this", they affirm.
And them, Do you miss something from the Spanish table? "Everything! Before living outside of Spain, when I watched Spanish-type programs around the world and people said that what I missed the most was the ham , I thought: 'what nonsense, you will miss your mother or your friends but the ham?' Now, seven years after having let go of the moorings, I understand that the gastronomic and bar culture that we have in Spain is fundamental to understanding who we are and that the snacks, ham, beers and a good Gin Tonic tableware are very strong components of our culture and, without them, we Spaniards around the world are a bit orphaned".
hand painted jugs
If they could teleport back home right now, they say they would quench the gastronomic longing in the Tio de la Chalk, in Cadiz , "in the middle of a table full of little fish and Sherry wines". Or in any Cañí tavern in Madrid, "which in the end is what we miss the most", as La Ardosa, La Dolores or Casa Macareno . "Or in Mr. Ito , a japanese malagueño in the neighborhood of Chueca (Madrid) that we love".
Aiming high, very high, we They confess that they would be fascinated being able to see his crockery in the restaurant of the Granada Parador , "in front of the Generalife gardens and with views of the Albaicín, it would be a dream. Where is Pomelo going to be better than in the Alhambra , surrounded by Nasrid art and giving shelter to a gazpacho or to some piononos from Santa Fe", they say excitedly.
"We also have pending to send something to the actress Jedet, who in addition to being from Granada and a lover of the folklore of her land, is a good friend of ours and best ambassador of diversity in Spain... and a conversation with Autumn, one of the few Spanish restaurants in Los Angeles . Their croquettes They have saved us many times when homesickness has invaded us".
Bowls from the Casa Azul collection
Competition from Spanish ceramics is quite concentrated in the Portuguese , capable of reaching the most sophisticated and aesthetically delicious tables in the world of interior design. Even within our own country, so we launched to ask them why they think we have focused more on the creations of our neighboring country than ours. "Because sometimes we boycott ourselves . It seems that the neighbor's -literally- is better than ours, but If we don't promote our crafts, who will? Having said that, Portuguese pottery is amazing , and it is also full of tradition and history, and we can only rejoice at its boom. Because who is not happy to eat from a leaf-shaped fountain from Caldas da Rainha?".
His goals right now focus on the medium term together with his desire to expand his boutique collection of mediterranean decorative objects . "New things will come, all related to crafts and value what is handmade and tradition ". So news is coming across the pond... but always, and infinitely, **** with heart Made in Spain.
